Author: Prof Ayan Datta

Western medicine was introduced in India as early as 1600 CE and was mandated to exclusively serve the troops of the British army. In 1833, Lord Bentinck formed a committee to study the indigenous systems of medicine like Ayurveda and Unani. The report claimed that the native medical systems were extremely poor and recommended termination of official patronage to indigenous systems of medicine. The Ayurveda classes held at the Sanskrit College in then Calcutta, were discontinued in 1835. This tale is about the defiance of a doctor against the westerners which led to the establishment of the first private medical…

In the 75th year of the Independence of Bharat, it is essential for us as scholars and scientists to appreciate the tremendous contribution of the freedom fighters. The resistance towards British exploitation of our resources and attack on our cultural heritage was across the length and breadth of the country. This story is about one such unsung and hardly recognised patriot whose life itself is more eventful than any thriller. From India to Ghadar Party in the US Pandurang Sadashiv Khankhoje (1883 – 1967) was born in Wardha, Maharashtra. After completing his primary education in Wardha, he went to Nagpur for…