Ayurvedamagazine

Category: Ayurveda Stories

  • P.M. Varier takes over the reins of Kottackal Arya Vaidhya Sala

    P. Madhavankutty Varier has taken over the reins of the 119-year old Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala. This follows the demise of Dr. P.K. Warrier, who helmed the renowned institution for nearly seven decades.

    Dr. Madhankutty Varier has been serving as Chief Physician and Trustee Board member of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala. A meeting of the board held on Sunday chose Dr. Varier, who is widely known in Ayurveda circles as P.M. Varier, as new Managing Trustee. He became Chief Physician of the Arya Vaidya Sala in 2019.

    Dr. Varier, who will turn 74 in December, began his career as an Assistant Physician at the Arya Vaidya Sala in 1969 after obtaining a Post Graduate Degree from the Government Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram.

    He became Arya Vaidya Sala’s factory manager in 1985. In 1993, he headed Arya Vaidya Sala’s Chennai branch. He was elevated to Additional Chief Physician’s rank in 1995, and to Superintendent’s rank in 1999. Since 2007, Dr. Varier has been a Trustee Board member.

    Married to Shailaja Madhavankutty, who is Arya Vaidya Sala’s Senior Manager (Materials), Dr. Varier has been a governing body member of the Kerala Ayurvedic Studies and Research Society; President of the Travancore-Cochin Medical Council (Indigenous Medicine); President of the Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers Association; President of the Kerala Ayurveda Mandalam; and Member of the Union Government’s Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Committee.

    Dr. Varier is also a Member of the State Ayurveda Advisory Committee and the Union Government’s Ayurveda Siddha Unani Drug Technical Advisory Board.

    Recipient of the State government’s Dhanwantari Award in 2014, Dr. Varier is a fellow of the Rashtreeya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth since 2009.

    Responding to his elevation as the Managing Trustee of the Arya Vaidya Sala, Dr. Varier said  his effort would be to carry on the great legacy left by his uncle and strive to take Arya Vaidya Sala to greater heights. He said Dr. Warrier’s passing was a great blow to the Arya Vaidya Sala family, especially at a time when COVID-19 was posing an array of challenges.

    The board meeting expressed grief over Dr. Warrier’s death. Apart from Dr. Varier, board members P. Raghava Varier, K. Muraleedharan, C.E. Unnikrishnan, K.R. Ajay, and Sujit S. Warrier; Advisor K.M. Chandrasekhar and Chief Executive Officer G.C. Gopala Pillai attended the meeting.

  • Dr. P.K. Warrier (1921-2021) Grand old man of Kerala Ayurveda is no more

    Dr. P.K. Warrier, who stood as a beacon
    representing the very best in Kerala’s glorious Ayurvedic tradition, has
    departed, leaving behind a difficult-to-fill vacuum.


    The centurion, who was the epitome of all that is good and
    great about Ayurveda, breathed his last around noon on Saturday (July
    10).  Dr. Warrier had celebrated his 100th June
    5.
    Dr. Warrier, the tallest of the Ayurveda practitioners in the
    world, is the recipient of ‘Padma Shri’
    in 1999 and the ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2010.
    The Calicut University had conferred an honorary D. Litt. on him in 1999 for
    his stellar contributions to the modernisation of Ayurveda.


    Dr. Warrier, the youngest nephew of Vaidyaratnam P. S.
    Warrier, the founder of Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala, had taken charge as its
    Chief Physician and Managing Trustee, after his elder brother’s demise in a
    plane crash in 1954 and steered the institution into the single important
    destination for anyone seeking ayurvedic remedies from their ailments, be they
    from within India or abroad.


    Under Dr. Warrier’s stewardship, Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala
    has evolved into a premier institution of ayurvedic learning, research and drug
    manufacture. The Vaidya Sala today has five hospitals, a 300-bed facility and a
    charity hospital at Kottackal, and treating hospitals at Kochi, Delhi and
    Himachal Pradesh. The Vaidya Sala is also a major manufacturer of ayurvedic
    drugs, its three state-of-the-art drug manufacturing facilities having an
    annual turnover of $20 million.
    Through the often-difficult journey through the second half
    of the last century, Dr. Warrier remained unwavering in his commitment to
    authentic ayurvedic practices and the lofty tradition of being there to cure
    all, regardless of their economic status. Over 800,000 people benefit every
    year from free consultations at Vaidya Sala’s hospitals and the twenty-two
    branches located in different parts of Kerala and India. 


