Ayurveda, the Indian ethnomedicine, has gained substantial importance in recent times at international level. The Dept of Ayush has played a critical role in dissemination of Ayurveda at global level. When it comes to recognition of Ayurveda by WHO, only those therapies are endorsed which are backed by scientific evidence and devoid of toxicity. This is part of WHO policy on traditional medicine.
Scene in ayurvedic institutions
With exception of selected ayurvedic institutions, the scenario is not very encouraging. Lack of interest on part of students in attending classes and shortage of quality faculty are major hurdles in bringing uniformity in ayurvedic education pan India. Further, lack of uniform salary structure in private institutions is also hampering growth of Ayurveda. The scene is State owned and a private institution is strikingly different.
One trend that has been observed in ayurvedic institutions is that students are interested in attending lectures dealing with modern medicine. As an instance, the lectures dealing with the non clinical subject Dravyaguna are associated with credits on ancient drugs and pharmacology. As a subject expert and faculty, the author has himself experienced students attending lectures associated with drugs used in Allopathic system of medicine. The main issue to be discussed here is that why students pursuing BAMS (Ayurvedachraya) course are shirking classes dealing with Ayurveda.
The paradigm shift from Ayurveda to Allopathic is not a good sign for future of Ayurveda. In States like Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and UP the students pursuing BAMS (Ayurvedachraya) course are interested only in obtaining graduate degree and set up clinical practice in rural or urban areas (as the case may be) and serving the ailing masses with Allopathic drugs. With the exception of isolated cases, it is difficult to survive professionally as well as socially on basis of pure ayurvedic practice. It also has been observed that majority of the Ayush institutions running an undergraduate or postgraduate course have more Allopathic beds as compared to ayurvedic in the attached hospitals.
Who is responsible for present state of affairs?
Apparently, it seems that an Ayush breeze is blowing at national and international levels. This may be due to wide propaganda by government and private organization associated with Ayush. It shall be worthwhile to say that Yoga and Naturopathy have become more popular as compared to Ayush. Yoga and Naturopathy are drugless therapies and may have their own role in management of life style diseases. However, Ayush sciences have distinct commercial utility as compared to Yoga and Naturopathy and have tremendous potential for boosting national economy. Yoga has been made buzzword by continuous propaganda at national and global level.
Several Ayush universities have been opened up with the aim and objective of promotion and dissemination of Ayush sciences. Shri Krishna Ayush University, Kurukshetra is a new addition in the list of established Ayush universities. All state and private Ayush colleges are affiliated to Shri Krishna Ayush University, Kurukshetra. Similarly, all state and private Ayush colleges in Punjab are affiliated to Guru Ravi Das Ayurvedic University, Hoshiarpur. The main question is whether the Ayush universities are fulfilling for the objective they have been created? It must be ensured that all Ayush universities must work on lines similar to Banaras Hindu University and National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur. The functioning of newly created Ayush universities need urgent attention if the objective of lifting the standards of Ayurvedic education has to be achieved pan India.
Recently Niti Aayog recommended the creation of National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicines. A bridge course for Ayush professional for training in Allopathic medicines was proposed. This was vehemently opposed by Allopathic doctors and there were huge protests all over India. Earlier several committees constituted by Central govt have given recommendations for lifting of standards in Ayurvedic education. Some steps have been accepted by the Central govt and implemented for welfare of Ayurveda. Bhore committee, Dave committee, Vyas committee and Chopra committee are few to mention. Whatever is the fate of Ayush institutions today is outcome of above mentioned committee’s recommendations.
Interdisciplinary nature of Ayush
Ayush sciences have become interdisciplinary in nature and this change can be attributed to renaissance at the global level. As an instance, for a Dravyaguna expert, preliminary knowledge of traditional medicine, pharmacognosy, botany, ethnobotany, phytochemisty, pharmacology and therapeutics is vital. Same is true for other subjects which part of the Ayush curriculum. We need to understand the interdisciplinary nature of Ayush and keeping in mind the growing interest of students in modern medical science, the apex bodies like CCIM, CCH and CCUM must introduce new subjects in the curriculum for maintaining interest of the students. In this regard, it must be highlighted that Uttanchal Ayurveda University has initiated Ph.D Programme in phytochemistry in addition to conventional Ph.D Programmes.
Pedagogy in Ayush institutions
The art of teaching in Ayush institutions need immediate attention. In some Ayurvedic institutions, the language for teaching is Sanskrit. Here, the students find difficulty in understanding basic concepts of Sanskrit and permanently loose interest in the subject. Here, quality Sanskrit teachers are required and they must try there level best to ignite interest among students. In some Ayurvedic institutions, the language for teaching is Hindi as well as Hindi and students are seen comfortable and have genuine interest in studies. The art of teaching done at Banaras Hindu University should be adopted pan India where Ayurveda and Allopathic systems are studied concomitantly.
Clinical research, Natural Product Chemistry, Ethnopharmacology, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacovigilance, Bioinformatics and Cheminformatics can be introduced in the syllabus so as the Ayush graduates and postgraduates can learn application of modern day applications in traditional medicine. Although, some institutions have introduced syllabus and curriculum suited to modern times but practical exposure to analytical techniques is still a distant dream.
Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) can plan to start industrial training course in Ayush sciences in the Central and peripheral institutes. Internship in Government Testing Laboratories (DTL) can be handy for Ayush graduates and postgraduates. This is particularly significant as there is a huge demand for trained Ayush professionals in the industry but scarcity of experts is the major issue. The students need to be explained the importance of technical publications like Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Ayurvedic Formulary of India and Essential Drug List for Ayush.
All this is aimed at infusing a felling of scientific background among Ayush professionals. Ayush are time-tested sciences that have evolved by experiential research and probably the changes which should have occurred according to the time frame have hampered the growth that was expected. Securing the future of Ayush pass outs is the responsibility of the apex bodies like CCIM and Ayush.
Conclusion
This is a hard earned fact that majority of the ayurvedists are involved in allopathic clinical practice. A faction of ayurvedists opt for Ayush clinical practice as professional and only selected one are able to establish or have flourishing practice. Apex bodies and Ayush fraternity need to think on non-popularity of Ayush among professional and take strong steps to restore the commercial value.
(The author is a herbal consultant, based in Mohali)
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