Image Courtesy: Consulate General of India, Edinburgh
A statue of Maharishi Sushruta, widely regarded as one of the earliest surgeons in history and the ‘Father of Surgery’, was unveiled at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in Scotland on 19 June.
The installation was announced by the Consulate General of India in Scotland, which described the event as a celebration of India’s ancient medical heritage and the long-standing links between India and Scotland in the field of medicine and surgery.
The ceremony brought together medical professionals, academics and dignitaries from India and the United Kingdom. According to the Indian Consulate, the event also highlighted the role played by the Royal College of Surgeons in advancing surgical education around the world.
The statue was installed on the initiative of Prof Chandra Cheruvu, a UK-based surgeon of Indian origin. According to news reports, Prof Cheruvu serves as a Laparoscopic and Upper Gastro-intestinal Surgeon at the University Hospital North Midlands.
This bronze statue of Sushruta weighing 90-kilogram, will permanently reside in the college’s historic Playfair Auditorium.
Prior to this, a marble statue of Maharshi Sushruta, was prominently displayed at the entrance of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) in Melbourne, Australia.
CELEBRATING INDIA’S ANCIENT MEDICAL HERITAGE
In a message shared on social media, the Consulate General of India thanked Prof Cheruvu and the Royal College of Surgeons for supporting the initiative.
“The ceremony celebrated India’s ancient medical heritage, the historical India-Scotland links in medicine and surgery, and the important role played by the Royal College in advancing surgical education worldwide,” the Consulate said.
The statue was donated by the Cheruvu Family Foundation, established by Prof Cheruvu and his family. It was crafted by a sculptor from Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.
WHO WAS MAHARISHI SUSHRUTA?
Maharishi Sushruta is considered one of the pioneers of surgery and medicine. He is best known for the Sushruta Samhita, an ancient Sanskrit text that describes surgical techniques, medical procedures and instruments.
The text is particularly noted for its descriptions of reconstructive surgery, including early methods of nose reconstruction, which many historians consider among the earliest documented examples of plastic surgery.
Sushruta is believed to have lived around 600 BCE and is traditionally associated with the ancient city of Varanasi.
Many of the surgical instruments described in his writings were inspired by Sushruta’s medical prowess, exhibited through his writings on Rhinoplasty, involving nasal reconstructions using skin from the patient’s forehead or cheek, shapes found in nature and the animal world.
IMPORTANCE OF RCS EDINBURGH
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is regarded as the world’s oldest surgical institution. It was founded in 1505 and received royal assent from King James IV of Scotland in 1506. The institution has maintained records dating back to 1581 and remains one of the world’s leading centres for surgical education and training.
Among those present at the unveiling were India’s Consul General to Scotland Siddharth Malik, Royal College President Professor Clare McNaught, former President Professor Rowan Parks, and California College of Ayurveda founder Professor Marc Halpern, along with several other distinguished guests from India, and the UK.
Source: Curated from various news reports