    Dr. Warrier has all along been a proponent of the idea of the
    Ayurveda practitioner getting an insightful understanding of a patient’s condition
    in the traditional way, through close interaction and physical examination,
    rather than through diagnostic investigations. Even so, he has always been
    ready to acknowledge the validity of other systems of medicine and ever so keen
    to keep himself abreast of the developments in these fields.


    Dr. Warrier has tried to propagate this holistic approach to
    treatment of diseases through his writings and speeches, contributing heavily
    to contemporary medical literature. His writings, speeches and research papers
    have been compiled under the title ‘Padamudrakal’.
    As Secretary of Arya Vaidya Samajam, he guided the growth of the Vaidyaratnam
    P.S. Warrier Ayurveda College (previously Arya Vaidya Pathasala) for over two
    decades, during the time when it was upgraded to an Ayurveda College.  


    Dr. Warrier made special efforts to incorporate technological
    innovations in the manufacturing processes of Ayurvedic medicines to enhance
    their efficacy and quality. In order to make the medicinal preparations more
    accurate, he established a research laboratory for the identification of
    medicinal plants and to ascertain the chemical identity of its pharmaceutical
    constituents. Now, this facility has grown into the Centre for Medicinal Plants
    Research, a full-fledged research institution.

  • P.K. Warrier—Epitome of a Glowing Ayurveda Tradition

    Among the many things that Kerala is
    famous for, the most prominent is its rich Ayurvedic tradition. Some seven
    decades ago, one man found himself at the inflection point of that great
    legacy, helming an institution that to this day represents the purest essence
    of that glowing tradition.

    That man was Dr. P.K. Warrier, and
    the institution, Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala. Born on 5 June 1921, Dr. Warrier
    turns 100 today.

    Dr. Warrier took over the reins of
    the Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala, located in Malappuram in north Kerala, in 1954,
    precisely at the time when India began its journey from a backward agrarian
    nation towards one that harnessed nature and technology to emerge as one the
    top five economies as the third millennium dawned.

    Dr. Warrier, the youngest nephew of
    Vaidyaratnam P. S. Warrier, the founder of Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala, was at
    once a witness to and a participant in that journey, guiding the institution as
    its Chief Physician and Managing Trustee, after his elder brother’s demise in a
    plane crash, into the single important destination for anyone seeking ayurvedic
    remedies from their ailments, be they from within India or abroad. Today,
    Kottackal is the synonym for authentic Ayurveda and over 30% of its patrons
    reach this far corner of Kerala from different parts of the globe.

    Under Dr. Warrier’s stewardship,
    Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala has evolved into a premier institution of ayurvedic
    learning, research and drug manufacture. The Vaidya Sala today has five hospitals,
    a 300-bed facility and a charity hospital at Kottackal, and treating hospitals
    at Kochi, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. The Vaidya Sala is also a major
    manufacturer of ayurvedic drugs, its three state-of-the-art drug manufacturing
    facilities having an annual turnover of $20 million.

    Through the often-difficult journey through the second half of the last
    century, Dr. Warrier remained unwavering in his commitment to authentic
    ayurvedic practices and the lofty tradition of being there to cure all,
    regardless of their economic status. Over 800,000 people benefit every year
    from free consultations at Vaidya Sala’s hospitals and the twenty-two branches
    located in different parts of Kerala and India.

    Dr. Warrier has all along been a proponent of the idea of the Ayurveda
    practitioner getting an insightful understanding of a patient’s condition in
    the traditional way, through close interaction and physical examination, rather
    than through diagnostic investigations. Even so, he has always been ready to acknowledge
    the validity of other systems of medicine and ever so keen to keep himself
    abreast of the developments in these fields.

    Dr. Warrier has tried to propagate this holistic approach to treatment of
    diseases through his writings and speeches, contributing heavily to contemporary
    medical literature. His writings, speeches and research papers have been
    compiled under the title ‘Padamudrakal’. As Secretary of Arya Vaidya
    Samajam, he guided the growth of the Vaidyaratnam P.S. Warrier Ayurveda College
    (previously Arya Vaidya Pathasala) for over two decades, during the time when
    it was upgraded to an Ayurveda College. 

    Dr. Warrier made special efforts to incorporate technological innovations
    in the manufacturing processes of Ayurvedic medicines to enhance their efficacy
    and quality. In order to make the medicinal preparations more accurate, he
    established a research laboratory for the identification of medicinal plants
    and to ascertain the chemical identity of its pharmaceutical constituents. Now,
    this facility has grown into the Centre for Medicinal Plants Research, a
    full-fledged research institution.

