Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi is a visionary Yoga scientist, philosopher, and master, with an illustrious over the past 36 years academic career. He is instrumental in integrating Yoga into selfcare, healthcare, education, and lifestyle and has made significant contributions to the promotion and development of Yoga and Traditional Medicine.
Dr. Ishwar hails from small a village, Savadi of Gadag district in Karnataka. He is basically a Physicist having done his M.Sc. in Physics from Karnataka University, Dharwad. Later he turned to Yoga and Philosophy. He did M.A. in Philosophy, Ph. D. in Yoga Philosophy and had two P.G. Diploma’s, one in Yoga Education and another in Computer Applications to his credits.
Dr. Ishwar Basavaraddi was the Director of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), for more than 18 years (2005 TO 2023) and was the founder Head of the Institution (HoI) of Yoga Certification Board (YCB) (2018 to 2023) under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, and Head of WHO's collaborative center for traditional medicine (Yoga) for over 11 years (2012-2023), he developed age specific, disease-specific Yoga protocols, pioneered Yoga research, and expanded Yoga education and therapy.
He served as an Adviser to government of India for Yoga and Naturopathy for one Year (2019-2020). He had the additional charge of Director, Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy, New Delhi from 2010 to 2012 and 2019 to 2020. Dr. Basavaraddi has also served as Faculty and Head of the Department of Yoga studies in Karnatak University, Dharwad for 16 years (1989-2005), and also the Managing Trustee of Vishwayatan Yoga Ashram from 2005 to 2008.
As the Director of MDNIY, he is instrumental in establishing Advanced Yoga Therapy and Research Centers in Primer Medical Institutions (5), District Yoga Wellness Centre’s (159), Yoga Therapy and Research Centers in Medical Institutions (5), Yoga Wellness Centers in CGHS dispensaries (20) and many more. Some of his initiatives, e.g. Yoga in School Health Program, National Yoga Week, an annual event (10 Years), International Yoga Festivals 5, Yoga Mahotsav, 100 Day’s countdown programs to IDY, Coffee Table Books on Yoga and IDY, Yoga Vijnana a bi-annual journal, MDNIY monthly News Letters etc. has made ever lasting impact on promotion of Yoga among the mass and class population. His leadership has led to the expansion and modernization of MDNIY, making it a global center for Yoga education, training and therapy.
Dr. Basavaraddi had played a pivotal role in declaring Yogasana as a competitive sport by government of India. He was the first president of National Yogasana Sport Federation recognized by GoI and first senior vice president of International Yogasana Sport Federation. He also played a key role in introducing Yoga Olympiad, being conducted annually, by NCERT and played a pivotal role as a member in introducing Yoga as a compulsory subject in all 14 teacher’s education courses/programs being recognized by NCTE. He developed and introduced master Yoga wellness Instructor course to the uniformed personnel, in 2015 and more than 2600 uniformed master trainers were trained in 9 years.
As a member and then member secretary of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (Yoga), an Ayush and CSIR joint venture, for more than 10 years (2003-2012), he contributed for the documentation of traditional Yoga knowledge in digital formation to prevent its misuse. He has also played pivotal role in published content as a Yoga expert at platform of iGOT Karmyogi mission and Yoga contents for Bureau of Indian Standards.
Dr. Ishwar was the founder Secretary General of Indian Yoga association (IYA), an association of all leading Yoga organization of India for more than 10 years (2008 to 2018), and presently the member of its Governing Council. As founder Secretary General of Indian Yoga Association (IYA), he united leading Yoga institutions and masters under one umbrella.
He is the principal architect of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), a widely practiced Yoga regimen adopted by millions of people across the globe. He also served as the member secretary of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) committee and the Master of ceremonies for all events of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) since 2015 to 2023. led by honorable Prime Minister of India. He is also the principal architect of WHO mYoga application for wellness, Y- break Yoga application being introduced at workplace for de-stress, refresh and refocus. He played key role in preparing the zero draft for citation to declare Yoga as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in 2016.
Dr. Basavaraddi is known for developing age and disease-specific Yoga protocols and Yoga protocols for various target groups. He has completed 10 major Research & Development projects, published more than 34 research papers, 36 Books/ Booklets, 10 monographs, evaluated hundreds of research projects as Member and Chairman of different Research Project Evaluation Committees. He has provided Yoga education, training and therapy to thousands of Yoga teachers and lakhs of Yoga enthusiasts. He gave thousands of lectures, radio and TV talks, produced many documentaries and Yoga DVDs, in his illustrious professional currier extended over more than three and half decades.
He also served as Chairperson/Member/Observer/Jury of several prestigious committees of the organizations/ bodies, both in public and private sectors e.g. UGC, NAAC, NCTE, NCERT, ICMR, ICCR, SAI, TKDL, QCI, BIS, I&B, MHRD (ME), IUC-YSc, Skill Council of India, Railway Board, National Media Awards, and PM Yoga awards, etc.
Serving as a Member of Micro Mission, Bureau of Police Research & Development, Government of India, Resource Person at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, Honorary Professor, India-China College, Kunming, Honorary Professor, Amity University, NOIDA, Honorary Professor, Inter University Center for Yoga Sciences, Bengaluru, Advisor and Visiting Professor, Mahabodhi International Meditation Center, Leh, Laddhak
He visited South Africa; Russia; Hungry; China; Thailand; Hong Kong; North Korea; Austria; Germany; Turkey; Italy; France, etc. for the promotion and development of Yoga and represented India on several international platforms.
From humble beginnings in a small Karnataka village, Dr. Basavaraddi's dedication, strategic vision, and collaborative spirit have earned him international recognition, numerous accolades, and ever lasting impact on the Yoga, selfcare, healthcare and wellness world.
Presently Dr. Ishwar Basavaraddi is working as the Director and Professor of Centre for Yoga, Wellness and Integrative Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology Jaipur, Rajasthan