Interview with Dr.B.T.Chidananda Murthy

Dr.B.T.Chidananda Murthy Director, Central Council for Reseach in Yoga and Naturopathy An internationally renowned Naturopath, Dr. Murthy has always advocated a multi-dimensional approach to healing, and Yoga therapy is invariably part of his prescription. Dr.Murthy was kind enough to spend an afternoon with us, and shared his thoughts on Yoga and allied subjects.

We began by asking him what triggered off his interest in Yoga. "Watching my father do the Shirshasana was what started me off, and he was my first teacher, too," Dr.Murthy said. And when we asked him about what led him to Naturopathy, the surprising answer was: "The Story of My Experiments with Truth - Gandhiji's Autobiography. I read the book when I had just entered the University, and the impact that it made on my life was tremendous. I had joined the University - in Bangalore - to do a B.A. in Psychology, but the book made me give it up. And despite some opposition from my parents, I gave it up and went to Hyderabad to learn Naturopathy. And it was from there that I graduated. Apart from Naturopathy, Yoga was also a part of my daily routine." Naturally, we asked him whether he still continued his Yoga practise, and he said : "Without practising Yoga, my day feels incomplete."

Talking further about his education, Dr. Murthy said:" I completed my degree in 1975, and then I went on to get a Diploma in Yoga from Kaivalyadhama. That was a great learning experience."

Talking about his career, Dr.Murthy said that he began by teaching at BITS, Pilani, where he used to do a lot of cycling. "1979 marked another turning point - that was the year that I got married to Hemalatha - who is herself a Naturopath and Yoga teacher. She is now the Director at the National Academy of Naturopathy and Yoga."

We asked Dr. Murthy about his stint in Academics. He said:"I was responsible for setting up two of the first B.N.Y.S. degree colleges in India - at Mangalore University between 189-92, and at R.G. Health University in Bangalore between 1996 - 1999."

Dr. Murthy continued;"Later on, I was the CMO and the Research Project Officer at the famous Jindal Institute of Naturopathy: a post that I held between two separate periods.I became a consultant at CCRYN in 1993, and now I am the Director of this Council."

Dr. Murthy and his wife, in the course of their long and distinguished careers, have treated many VIP's and won many awards from Governments and private organisations for their dedicated efforts. As eminent public figures, they have participated regularly in International conferences and written extensively on Yoga and allied topics.

Yoga Alliance International is indeed proud to have the benefit of Dr. Murthy's experience and guidance. We wish him and his family many more years of happiness.