    Dr. Warrier served as the Dean of Ayurveda in Calicut University and was
    Chairman of its Board of Studies. In recognition of his unique academic
    achievements, the University awarded an honorary D. Litt. to him in 1999. Well
    known as an     ardent
    supporter of medical ethics, Dr. Warrier     was honoured with many
    awards and distinctions over the last over seven decades. The nation honoured
    him with the ‘Padma Shri’ in 1999 and the ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2010.

    No wonder then that Dr. Warrier, is today the tallest of the Ayurveda
    practitioners in the world, Kottackal Arya Vaidya Sala the epitome of all that
    is good and great about Ayurveda, the science of life.

  • Integrative approach, the need of the hour: Dr Rathin

    An integrative and individualized treatment approach
    that combines Homeopathy with modern medicine or other natural medical systems like
    Ayurveda should be initiated so as to get the best possible results, veteran
    homeopath Dr Ratin Chakravarthy said on Sunday.

    He was speaking as a panelist in the second of
    the ‘Ayush Hard Talk’ webinar series on the topic ‘Does Homeopathy Work’. The
    hard-hitting debate series is being organized by the Ayush Valley Foundation in
    association with the Ayurveda and Health Tourism Magazine.

    “Future of medicinal streams like Homeopathy is
    very bright. The scientific validation of the drugs through clinical trials
    will prove their efficacy which may even better the modern medicine in some
    cases,” Ratin, former Mayor, Howrah, West Bengal, added.

    “Homeopathy brings in a new concept that has
    been found effective in treating many chronic illnesses. For instance, when a severe
    outbreak of dengue occurred in the state of Kerala, the Homeopathic medicines like
    X-ray 200 and Bryonia Alba worked wonders and a large number of people shifted
    to homeopathic treatment,” said Prof Dr E S Rajendran of Mar Sleeva Medicity,
    Pala, Kerala, observed.

    “..We need to reach out to the authorities and
    exhort them to take measures for development of natural medical systems like
    homeopathy. The scientific evidences and validation are only going to enhance
    their acceptability,” noted Dr Jayesh V Sanghvi of Nature Clinic, Chennai,
    Tamil Nadu.

    The ‘Ayush Hard Talk’ series was rolled out on October
    four when the initial episode on the topic ‘Why this conflict between Modern
    Medicine and Ayurveda’ received an overwhelming response. Dr Bhaswati
    Bhattacharya, MD MPH (Harvard) PhD (Ayu-BHU), moderates the over one-hour
    sessions being held on the first Sunday of every month.

  • Integrative Medicine the way forward: Dr Yogender K Gupta

    Integrative medicinal practices, Modernisation and Education
    are crucial factors for development of the Indian traditional Ayurvedic system
    of Medicine, noted Dr Yogender K Gupta, President of the All India Institute of
    Medical Sciences, Bhopal.

    “The much-needed dialogue between the different systems of
    medicine should happen for an effective system of health and well-being…Integrative
    Medicine, incorporating the best from both the systems of medicine, should be
    increasingly practiced. Patients must be informed of the advantages and
    disadvantages of both for specific conditions,” said Gupta, who previously held
    the position of Head of Department (HoD), AIIMS, New Delhi.

    He was one of the expert panelists attending the first of the
    ‘Ayush HardTalk’ webinar series held on Sunday on the topic     ‘Why this conflict between
    Modern Medicine and Ayurveda’.

    “Ayurveda is a great science which looks at the holistic well-being. It’s
    much effective when dealing with chronic diseases and specific conditions …The
    education of basic philosophy behind the traditional art and science should be
    initiated. The government has to help in informing the society about the system…
    Not just the common man, but policy makers and politicians have to be educated
    about the benefits and treatment potential,” said Arvind Kulkarni, Integrative
    Oncologist BSD Trust, IC Treatment & Research Centre, Wagholi, Pune.

    The Ayurvedic intervention should be supportive to modern medicines from
    the beginning (in curing chronic diseases) rather than at a later stage, said
    Kulkarni, who have treated over 30, 000 Cancer patients.

    “Basic education and training about the other systems of medicine should be
    imparted to disciples of both Western Medicine and traditional systems like
    Ayurveda,” said Elensi Tsiompanou MD, FRCP, Harmony in Health Ayurveda Clinical
    Lead College of Medicine & IH London, UK.

