Ranchi: Ranchi University on Tuesday formally launched the department of yoga that will offer a two-year post graduation degree in the discipline.

Ranchi University vice chancellor R.K. Pandey inaugurated a temporary campus near Marwari College in the presence of other senior officials.

Tullu Sarkar, head of the yoga department, said the first batch would have 60 students. "Earlier, the varsity had decided for 40 students in the first batch but due to the overwhelming response we had to make room for additional 20. We are still getting flooded with admission requests and so is the office of pro vice chancellor. At present we can afford to admit only five more candidates," said Sarkar.

Classes will be begin from Wednesday from 8am to 11.30am and from next year classes will be held in two shifts.

"It's a new discipline and we weren't aware about the kind of response we would receive. We didn't want the allocated seats to go empty. We are happy to see that so many students in Ranchi are willing to study yoga. So from next year we decided to run the course in two shifts from. Hopefully by then we might get a new building on the varsity campus in Morabadi," said Sarkar.

She further said nine faculty members, including teachers and instructors, had been appointed. "We hired teachers who had a PG degree in yoga science, while instructors with a diploma degree and adequate experience were roped in," said Sarkar.

According to vice chancellor Pandey they plan to make the yoga department an independent entity in future and a formal proposal in this regard will be soon sent to the state education department. "Also, we would like to open a new section and launch short-term courses of three and six months duration targeted mainly to working professionals," said Pandey.

Rinku Kumari, a middle-aged homemaker who took admission last week, said a yoga degree would help her become independent. "Yoga is one such discipline for which you have to work in a 9 to 5 shift in any office. I always wanted to be independent and not just manage home. Now after acquiring the degree, I can work as a yoga instructor and choose clients on my own," said Kumari.