www.rediff.com: Falun Gong makes an entry into India

Janice Cheung and Diana Wang were carrying the publicity material of Falun Gong. The two were from Singapore where they worked for an information technology company. They were in India on a mission close to their hearts.

"India is an open society. Indians are curious to know new things. We are already in more than 50 countries. We want Indians to know the virtues of Falun Gong, which is the fastest growing meditation practice all over the world," Janice told rediff.com

Insisting that Falun Gong [is good], she said, "It's a revived ancient tradition of meditation practices."

She added, "Our [practitioners] are not large enough in India but we are steadily growing."

In the last two years she has visited India ten times, trying to establish a network in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Janice had also visited the Hanging Garden and Nana-Nani Park in Mumbai.

She claimed that Bangalore was very receptive of the "Chinese yoga", which included five easy-to-learn meditation practices to improve mental and physical health.

These exercises that espouse the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance are distinct from Taoism and Buddhism.

In China, Falun Gong was re-introduced to the public in May 1992 by a man called Li Hongzhi, who now lives in the United States.

Li was extremely successful in China and in the last few years had been the target of the Jiang's government.

Janice also claimed that 600 professors from 21 countries had nominated Li for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Chinese regime had treated Falun Gong as a threat to its internal security. Its [practitioners] were treated like the Muslim insurgents in the west of the country.

Observers sympathetic to China alleged that Li might have the backing of the US.

However, Janice denied the charge. "We are apolitical and Master Li does not accept donations from anyone."

B Raman, a Chennai-based counter-terrorism expert said, "One has seen the brutal manner in which they [the Chinese government] have been treating the [practitioners] of the Falun Gong [group]. If one regularly visits the Web sites of Chinese think tanks, one would be struck by the number of articles seeking to demonize the Falun Gong and project its [practitioners] in the most negative colors."

Janice said, "Jiang's […] government, which is officially atheist, is torturing our [practitioners], mainly women, because we are becoming more popular than communism itself. […]”

Janice, an American citizen, said, "For us who are living in democratically elected governments, freedom of belief is fundamental. But Jiang's regime does not protect such human rights."

"Despite official suspicion of devotion to religion and spirituality, [the Chinese public's] faith in them is gathering strength even amongst young and educated people. One notices more young than grown-up people during visits to the Buddha temples in Shanghai," Raman said.

Janice was carrying with her a mobile office, which had DVD players, photographs and accounts of tortured women [practitioners] of Falun Gong around the world.

When asked if the Indian government would be uncomfortable if China objected to Falun Gong's spread in India, she said, "No. We have met few people who are on the top in the government. They are very supportive of us."

Janice refused to name them. She also refused to name her Indian host's name or address.

But she insisted that she was very upbeat about India where people had tremendous interest in self-improvement.

Diana said, "In Lodhi Garden people asked us many questions and they showed warmth. They wanted to learn the exercises."

Janice added, "I believe through Falun Gong, Indians and Chinese can come closer. Governments will come and go but people will survive. We believe India will receive us with enthusiasm. We have ancient ties that can be revived through Falun Gong."