    The experts called for modernization of Ayurveda through tools such as proper
    documentation and statistical analysis so as to propagate the system globally with
    evidence of its efficacy.

    The series, being organised by the ‘Ayush Valley Foundation’ in tie up with
    the ‘Ayurveda & Health Tourism’ Magazine, is moderated by Dr Bhaswati
    Bhattacharya MD MPH (Harvard) PhD (Ayu-BHU). She is a Fullbright Specialist
    (2018-2022) in Public Health and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine,
    Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.

    The over-an-hour webinar series is held on the first Sunday of every month.
    Experts and ‘Who is Who’ from various health systems will discuss the critical
    issues hindering progress of the AYUSH system of medicines despite its growing
    acceptance among global audiences.

    ENDS

  • Follow ‘Dinacharya’ and ‘Ritucharya’: VP

    Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has emphasised the importance
    of a healthy body and mind while exhorting citizens to follow the concepts of “    Dinacharya” (daily regimes) and “Ritucharya” (seasonal regimes) as
    advocated in the traditional Indian medicinal science of Ayurveda.

    “The pandemic has taught us the overriding importance of
    staying healthy, both physically and mentally… fitness coupled with balanced diet
    is essential to stave off illnesses,” he said while inaugurating the 14th
    edition of FICCI HEAL on the theme “Post Covid Healthcare World–The New
    Beginning” through video conferencing.

    Pointing out that sedentary lifestyle was one of the main
    reasons for growing incidence of non-communicable diseases in the country, he
    urged people to indulge in any form of physical activity like spot
    jogging/running/brisk walking/ aerobics and stretching daily to remain fit. He
    also called upon the doctors and media to create awareness and educate people
    to stay healthy and fit.

    Naidu said Yoga and meditation should become part of daily
    timetable along with sports in schools and colleges once normalcy returns.

    Referring to the event’s theme which talked of new beginning
    in post-Covid Healthcare World, the Vice President said the new beginning
    should also be about going back to old habits. “Our ancestors have prescribed
    us nutrition rich food. We should avoid fast-food and mindless eating,” he
    added.

    Calling upon people to adapt to the culture of the new normal
    and take all the prescribed precautions seriously to fight Covid-19 pandemic,
    he said it was highly critical for people to act responsibly and support the
    multifarious efforts of the government and health professionals to break the
    transmission of the dreaded virus. “We simply cannot allow complacency to set
    in and lower our guard.”

    Maintaining that the nation cannot remain in lockdown
    forever, he referred to the Prime Minister’s statement that life is important
    but livelihood is also equally important. While expressing hope that there
    would be good news on the vaccine front in the near future, Naidu urged people
    to wear masks, maintain social distancing and frequently wash hands.

    Speaking on the universal psycho-social impact caused by the
    pandemic, he said, “The psycho-social aspects of older people, their caregivers,
    psychiatric patients and marginalised communities need special attention.”

    Stressing the need to collectively move ahead with renewed
    determination to defeat the virus, Naidu said “Not only do we need to find ways
    to eliminate the virus, but we must also have to be prepared to meet post-Covid
    challenges and be well-equipped to face any future pandemics”.

  • Ayurveda globalization to unveil vast opportunities: Dr S Sajikumar

    There is a vast growth opportunity for the Ayurveda sector if
    the rich potential of the traditional Indian medicinal system could be disseminated
    globally by addressing concerns of international society like “safety, efficacy
    and purity”, Dr S Sajikumar, Chief Physician & MD, Dhathri Ayurveda, said.

    “Every challenge is an opportunity … The global health crisis
    has led to much awareness of the preventive cure and Immunity development
    properties of Ayurveda among the global audience. It’s projected that the
    Indian Ayurveda market will witness a four-fold increase in growth in the next
    five years, touching one lakh crore by 2025,” the former Chairman, CII-Kerala,
    pointed out.

    “The Ayurvedic community has conviction about its efficacy
    and potential. Now efforts should be made for globalization of Ayurveda… For
    that we need a shared vision of the many stakeholders and make investments in
    strategic areas like Research and standards, Quality testing and adequate raw-material
    supply. The goal should be to develop Ayurveda globally as a parallel system
    (along with modern medicine) and not as an alternative one,” Sajikumar added.

    The topic ‘Ayurveda Medicine
    Manufacturing: Challenges and Opportunities post Covid-19’ was discussed in
    detail during the second episode of the National Webinar Series ‘AYUSHVICHAR’, organized
    by the Ayush Valley Foundation in association with the Ayurveda & Health
    Tourism Magazine on Saturday.

