IMA-AYUS celebrates Dhanvantari Jayanti in Delhi, honours leading Ayurveda doctors with Dhanvantari, Sushruta and Charak Awards and pledges better AYUSH healthcare.

New Delhi: On the occasion of Bhagwan Dhanvantari Jayanti, doctors associated with AYUSH systems of medicine gathered in Delhi and pledged to provide quality healthcare services to patients in India and abroad through traditional Indian medical systems.

The programme, organised under the banner of IMA-AYUS, was inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) P.K. Prajapati, Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), with prayers and rituals dedicated to Bhagwan Dhanvantari, regarded as the divine physician and the deity of Ayurveda.

The event began with Dhanvantari Vandana, followed by a devotional presentation dedicated to Lord Ganesha by the Sur Jhankar Group. A special theatrical performance depicting the emergence of Bhagwan Dhanvantari during Samudra Manthan was also presented. Women doctors associated with the organisation participated in a special devotional presentation.

The programme was presided over by Prof. (Dr.) P.K. Prajapati. Distinguished guests included Dr. Sushrut Kannaujia, Chairman, Board of Ethics and Registration, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), Government of India; Shri Murali Manohar Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Delhi; and Shri Rakesh Thapliyal, President, National Union of Journalists, India.

The guests were welcomed by office-bearers of the Delhi State unit of IMA-AYUS and presented with mementoes. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sushrut Kannaujia emphasised that a strong organisational structure is essential for the growth, development and long-term sustainability of any institution.

Dr. Arun Kataria, President of the Delhi State unit, welcomed the dignitaries, while Dr. Raman Khanna, National General Secretary, presented the organisation’s annual report, highlighting its activities and achievements.

Dhanvantari Awards Presented for Outstanding Contributions to Ayurveda

A major highlight of the programme was the recognition of distinguished contributions to Ayurveda and the Indian systems of medicine through various awards.

According to Dr. Ramphal Panchal, Media In-charge of the organisation and Chairman of its Legal Committee, the prestigious Dhanvantari Award was conferred upon Prof. (Dr.) K.K. Sijoria, former Principal of Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, Delhi, and Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, along with Dr. Durga Prasad, Marketing Director, Dabur India Limited.

Dr. Shubham Saini from Jhajjar, Haryana, received the Sushruta Award, while Dr. Veena Himanshu Sharma, Head of Department and Associate Professor at MSM Institute of Ayurveda, Sonepat, Haryana, was honoured with the Charak Award.

Dr. Purushottam Paliwal, who has donated blood 86 times, received special recognition for his remarkable contribution to society. Appreciation Awards were presented to Dr. Famiada Kaushar and Dr. Ayesha Parveen.

Dr. Chandrashekhar Bhardwaj was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contribution to the organisation. The award was presented by Dr. R.S. Chauhan, Patron of IMA-AYUS.

Continuing its tradition of recognising outstanding contributions by medical professionals, the organisation presented the Dr. J.S. Panwar Memorial Award to Dr. Munish Gulati of Delhi and the Dr. Hari Shankar Dev Sharma Memorial Award to Dr. Vijendra Pal Singhla of Faridabad.

Doctors from Faridabad, Panipat, Karnal, Kaithal and Jhajjar in Haryana, as well as Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, were also recognised for their contributions to the organisation and the promotion of Indian systems of medicine.

IMA-AYUS Highlights Four Decades of Work for Ayurveda and Doctors’ Rights

Addressing the gathering, Dr. R.S. Chauhan, Patron of the organisation, highlighted the four-decade-long journey of IMA-AYUS in promoting Indian systems of medicine, particularly Ayurveda, and safeguarding the professional rights of practitioners.

He said that despite functioning as a non-governmental organisation, IMA-AYUS has consistently worked to protect the interests of its doctor members and strengthen the recognition and development of traditional Indian medical practices.

Dr. Chauhan also highlighted the organisation’s efforts towards the wider promotion and expansion of Indian systems of medicine, stating that sustained initiatives by various stakeholders have contributed to the broader policy environment that led to the establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH.

Legal Initiatives to Protect Practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine

Dr. Ramphal Panchal highlighted the legal achievements of IMA-AYUS and emphasised the importance of ensuring that statutory provisions are effectively implemented in practice.

He stated that legal provisions alone cannot deliver their intended benefits unless they are properly enforced. He also referred to the organisation’s efforts in important legal matters before the Supreme Court, aimed at protecting the rights and professional interests of practitioners of Indian systems of medicine.

The celebration concluded with a renewed commitment by AYUSH practitioners to promote Ayurveda and other traditional Indian medical systems, strengthen professional solidarity and work towards delivering accessible and quality healthcare to people across the country and internationally.

The event brought together medical professionals, academics, institutional representatives and members of the AYUSH community, reinforcing the importance of collective efforts in advancing India’s traditional healthcare systems.