Promotion of Ayurvedic Education

Ayurvedic education is very scientific, systematic and practical oriented having its own principles and methodology of teaching. In ancient time, students (Shishyas) were studying Ayurveda under residential system staying in Pathshala  or Ashram and all the theoretical as well as practical facilities of study with high calibered teachers were available under one roof. Vaidyas having theoretical knowledge with practical training and vice – versa were allowed to practice by the state, otherwise they were discarded by the society. In this connection, Ayurvedic education should be based on deep and extensive study of its fundamentals and principles and their application in day to day practice. Ayurvedic graduates should have motivation for and full confidence in the methods prescribed in Ayurveda for the preservation and promotion of positive health and prevention as well as cure of the diseases.    

           Now – a – days, Ayurvedic education is at critical juncture as we are trying to adapt and adjust it in order to make it more suitable for and relevant to the present circumstances. Teaching is not just lectures. It should be practical oriented and very useful to society. To promote and propagate Ayurvedic education in this era, there is need to update the ancient knowledge and the system in pace with the development of science without diverting the fundamental principles of Ayurved. The clear scientific data based knowledge is essential to be taught to every student to inculcate the faith in our ancient system of teaching, treating and training for the Ayurvedic medicine. The objective of Ayurvedic education is to prepare excellent physician of Indian medicine, who can treat their patient with better ways and can over come the challenges against the various problems where modern medicine has its limitations. By improving the Ayurvedic education, we can achieve the goal ensuring the best healthy society.

            The history of regular Ayurvedic education and institutional training begins from Takshashila University (7^th century B.C.), where Maharshi Atreya is known to be one of the teachers of Ayurveda. Now – a – time, there are about 200 institutes all over the India affiliated with various Universities dealing with under graduate as well as post graduate studies besides another allied courses. No only that, Ayurvedic education is spread in foreign countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Canada, U.S.A., Thailand, Austria, Australia, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, U.K. etc. Doctors abroad with post- graduate qualification are legally entitled to practice any system of medicine or health science. On the other hand, Ayurveda is to serve the Indian population living mostly in urban and rural area in addition to the suffering humanity abroad.

            We are facing some problems in promoting Ayurvedic education. They are like vise inadequate skillful and well experienced academic staff, lack of facilities to develop an ideal Ayurvedic institutions, lack of common acceptance regarding various controversies, poor intercommunications between different Ayurvedic institutions, unavailability of audio-visual as well as multimedia aids, inadequate funds as well as their proper utilization, lack of awareness and effectiveness about this science of life in public sector, deficit to explore the result of therapy with medical statistical data and  un-established research strategy. Though, these problems have their solution and its results should reach in broad spectrum from student to common man.

Author : Dr. Dilip Pandya