    “The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in breaking of the dogma (against traditional
    medicine) universally. Now people started believing in immunity and adopting
    the ‘Back to Nature’ strategy. The industry should stay in-tune with changing
    times. For instance, Ayurveda doctors should be more informed and understand
    medicinal chemistry or Immunology. The pharmaceutical industry should try new
    areas products like Immunity diagnostic kits,” observed Dr Hrishikesh Damle, MD
    & CEO, Atrimed Pharmaceuticals (P) Ltd.

    Dr Narasimham Jammi, CEO, Jammi Pharmaceuticals, stressed that time is
    right for making the world aware of the rich potential of Ayurveda and its
    treatment scope against a whole lot of diseases.

    “The effectiveness of ‘Rasaaushadi’ (mettalo medicine) in treating
    chronic medical conditions like Liver Cirrhosis should be highlighted. Similarly,
    the traditional medicinal system proves more handy in certain areas like Gynecological
    solutions or sexual wellness, thanks to it having no side-effects,” he said.

    However, challenges are many – standardization, burden of proof, bonafide
    raw-materials, quality control mechanism, Marketing savvy and Regulatory
    hurdles for exports among others.

    The intense parleys discussed how the global regulatory authorities take a
    biased approach against the Indian medicinal system which so far restricted its
    entry into the global market. “For instance, the FDA regulators wrongly criticized
    the Indian medicines, citing presence of heavy metals like Mercury. This without
    any knowledge of ‘Rasaaushadi’ and its safe treatment procedures. Our
    authorities should take measures in proving the safety and efficacy of such
    treatment systems through case studies globally,” said Dr Bhaswati
    Bhattacharya, a Fulbright Specialist in Public Health-Integrative Medicine at
    Weill Cornell Medical College, New York.

    The webinar was moderated by Dr Madan Thangavelu, noted Genome
    Biologist from the University of Cambridge, UK, and co-moderated by Dr
    Harikumar Bhaskaran Nair, Ayurvedic Physician, Research and Co-ordinator, NSS
    Ayurvedic Hospitals.

  • Ayurveda exponent P R Krishnakumar passes away

    Padmashree (Dr) P R Krishnakumar, the head of ‘Arya Vaidya
    Pharmacy (Coimbatore) and a crusader of scientific validation of the
    traditional Indian medical system, died at a private hospital in Coimbatore on
    Wednesday night.

    He was 69.

    The eminent Ayurveda exponent was suffering from acute
    pneumonia and was undergoing treatment at the Kovai Medical Centre and
    Hospital, Coimbatore, for the last one week. His condition worsened and he
    breathed his last at 8.30 pm.

    Krishnakumar has been conferred with the prestigious
    Padmashree Award in 2009 and the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Award in 2016 by
    the Government of India for his outstanding contributions in the field of Ayurveda.

    “Shri P R Krishnakumar’s persistent, enterprising and mission-mode efforts contributed to Ayurveda’s global popularity. He was an extremely humble and knowledgeable person. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family. Om Shanti,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

    Born in 1951 as the son of Arya Vaidyan P V Rama Varier, the
    founder of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP), and Pankajam Rama Varier, Krishnakumar
    was instrumental in bringing Ayurveda to the attention of the World Health
    Organization (WHO), which along with the ICMR participated in the first
    clinical research on Ayurveda treatment of rheumatoid arthritis back in 1977.

    Krishna Kumar championed the cause of scientific validation
    of Ayurveda, and incorporation of the best of modern science in both clinical
    practice and medicine production, particularly in organizations that he headed.
    He played a key role in the establishment of the AVT Institute for Advanced
    Research (AVTAR) in 2003. The institution was set up to conduct clinical,
    literary, field and drug researches and to train aspiring Ayurveda scholars.

    It was Krishnakumar who first conceived and implemented the Gurukula
    pattern of Ayurveda studies, also in 1977, by charting out a unique 7½ year
    course. It included components like spiritual practices and traditional martial
    arts, set in an environment conducive to learning in which students lived
    alongside their teachers. The successful curriculum model was later known in
    academic circles as the “Coimbatore Experiment”.

