World-renowned yogi and spiritual leader Sadhguru is set to ride into Bahrain on May 14, as part of his global ‘Save the Soil’ campaign and 30,000km motorcycle trip from the UK to India.
Sadhguru is currently in Europe and will be in Bahrain for a two-day stint, during which he will meet followers and stakeholders to sign agreements aimed at helping to preserve the environment.
The unique 100-day trip started last month when the 64-year-old started his ride from London, UK, and has already taken him through Amsterdam and Vienna. He will arrive in Bahrain on May 14 from Saudi Arabia, and will then head to neighbouring UAE, after a seminar on May 15.
Sadghuru, whose birth name is Jagadish Vasudev, has always been an ardent motorcyclist and his environmental and spiritual work has earned him a loyal following in Bahrain, who are excited to see him visit the kingdom during his planet-saving mission.
In an interview with Forbes magazine prior to his latest adventure, he said: “I want people to understand that somebody is willing to invest their entire life into this because, as a generation of people, we have taken the largest bite out of this planet.
“I think, before we go, we must see how much we can fix.”
Parnikaa Gurumurthy, 17, is one such supporter raising awareness about the ‘Save the Soil’ movement. “I have always been encouraged to respect the planet I live on – I have family in Chennai who own an organic food store, which is where I started to realise the importance of organic foods and soil preservation,” the St Christopher’s School student, originally from India, told the GDN.
Inspired by the guru’s past environmental preservation efforts through his own Ishaa Foundation, Parnikaa ventured into activism and charitable causes. Her social media activities and pledging page offer an overview of the issue and resources on the movement.
The 17-year-old, who moved to Bahrain with her family in 2017, plans to gather 500 pledges of support too.
Backed by classmates and friends involved with the movement she hopes that her own environmental endeavours will inspire more of her peers to be proactive.
The guru is planning on hosting a free event in the country on May 15, aimed at spreading awareness amongst the Bahraini and expatriate communities about the importance of implementing policies that protect the soil.
A staunch environmentalist, Sadhguru has been highlighting soil degradation for 24 years. “I met him once when I was really young but now I get to see him in a totally different light!” added Parnikaa.
“My whole family is thrilled he is visiting Bahrain, for many people it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet him.
“He’s coming around the same time as my A-Level exams and, although my studies remain a priority, I’m looking forward to seeing him in person as he advocates for a cause so dear to my heart.”
While Sadhguru is meeting celebrities, environmentalists and influencers in dozens of countries along the way to Bahrain, the local community has been attempting to rally support.
Almost 250 Bahrain residents gathered online to discuss his teachings on manifestations and yoga and have also been spreading awareness for the ‘Save the Soil’ initiative.
The movement has already been backed by the UN Environment Programme, World Food Programme, and the Global Citizen Forum (GCF).
Unlike campaigns that focus on attracting donations, this movement focuses instead on raising awareness.
According to the organisation’s website the main objective is ‘to activate the support of over 3.5 billion people to make ecological issues an election priority across the globe’.
While the global community is focused on carbon emissions and pollution, soil extinction is just as vital for the world’s health, according to leading experts.
A fistful of soil has eight to 10 billion organisms, which are vital to food security. Without careful attention, more than 90 per cent of soil could become degraded by 2050 – a statistic made even more daunting by the fact that it takes approximately 200-400 years for one cm of soil to form.
Soil degradation has a direct negative effect on the climate, food production and pollution.
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