INDIA: The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, held a meeting at Mantralaya in Mumbai with Adv. Pranita Adwait Deshpande, President of the Netherlands Yogasana Sports Association (NYSA). Deshpande, who has been instrumental in bringing Indian Yogasana to an international platform, was accompanied by her husband, Adwait Deshpande, an International Cricket Council (ICC) and Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond (KNCB) umpire, along with their son, Ansh Deshpande.
During the meeting, Adv. Deshpande presented the Chief Minister with three of her published books, each reflecting her literary and academic pursuits. Alongside the books, she gifted a replica of the celebrated Dutch Golden Age painting Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, dating to around 1665. The gesture, she explained, symbolized her cultural bond with the Netherlands, where she has lived and worked since 2017. She also presented a memento from the Netherlands Yogasana Sports Association, an organization she founded and continues to lead.
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The interaction provided an opportunity for Adv. Deshpande to outline the work of NYSA. The association has been active in promoting Yogasana as a competitive sport across the Netherlands, drawing on India’s ancient traditions of yoga while adapting them for a modern sporting framework. Under her leadership, NYSA has worked to introduce Yogasana into community life, schools, and events in the Netherlands, helping to build bridges between Indian cultural heritage and European audiences.
She also spoke about her professional work at the International Criminal Court (ICC), where she has been engaged in matters concerning global justice and human rights. The discussion highlighted how her dual roles in law and cultural promotion have allowed her to represent Indian values on both legal and social platforms internationally.
Another part of the meeting was devoted to her entrepreneurial activity. In recent years, Adv. Deshpande established Ansh Overseas B.V., an import-export company based in the Netherlands, with the aim of representing Indian agricultural products in European markets. The initiative, she noted, was designed to strengthen trade connections and open up opportunities for Indian producers in a wider market.
Since moving to the Netherlands in 2017, she has focused on building cultural and business linkages while also fully integrating into Dutch society, including gaining proficiency in the Dutch language. This personal journey, she explained, has been one of balancing family, professional responsibilities, and a commitment to advancing Indian traditions abroad.
The meeting also included a more personal note. Adv. Deshpande recalled the influence of her grandfather, the late Shri Vasudeorao Manbhekar, who served as Vidarbha Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). She shared memories of his role in shaping her values and sense of cultural identity. The recollection highlighted how personal history and family heritage often form the foundation for public and professional achievements.
For Chief Minister Fadnavis, the occasion offered insight into the ways in which members of the Indian diaspora continue to play a role in carrying forward Indian traditions while contributing meaningfully to their adopted countries. The meeting underscored the growing importance of cultural diplomacy, where individuals act as bridges between societies through their professional, entrepreneurial, and social contributions.
By the conclusion of the exchange, both sides had reflected on the interconnectedness of cultural heritage, international law, sport, and commerce. The gathering illustrated how personal initiatives and institutional support can come together to enhance India’s visibility and influence abroad.
As global interest in yoga continues to expand, efforts such as those led by NYSA provide a structured path for Yogasana to be recognized not only as a practice of well-being but also as a legitimate sport. Adv. Deshpande’s meeting with the Chief Minister added momentum to this vision, reinforcing the broader narrative of India’s cultural reach in the modern world.
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