    Krishnakumar, a celibate, was instrumental in leading the AVP
    company from its humble beginning to one of the country’s greatest traditional
    Ayurveda houses with over 600 outlets across the country. He held various top
    positions like the Chairman of CARe Keralam (Confederation for Ayurvedic
    Renaissance-Keralam Pvt Ltd) and the Chancellor of Avinashilingam Institute for
    Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore.

  • E T Narayanan Mooss, the man behind modernization of Ayurveda medicines

    Ashtavaidyan
    E T Narayanan Mooss, who died on Wednesday, was a renowned Ayurveda exponent
    who paved the way for modernization of ayurvedic remedies by leveraging modern
    technology to meet the desired quality of drugs.

    A Padma Bhushan awardee, Narayanan Mooss was
    instrumental in steering Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala into one of the
    largest manufacturers of ayurvedic medicines, with an extensive sales network
    all over Kerala and in different parts of India.

    Ever since he took reigns of the pharmacy back in
    1954, Mooss had employed state-of-the-art methods for selection, cleaning,
    processing and storage of herbs and raw materials besides in the production and
    preservation of medicines. The same led to availability of ayurvedic medicines
    at reasonable prices to the public.

    The Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala owing to its
    quality standards was extended the ISO 9001:2000 certification. Besides
    classical Ayurvedic medicinal preparations, the Thaikkattu Mooss family
    developed many proprietary formulations and products, some of which are patented.

    Narayanan Mooss was honoured with Padma Bhushan
    in 2010 for his remarkable contributions in the field of Ayurveda. He also won
    the prestigious ‘SWADESHI PURASKAR’ instituted by the SWADESHI JAGARAN
    FOUNDATION for the year 1997 and the AKSHAYA AWARD in 1999.

    His father Ashtavaidyan E T Neelakandan Mooss,
    who set up the Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala in 1941, was awarded the Padma
    Shri by the Government of India in 1992 while his grandfather Ashtavaidhyan E T
    Narayanan Mooss was conferred the title of ‘Vaidyaratnam’ by Lord
    Reading, the then Viceroy of India, in 1924.

    Narayanan Mooss, who was the Chairman and
    Managing Director of the Vaidyaratnam Group, breathed his last at his
    residence at Thaikkattussery in Ollur, Thrissur, around 8 pm on Wednesday. He
    was 87. His funeral was held with state honours at ‘Thaikkattussery Mana’ on
    Thursday morning.

    He is survived by wife Sathi Antharjanam and
    children E T Neelakandan Mooss (Senior Director, Vaidyaratnam Group), E T
    Parameswaran Mooss (Director, Vaidyaratnam Group), E T Shailaja Devadasan
    (Director, Bengaluru operations, Vaidyaratnam Group), daughters in-law Hema
    Mooss and Mini Mooss and son in-law Devadasan Namboothiri (Bengaluru).

  • Live in harmony with nature: VP

    Indian Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has urged people to
    introspect on their lives during the last few months under Coronavirus induced
    confinement and assess if they have learned the right lessons and equipped
    themselves to deal with such uncertainties.

    Naidu stressed the pandemic needs to be looked at not only as
    a disaster but also as a ‘corrector’ for making necessary changes in the
    perspectives and practices of living so as to live in harmony with the nature.

    Seeking to engage with people on the causes and consequences
    of Covid-19 pandemic, Naidu took to social media where he posted the “Musings
    of Life in Corona Times”. The thrust was to properly define the purpose of life
    besides revisiting the course, nature and pace of modern life with suitable
    alterations for a harmonious and measured living.

    The suggestions include; thinking and acting right like
    looking at food as a medicine that sustains healthy life; acquiring a spiritual
    dimension to life going beyond material pursuits; adhering to the principles
    and practices of right and wrong; sharing with and caring for others; nurturing
    social bonds and  repurposing the life
    for a meaningful living.

    Dwelling on the causes of frequent disasters, he said; “The
    planet does not needs us while we need the planet. Claiming sole propriety over
    the planet as if it is meant only for humans has upset the natural balance
    triggering adversities of different kind”.

    The 10-point matrix suggested by him for self-assessment include,
    if one ; is aware of the causes of the pandemic; willing to make amendments to
    the ways of living before the corona outbreak; has redefined the meaning of
    life; has identified the gaps in playing out different roles like taking care
    of parents and other elders; has equipped to face the next adversity;
    understood the dharma of life; understood the need for spiritual awakening;
    identified what has been missed out the most during confinement; is aware of
    the causes and consequences of differential vulnerabilities to the impact of
    the pandemic and if one sees the pandemic only as a disaster or as a corrector
    as well.