Mananeeya Up Rashtrapati Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu Ji,
Dr. K.T. Jaleel, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education,
Shri E.T. Mohammed Basheer, Member of Parliament,
Shri K.K. Abid Hussian Thangal, Member of Legislative Assembly,
Shri P.K. Warrier, Managing Trustee, Arya Vaidyasala,
Shri P.M. Varier, Chief Physician and Trustee,
Ê|ÉªÉ ºÉ½þÉànù®úÒúà ºÉ½þÉànù®úxɨÉÉ®äú [Priya Sahodaree Sahodaranmare],
Bà±±ÉÉ´É®ÂúEÖò¨É Bx`äö xɨɺEòÉ®ú¨É. [Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram].
It gives me great joy to preside over the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of ´ÉènÂùªÉ®úixÉ¨É Ê{É.BºÉ. ´ÉÉÊ®ªÉ®ú [Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier], who is regarded as one of the doyens of Ayurvedain Kerala.
We are fortunate that this function which recalls the contributions of such a great man, is being inaugurated by none other than our Mananeeya Upa Rashtrapatiji. On behalf of the people of the State, I happily welcome Shri M. Venkaih Naidu-jito Kottackal.
As we all know, Ayurveda, or the science of life, is based on fundamental philosophies about life, disease and health. Though there are varied opinions about its origin, our Vedas are known to have references to diseases, herbs and herbal cures. Atharva Veda, for instance, has many hymns that glorify eulogize herbs.
Kerala's history points to the in-depth medical knowledge and miraculous healing skills of several families of traditional healers, known as Ashtavaidyas. Besides, the details of the plant wealth of Kerala, documented by the Dutch in the classical treatise, Hortus Malabaricus,was known to be borrowed from the palm leaf manuscripts of a native physician.
Today, throughcenturies of practice and refinement, Ayurveda has gained greater acceptance. Our National Health Policy of 2017, stressed the need to mainstream Ayurvedaand other systems of Medicine by locating them along with modern systems. This acceptance is also a recognition of the systematic efforts of people like Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varierto explore and propagate the merits of our traditional medical knowledge for the benefit of mankind.
The services rendered by Vaidyaratnam P.S. Variertowards the modernization of Ayurveda, point to his stature as an eminent institution builder. The Arya Vaidya Shaala, which he started as a village clinic in 1902, has now developed into a world renowned service organization with hospitals, drug manufacturing units and well equipped facilities for medical education and research. His far-sight in adapting scientific methods to preserve classical medicines has led to the use of innovative methods to prepare medicines and to effectively market them. The Late P.S. Varier'sinterests went beyond Ayurveda to support Arts, Theater, literature and Music.
What I have seen as extraordinary in the vision of Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varierwas his decision to bequeath the assets to the public so that the institution would be managed by a charitable Trust. I am told that a good share of the income accrued from the Arya Vaidya Shaalais exclusively dedicated to the provision of free clinical services, medicine, food and therapies to the needy patients.
I hope that in the days ahead, Arya Vaidya Shaalawould concentrate more on the utilization of our rich biodiversity for medical research. Ayurvedawould succeed to position itself as a solution for global health challenges, only if it engages in the most credible forms of medical research. For this, we need more avenues for collaborative work among Ayurvedic and other systems of medicine. Institutions like Arya Vaidya Shaalashould come forward to encourage such useful research.
On an occasion like this, a word of caution about certain unhealthy trends in traditional medicine would not be out of place. Ayurveda is now widely used in Tourism, especially Wellness Tourism. Though we have succeeded in communicating the strength of our heritage through initiatives integrating tourism with Ayurvedic treatment, we are yet to fully control the involvement of unqualified people in such ventures. This calls for the effective implementation of a national policy on the use of Ayurveda forTourism. Here too, reputed institutions like Arya Vaidya Shaalacould contribute creative suggestions.
I convey my deep sense of appreciation to Dr. P.K. Warrier, who has been leading the institution since the demise of its founder in 1944. His leadership has endowed the Arya Vaidya Shaalawith a national presence, suggestive of the people's unfailing trust in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.
I bow before the sacred memory of Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varierand hope that this institution will continue to enrich India's capabilities in medicine.
With these words, I request Mananeeya Upa Rashtrapatijito inaugurate the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Vaidyaratnam P.S. Varier.
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Nanni /Jai Hind
