Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev on Sunday called for the formation of a five-nation Himalayan Board — comprising India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan — to coordinate disaster response across the ecologically fragile Himalayan region. Speaking at an event titled 'In Solidarity With Nepal' in Kathmandu, he also pledged ₹1 crore to Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund for relief and rehabilitation following devastating flash floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, according to an official statement by the Isha Foundation issued on 31 August.

The Disaster and Its Human Toll

The flash floods have left thousands of people missing and many feared dead. Among those still unaccounted for are 77 participants of Isha Sacred Walks Kailash Sojourn, who were at the Gyirong immigration centre on the Chinese side of the border when the disaster struck. Three Isha volunteers stationed on the Nepal side are also reportedly unaccounted for. Sadhguru acknowledged the scale of the calamity was beyond what could have been reasonably anticipated, stressing that a small nation like Nepal cannot be expected to manage its aftermath alone.

The Case for a Himalayan Board

Sadhguru argued that the Himalayan mountain range must be treated as a shared ecological system transcending political divisions. 'The mountains don't know your political affiliation. The mountains don't know what nonsense or language you speak. Even if you cannot administer it as one body, at least consultation must happen as one body,' he said. He pressed for the proposed board to be established without delay, adding: 'A body comprising all these nations where the Himalayan ranges run has to happen now. Even if political administrations are separate, the mountain ranges have to be looked at as a feature that needs to be protected for future generations.'

Rejecting Mystical Explanations

Sadhguru cautioned against framing the disaster in divine or mystical terms, warning that such narratives could diminish the suffering of those affected. 'Physical phenomena are physical phenomena ruled by physical laws. So let's not belittle human suffering by giving philosophies or ideologies or mystical explanations,' he said. Actor Manisha Koirala, who was present at the event, asked Sadhguru what people could learn from such devastation. He responded by urging people to remain conscious of life's fragility without waiting for tragedy to prompt that awareness. 'As a human being, we should not wait for disasters to happen. The first and the foremost thing to understand about being human is that we should know every moment of our life that we are mortal,' he said.

Ritual Support and Long-Term Commitment

Beyond financial aid, Sadhguru announced that Kala Bhairava Karma — a consecrated death ritual performed at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore for those who have died natural or unnatural deaths — would be conducted for those who perished in the disaster. The 'In Solidarity With Nepal' event brought together people across Kathmandu to express collective support. Sadhguru maintained that immediate relief must be paired with long-term regional cooperation to protect the Himalayan ecosystem and strengthen preparedness for future disasters.