Grassroots institution-builder of modern Gujarat

It is gratifying that ayurvedic sector has received strong support in the last few years in Gujarat and at national level, thanks to a dynamic devoted leadership of department. The state budget has doubled, more dispensaries have been created, and Jamanagar Ayurvedic University continues to produce nationally and internationally-renowned research publications and trained human resources.

There is a strong case for building upon the standards of excellence that this university has created and more support to the university. Before I dwell more upon what I learned during the recent visit to the university, let me share a very interesting story I learned from Dr Attara, acting principle of UG College at the
university.

Decades ago, it seems that king of Dhrol, popularly known as Thakur of Dhrol had a problem of convulsions when he went to bed, followed by headache and other problems. He consulted many English doctors in Jamnagar and Mumbai and somehow nobody could treat him.

He was advised by the doctors to go to England for surgery of some suspected tumour in his head. On the way to England, he was resting for a few days in Ahmedabad. His ADC told him about a vaidya in the city who he felt could be given a chance, just in case it helped. The idea was not liked much by Thakur but he relented on his insistence and agreed to visit the Vaidya.

When the word was sent to Vaidya Prabha Shankar Patni (whose disciple RL Parikh later became the V-C of Jamnagar Ayurvedic University) that Thakur of Dhrol wanted to see him, he advised him to come in queue since he didn’t break his rules for any body.
Accordingly Thakur ‘s turn came and the Vaidya saw him.

He advised his assistant Rasik Lal Parikh to put some oil in his ears, cleared the clogging wax and gave some other medicines. He asked him to take rest for a while till he could see other patients. In the meanwhile, Thakur got relief and felt very happy. He asked him as to what fees or gift could he offer to him for getting him rid of this great problem.

Vaidya did not want to take anything from him but Thakur insisted. On seeing his keen desire, Vaidya asked him as to how much he would have spent on his visit to UK.  Thakur kept all the money he could have spent for his travel and treatment abroad on the table. Vaidya didn’t touch this money and asked a trust to be established for popularisation of Ayurveda in Gujarat.

He invited Bhikshu Akhandanad to take this money but what would Bhikshu do with it. He set up Sastu Sahitya Vardhak Karyalaya to pularise low cost scriptures as well as Gujarati classical Ayurvedic books translated by Girija Shankar Mayashankar Shastri.

I wish contemporary elite patients would think about the debt they owe to this valuable traditional healing system and continue this great tradition of philanthropy and creation of public good.