Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar calls for evidence-based validation of ancient texts


Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday called for a focus on alternative medicine and for evidence-based validation of ancient texts to make them accessible and applicable to contemporary challenges. He was talking after the unveiling of the statues of Sushruta and Charaka during an event in Raj Bhavan, Goa. 


“Let us not confine our ancient texts to libraries. They are not meant for the library shelves. They are meant to be widely disseminated. Let us bring those timeless ideas to life through research, innovation, and reinterpretation using modern scientific tools. Let us pursue evidence-based validation, digitisation, translations, and cross-disciplinary studies to make these treasures accessible and applicable to contemporary challenges,” he said. 


Addressing the gathering after commissioning the statues, Vice-President Dhankhar stated, “Charak was a royal physician in the Kushan Kingdom. Charak is known as the father of medicine and the author of Charak Samhita, which is a foundational text for Ayurveda.  The other, Sushrut, is known as the father of Surgery.”


“Sushruta’s writings reflect not just merely anatomical knowledge,  but a profound scientific spirit emphasizing accuracy, training, hygiene and patient care. Long before we came to be abreast of the modern surgical situations, 300 surgical procedures, plastic surgery, fracture management, and even caesarean delivery - we had it already. And it is not only that, they put it in writing for academicians,” he added. 


Reflecting on the need to take pride in our ancient knowledge, Vice-President Dhankhar further said, “India is the home of alternative medicine. It is being practised now very extensively. I am extremely happy that the World Health Organisation has recognised it by establishing a global centre for traditional medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It is a powerful recognition of the universal relevance of our systems like Ayurveda.”


The event was attended by Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, and Minister of State, Shripad Naik among other dignitaries. 



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