This post is to draw your serious and immediate attention to an issue regarding Ayurvedic education in this country.
The system of ayurveda is in the limelight globally these days. The reason for this trend is multiple of which the major one is the philosophical and attitudinal integrity of the system which outwits any other system of medicine, Indian or foreign. But, unfortunately, our policy makers have not yet identified this uniqueness of this system. Our policy makers consider AYURVEDA as just a system of medicine which is herbal in nature, has good tourist potential, that can bring foreign currency; which has no scientific platform, no evidence, just anecdotal, not empirical; a short cut to allopathic practice and quackery, and so on...and steadily over time, our academies deteriorated to such an extent that the majority of them, all through out the country, produce graduates who simply practice allopathy, and survive. Kerala may be the only exception, thanks to the high level of social patronage that the system enjoy there.
The curriculum and syllabus of Ayurvedic course from time to time, if examined critically, can be seen to yield to this trend of deterioration. Ayurvedic principles and philosophy were losing their space and status in the curriculum and syllabus; and Western Medicine was creeping in..And a situation has reached wherein AYURVEDA has become a subsidiary topic in ayurveda colleges.
Dear friends, and now the central council has come up with a new curriculum which proposes a semester system; has just six months for Sanskrit study; no lessons on ayurvedic history; which has 424 hours of allopathic lesson and but just 100 hours of ayurveda in its first semester; 38% of total learning hours for western medicine; 40% of total examinations are in Western medicine; and so on.
It is true that the world has changed a lot. And the social demands are overwhelming. But it doesn't mean that a system should compromise in its basics. We may change in applications, we may change in interpretations, we may come up with new products...but all these are matters of higher education.. Undergraduate studies should never compromise on teaching the basics, conditioning the students in its applications, and providing hands on training in its practice. It is not the platform to overburden the learner with nonayurvedic topics. It should be simple, unambiguous, and inspiring..It should be the foundation on which everything else can be built. If the graduates are not getting proper employment, it is not the fault of the system. It is another researchable topic. It is the result of senseless and unimaginative moves that we made without sensing the changing time. It's remedy is not to mimic others.
Dear all, the draft proposal is available with the website of CCIM for comments from the stakeholders. Please have a look..and come up with your strong comments and recommendations. Demand them to reduce the learning burden in undergraduate studies; ensure a proper and smooth transition; give practical training in ayurvedic principles and clinical methods; not to ape allopathy; give the State Governments the right to finalise 60% of the syllabus according to the local traditions; and to give a chance to enjoy the esteem and pride of a VAIDYA.