Diabetic Kejriwal drew strength from Yoga to fast

Despite being a diabetic, Arvind Kejriwal, 41, decided to go ahead with an indefinite fast. But he prepared for the long haul by regulating his diet and drawing strength from Yoga and Vipashyana. Nivedita Khandekar reports.

Despite being a diabetic, Arvind Kejriwal, 41, decided to go ahead with an indefinite fast. But he prepared for the long haul by regulating his diet and drawing strength from Yoga and Vipashyana.

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Kejriwal, who enrolls for Vipashyana sessions almost annually, was also into Yoga, pranayam (yogic breathing exercise) and walking to keep fit.

While he started preparing mentally weeks ago, the actual preparation for the fast started about 4-6 days before July 25, when Kejriwal along with other team Anna members Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai embarked on the indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar.

He dropped carbohydrates from his diet and started having protein digestives. "Four days before the fast began, his stopped having chapati was given only vegetables, fruits and juices. Two days later, he was only having fruits and juices," said Dr Ran Singh Arya, Kejriwal's consultant naturopath, who is into holistic healing practices.

"Kejriwal is not even taking medicines (for diabetes) and having only water," Arya said.

Not just Kejriwal, but Sisodia and Rai too are administered acupressure for relaxation. "But otherwise, it is mostly rest," Arya said adding, "It is all about mental strength. Even a diabetic, such as him, can carry on if he believes in his mental strength."

Kejriwal and Sisodia take rest in a make-shift room, also their retiring room for the night, besides the stage at Jantar Mantar, while Rai prefers to sleep in the open. The trio also conserves energy by not talking for large part of the day.

Family members of those on fast are around most of the time.