A Concise History of Science in India c8.s8.t4: Present Condition of Āyurveda

A Concise History of Science in India c8.s8.t4

Language: English

Present Condition of Āyurveda

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In spite of its glorious career both in India and outside for more than two millenniums, *Āyurveda* has fallen on evil days and evil tongues. This is, of course, mainly due to the greater importance attached to the allopathic treatment introduced in this country during the British rule in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. The people of India hailed the new system as more scientific than *Āyurveda*, as there has been no development in the latter for wellnigh thousand years, and it has failed to take advantage of the modern scientific inventions and appliances. As a consequence of this, *Āyurveda* did not enjoy the patronage of the government. While medical colleges and hospitals were established all over India during the British rule, there were no such government institutions for the Āyurvedic system until recently, though a few have been established entirely through private efforts. An attempt to place the education and practice of the *Āyurveda* as well as the *Siddha* and *Unani* systems in a proper footing was made by the Madras Government through the establishment in 1924–25 of the Government School of Indian Medicine. Shortly afterwards similar efforts were made by Bihar, the United Provinces, the Punjab, Bombay and other provincial governments. The situation has not improved very much even after the achievement of independence in 1947.

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But though the Āyurvedic system has languished, it is still a living force. A large majority of Indians, specially the rural and poorer people in urban areas, take Āyurvedic medicines. It is also a happy fact that a galaxy of brilliant Vaids and Kavirājas (practitioners in *Āyurveda*), whose name and fame spread all over India, has revived the importance and popularity of the Āyurvedic system. Thus, in spite of the apathy of the government and a section of the people, *Āyurveda* has held its ground all over India, thanks to the private patronage and financial help from Indian States.

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Reference may be made to a few private Āyurvedic institutions referred to above. Gurukul Āyurveda University, Kangri, is the most famous and there are Āyurvedic colleges and *ṭols* where the pure Āyurvedic system is taught in the old orthodox style. But a new turn was given to the system of instruction towards the end of the nineteenth century by the efforts of a number of allopathic doctors who were also trained in Āyurvedic system and actually practised it. As a result, Aṣṭāṅga Āyurveda College with hospitals was established by Kaviraj Jaminibhusan Ray with a handsome donation and gift of land. Thereafter, the Viśvanātha Āyurveda Mahāvidyālaya, Vaidya Śāstra Pīṭha and Mahārāj Kāśimbazar Govinda Sundarī Āyurvedic College were established respectively by M. M. Kaviraj Gananath Sen, Kaviraj Syamadas Vacaspati and Kaviraj Ram Candra Mullick. It was thought fit and proper to follow a mixed syllabus, both in theory and practice, giving rise to what is known as the integrated system. It has produced a class of practitioners who use both Āyurvedic and allopathic medicines. In this way the influence of allopathy has entered into the precincts of *Āyurveda* all over the country.

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Opinions differ as to the propriety and usefulness of the integrated system. It is held by some that the products of this system acquire no deep knowledge of *Āyurveda*, i.e. treatment and preparation of medicine, and, what is worse, use allopathic medicines under the disguise of *Āyurveda* without mastering the rudiments of allopathy. The mischief, they hold, is mainly due to the fact that those who administer the Medical Department, including the integrated system, are all allopathic doctors without any knowledge of *Āyurveda*.

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On the other hand, it is argued by others that in the present scientific age, State recognition should not be extended to a system of medical treatment which does not take cognizance of the modern developments in our knowledge of anatomy, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and other allied sciences, or of such ‘precision’ methods for probing the human malady as are offered by thermometer, stethescope, X-ray, microscope, test of blood, stool and urine, etc. The absence of surgery is also a great drawback in Āyurvedic treatment.

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It is an intriguing problem of which no easy or immediate solution seems to be at hand. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Āyurvedic system is still a living one and is likely to retain its popularity among the masses and even a section of the educated classes, save for such diseases as malaria, typhoid, kala-azar, smallpox, cholera, plague, etc., for which successful specific remedies have been discovered in modern days. It is but fit and proper, therefore, that the State should take adequate steps to ensure a good training in the purely Āyurvedic system for those who seek it. The government should provide adequate resources for the improvement of teaching on purely Āyurvedic syllabus, make proper arrangements for preparation of all sorts of Āyurvedic medicines and experiment in Āyurvedic laboratories under eminent Āyurvedic physicians, and provide for proper training in all the departments of *Āyurveda* for students having proficiency in Sanskrit, by sanctioning proper emoluments and salary for the staff, etc. Perhaps the problem of an integrated medical system, referred to above, would be easier to solve if highly efficient Āyurvedic colleges grow side by side with the existing medical colleges.