BJD MP Acharya catches up on reading, yoga in Delhi residence

BHUBANESWAR: BJD Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya has been using the lockdown to practise yoga, read books and listen to retro Hindi film music while staying in touch with people over phone.
“I have just started reading ‘The Age of Nationalism and Reform, 1850-1890’ by Norman Rich. Before that, I read ‘Savarkar: The True Story of the Father of Hindutva’ by Vaibhav Purandare,” said Acharya over phone from his New Delhi residence.“I was planning to return to my native place, Bargarh, after the Parliament session. But the evening flight I had booked the day before the lockdown started was cancelled. So, I had to stay back in New Delhi,” he said.
Since one has to stay indoors, Acharya said, he is trying to be more disciplined. “I had stopped yoga for some time. Now I am doing some asanas and meditation twice a daily of an hour each,” he said.
The MP’s daily routine starts with a yoga followed by a morning walk. “I read newspapers, including The Times of India, daily besides scanning Odia newspapers on the internet,” he said.
After a light breakfast, Acharya said he speaks to people in his locality and colleagues over phone. “I also speak to my family members and brothers every day. The afternoon is for reading books. Earlier, I did not get so much time to read. But now there is plenty of time,” he said.
“I have completed reading Biju Patnaik Legislative Biography by Ramakant Das and a book on socialist leader Kisan Patnaik recently,” he said. “I am planning to start writing,” he said but declined to elaborate. “I have also read ‘Making of the Constitution of India’ published by the Lok Sabha recently. “On and off, I am also doing gardening. I clean up the garden on most days,” he said.
After a light dinner, Acharya listens to old Hindi songs. “I have a Carvaan music player with a collection of around 6,000 songs from the 1960s to the 1980s,” he said.