INTERNATIONAL NEWS NETWORK
The conferment of the Padma Shri on Her Excellency Shaikha Ali Jaber Al-Sabah by President Droupadi Murmu on April 28, 2025, is a significant event, not only for Kuwait-India relations but also for the broader global yoga movement. This recognition highlights the increasing internationalization of yoga and underscores the role of cultural diplomacy, female leadership, and wellness advocacy in the 21st century.
At its core, the award represents India’s acknowledgment of a foreign national who has made extraordinary contributions to promoting one of its most treasured cultural heritages yoga. While yoga has found global appeal for decades, Shaikha Al-Sabah’s work stands out for several reasons. She is not only a practitioner but also an institution builder, having founded Daratma for Yoga Education, the first officially licensed yoga studio in Kuwait. This move marked a breakthrough in Kuwait’s legal and cultural environment, where yoga was previously unregulated. Through her advocacy, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce introduced a Yoga Education license a move that established yoga as both a recognized discipline and a legitimate profession in the Gulf nation.
Shaikha Al-Sabah’s journey is deeply rooted in both tradition and transformation. The symbolic naming of her studio combining Dar (Arabic for home) and Atma (Sanskrit for soul) reveals her intention to integrate Eastern spiritual wisdom with Middle Eastern cultural identity. Her approach makes yoga not merely an exercise routine but a medium of inner peace, cultural unity, and human empathy.
From a diplomatic standpoint, India’s gesture of awarding a prominent Kuwaiti figure reflects an ongoing soft-power strategy. Yoga, championed globally by India, especially under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has become an instrument of cultural diplomacy. In this light, honoring Shaikha Al-Sabah is a nod to shared values between the two countries and promotes India’s spiritual heritage beyond its borders. It also follows Modi’s own visit to Kuwait in 2024, during which he met with Al-Sabah and praised her efforts to make yoga more appealing to young people.
Another notable dimension of Al-Sabah’s recognition is gender representation. As a woman from a royal family in the Arab world, her leadership in wellness, education, and humanitarian fields challenges stereotypes and opens pathways for female empowerment through holistic health. Her humanitarian projects, such as Yomnak lil Yaman, which supports Yemeni refugees, and her COVID-19 relief initiatives, further solidify her image as a compassionate change-maker.
Additionally, her international engagements from Reiki Jin Kei Do training to consciousness development at the Monroe Institute showcase her commitment to holistic education and bridge-building between cultures. Her creative work, such as the KenNiz TV show and Shams Concept, proves that her mission is multidimensional, connecting wellness, media, and art.
Shaikha Ali Jaber Al-Sabah’s Padma Shri is more than a personal accolade. It symbolizes the growing intersection of global wellness movements, cultural diplomacy, and women’s leadership. Her work is a blueprint for how ancient traditions like yoga can be revitalized and localized in new cultural contexts while remaining deeply rooted in their spiritual essence.
