Decolonising healing (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2: Health
Prelims level: Unani medicine
Mains level: Evolution of Unani medicine and its application in modern times

Context:

• The evolution of Unani medicine itself has been as a syncretic science.

About the founder:

• Hakim Ajmal Khan (1868-1927), born on February 11 in Delhi in a family of hakims, was an exceptional healer, a freedom fighter, and the founder of Ayurveda and Unani Tibbia College in Delhi and the Jamia Millia Islamia.
• His contributions led to his birthday being declared Unani Day.
• The Tibbia College was envisaged to strengthen indigenous scientific content and practice of Ayurveda and Unani by bringing them into one institution.

Evolution of Unani medicine:

• The evolution of Unani medicine itself has been as a syncretic science.
• It draws its roots and name from ancient Greek physicians and philosophers, Hippocrates and Galen, also the acknowledged roots of modern medicine in Europe.
• Greek knowledge was absorbed and preserved by the Arabs through translation of Hippocratic and Galenic texts into Arabic (and later into Latin, making them accessible to Europe).
• The Persian scientist-philosopher Ibn Sina was next in chronology to contribute much to this medical tradition.
• Unani remains alive in practice on the Indian subcontinent.
• As reported in 2017, there are in India 264 hospitals, over 1,500 dispensaries, 201 colleges and almost 50,000 registered Unani practitioners.
• The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library set up by Centre in 2001 includes 98,700 Unani formulations.

Importance of the scientific approach of Unani:

• Important to recognise is the value of the scientific approach of Unani that is diagnostic, prognostic and holistic, with a stated syncretic developmental approach.
• All sciences grow by interacting with and assimilating from other knowledges, but most do not actively acknowledge this, instead claiming a superiority and universality of application.
• Historically, medicine and its effectiveness has been one route to assertion of cultural superiority and political legitimacy.
• However, Unani demonstrated a scientific humility by retaining the name that acknowledges its roots.

Way forward:

• To strengthen this knowledge system, the Committee suggested admitting undergraduate students immediately after school for a Pre-Tibb curriculum of two-years and then a four-and-a-half year curriculum of Unani medicine and surgery;
• The research including research on the fundamental principles and basic theories of Unani system of medicine, such as temperament.
• The humoral theory and Tabiat Mudabra-Badan (natural healing powers); and rights, status and privileges for Unani practitioners equal to their Allopathic counterparts.
• We still have a way to go on each of these.
• Decolonising healthcare with confidence in fundamental principles of AYUSH systems and openness to syncretic adaptations based on sound logic and research has lessons for sustainable and effective healthcare.

Online Coaching for UPSC PRE Exam

General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy, consider the following statements:
1. The President of India has recently presented the International Gandhi Awards for Leprosy to Dr N.S. Dharmashaktu under the Indian nomination (individual) category and the Leprosy Mission Trust under the institutional category.
2. The Award is presented once in two years and consists of Rs. 2 lakhs as cash award, a Medallion and a Citation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both
(d) None

Answer: C
Mains Questions:
Q.1) Describe the value and significance of the Unani medicine. Do you think it is still relevant for modern healthcare system?