INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON

“Rejuvenating Ayurveda-
The classical Vedic skill of healthcare for global health challenges of 21st century”

Held at Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh. India from December 18-20, 2010

Introduction:

Life is the most subtle, mysterious and fundamental phenomenon in cosmos. The widely scattered ideas, innovations and inventions in life sciences (traditional, tribal and technological) are gradually converging and overlapping suggestions for a common well-knit foundation on which wonderful fabric of life can be tailored suiting to the needs. Ayurveda- The fifth Veda in Indian traditional system of healthcare- is a vision spelling out principles of AYUSH VIGYANAM; i.e., natural healthcare. Encompassing preventive and curative measures of health related problems; the Ayurveda has been defined as a holistic knowledge regarding vitality and longitivity promoting materials and their properties as per Vedic literature.

It is elating that the market of Ayurvedic (herbal) medicines is now being recognized as a globally emerging field in alternative therapies. Consequently capital flows would provide new opportunities and challenges which can be faced head on, only if we can muster our traditional Vedic skill of healthcare for meeting new health related challenges of 21st century. In the present developmental dynamics of health sector, India needs a new breed of harbingers of change for rejuvenation of this time tested and trusted Ayurvedic System of healthcare. The moment has arrived now for India to launch full- scale efforts for coming up with a "Position Paper" in the field of Ayurveda. The Eternal University and World Academy of Ayurveda family feel their pleasant privilege in accepting this challenge by grooming talent of its budding scholars and scientists.

With this vision and mission in mind the above cited international conference with a commitment beyond the call of the duty was organized in which the august house of the delegates from far & wide had several rigorous and brain storming sessions. The entire house was of the opinion that Indian Government should prove its credentials as a world leader to cater to the ultimate interests of Ayurveda and alternative therapies. And this would require to articulate Government’s stand on major issues with a telltale effectiveness.

Recommendations & Suggestions of the delegates

To meet the challenges ahead the learned delegates are of the opinion and recommend strongly that:

1. The state and the central government should co-ordinate willfully to declare “Himachal Pradesh as an Organic State”

2. To preserve, conserve and promote bio-diversity, a strong academic background is inevitable. Hence an Ayurveda University with an integrated vision to accommodate other alternative therapeutic systems should be established in Himachal Pradesh. The University should also consider one or two years training or diploma programme in medicinal and herbal plants.

3. Under the banner of Public-Private partnership government should establish Bhardwaj Ayurvedic University and Research Center at Baru Sahib in honor of Bharam Rishi Bhardwaj who took the knowledge of Ayurveda here from Lord Indra for health and vitiality care of humans on the planet earth. This institution should serve as a center of excellence imbibing the use of available knowledge (traditional, tribal, biotechnology and nanotechnology etc.)

This center of excellence should also be responsible for consolidation of the available Ayurvedic literature to be published in various languages with authenticity.

4.An independent Commission on Ayurveda and alternative therapies should be framed to cater the integrated mechanism right from the identification of floral biodiversity and endangered species by remote sensing techniques; their conservation, cultivation, harvesting and sustainable exploitation; standardization and marketing; quality control, research and development etc. Autonomous institutional and governmental efforts may play a participative role in this venture with a holistic style of “power from the people for power to the people”

5. The traditional health healers who are known to practice Ayurveda or different therapeutic systems for the last several years (minimum  of15yrs experience) should be provided with a compulsory scientific training regarding health and hygiene. Such a task force should be absorbed in the rural health mission programme.

6. The health caring establishments of hospitals should be developed with an integrated approach where different therapeutic systems and expert therepeuticians may work hand in hand with a feeling of complementarity and cohesiveness. The research and development practices should also be tailored accordingly.

7. An expert Ayurved faculty should be deployed in all Indian Embassies serving abroad in order to spread Ayurvedic and Alternative therapeutic practices abroad.

8. Foreign delegations should also include an Ayurvedic expert for general health care.

9. Owing to lack of proper cultivation, harvesting, quality control and standardization system herbal export from India is much less than that from China and other countries. Hence for boosting the various aspects of herbal potential, there should be a separate Ayurved Ministry with independent minister for speedy development of Ayurveda. At the same time minimum 2% of the National Exchequer should be reserved for growth & promotion of Ayurveda and Alternative therapeutic systems.

10. Shree Dhanvantri Ayurved Seva Dal similar to the Red Cross should be organized at international level so that a team of the experts and volunteers may be deployed where ever needed at the time of need or natural disasters.

11. The entire house was of opinion that Cow should be declared as National Animal so that cow sanctuaries may be developed at national level and research on the different cow products (cow milk, cow ghee, cow urine, cow dung etc.) may be promoted will fully.

12. Similarly it was a consensus among the house that the Ayurveda should be declared as a National System of health care.

Venue: Eternal University, Baru Sahib (Himachal Pradesh)