CHENNAI: In a bid to spread awareness about the dangers of smoking and tobacco use in any form, the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, a socio spiritual NGO, organised an event at the Suburban Moore Market Complex to mark World No Tobacco Day.The organisation set up an informative exhibit detailing themes related to tobacco dependence. This included charts discussing topics like ‘Addiction — Solution or Self destruction’, ‘Tobacco — a slow poison’ and the social effects of addiction.Ramajayam, a member of the Vidyalaya, explained a study of smokers and their de-addiction process as influenced by Raja yoga meditation techniques.“The research was done in our medical wing at Mount Abu. The Raja yoga training was given for three weeks and they were taught to harness their will power from their soul,” he said.The study found that 580 out of 700 volunteers for the research were able to kick the habit in six months. After one year, only five or six out of the total group had not quit.However, data was not available beyond one year, as no follow up was done.Dr Sulochan, chief medical superintendent of the Medical Department of Southern Railways, Chennai Division, was the guest of honour at the inauguration.Brahma Kumari Beena, coordinator of spiritual services in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and South Kerala branches of the Vidyalaya, was also present at the inauguration. She said, “Smoking may give them a relaxed feeling but in reality it is eating them from the inside. To say no, you need a strong will.” A silence room was arranged for people to meditate and focus on their will power and convince themselves to quit smoking.Pamphlets detailing the health hazards of tobacco use were distributed. A pledge form was given for those who wanted to quit smoking. Beena said, “We have been doing this for the last few years. The box is very effective. People sometimes put their cigarettes inside.
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