‘Ayur Bagia’

Inauguration

Indira Gandhi Centre for Indian Culture

20 June 2020

Remarks by High Commissioner Tanmaya Lal

Good morning everyone,

First of all, I would like to thank Director (IGCIC) for this initiative to develop this Ayur Bagia here at the Indian Culture Centre.

I would like to thank our Mauritian colleagues including Dr. Rhitambhra Soburrun Gopaul, Advisor of Ayurvedic Unit from the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Dr. Comachandra Radhakeessoon, President Association of Ayurvedic Physicians who are here with us today.

India is a mega biodiverse country with an extensive range of geographies, soils and climates and ecosystems.

The role of forests, trees and plants is sustaining life has been keenly understood by people since millennia. They provide oxygen, clean the air of pollutants, house birds and animals, are source of food and other materials for human societies and also herbs and medicines. It is no surprise that a whole range of plants and trees are considered sacred and even worshipped in our tradition.

Ayurveda, as we all know, is an ancient plant-based healing and cure system that has stood the test of time. This traditional medicine system is our collective heritage.

It is remarkable how thousands of years ago, physicians developed this detailed knowledge of a holistic nature. It shows how our ancestors understood the interconnectedness of life. They identified specific herbs for specific uses and also to boost general immunity and health.

There are extensive studies and documentation on the very large number of plants that are considered sacred in our culture and which are also known for their various medicinal properties.

In Ayurveda there is a significant focus on medicinal plants specific to a geography, climate, seasonal variations and local agriculture practices. Each individual’s physical constitution is also a fundamental aspect of clinical assessment.

Ayurvedic formulations are known for their holistic approach to treating any condition and their effectiveness in treating many ailments especially the lifestyle and non-communicable diseases. Modern science is validating the medicinal properties of many of these herbal medicines, and this traditional knowledge has then sought to be unethically patented in some high profile instances.

After India’s independence, non-allopathic medical systems were again sought to be revived. The Government of India has actively promoted these traditional medicine systems including Ayurveda, Yunani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH). A separate Ministry of Ayush was established in 2014. It is estimated that there are nearly half a million Ayurveda physicians, 2,400 Ayurveda hospitals and several hundred Ayurveda pharmacies in India.

Another important initiative has been the setting up of a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library to protect traditional knowledge from biopiracy and unethical patenting practices as also to digitalize and document ancient texts and formulations.

In recent decades there is growing interest in Ayurveda and traditional medicine to treat the increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases, for instance diabetes or blood pressure. There is also a rapid growth in herbal pharmaceutical industry.

Recently, the Government has announced clinical drug trials to evaluate the safe and effective use of selected and standardised Ayurvedic medicines in the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19. This will bring together Ayurvedic physicians and experts of modern medicine together. The therapeutic potential of Ayurveda is being explored in this context. Ministry of Ayush had issued an advisory for use of well-known Ayurvedic formulations to improve the general immune system and health in the time of this pandemic.

The Government of Mauritius also promotes the use of Ayurvedic medicines through its Traditional Medicine Board and a number of practicing Ayurvedic Doctors.

Earlier this year, two senior officials from Government of Mauritius visited India to participate in an International Conference on Ayush. We are also working on other aspects of collaboration such as Ayush scholarships and setting up of an Ayush Chair.

We are happy that some weeks ago we were able to bring a substantial quantity of Ayurvedic medicines as requested by Government of Mauritius from India during the difficult times faced because of the Covid pandemic.

I would once again thank the Mauritian colleagues for their presence here today and Director IGCIC for this symbolic initiative.

This has assumed a greater significance at a time when Governments and people around the world are battling Coronavirus pandemic and also comes a day before the 6^th International Day of Yoga, another great traditional global heritage.

Thank you.