8 National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) - A Historical Overview and Major Contributions
National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) A Historical Overview and Major Contributions Historical Overview
225
Contribution of the Institute
226
Current Priorities
227
Collection and Digitization of Medical Manuscripts from South India, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
227
Ayurvedic Encyclopedia
227
Research database on Ayurveda and Siddha AYUSH Research Web Portal (http://ayushportal.ap.nic.in/)
228
Health aspects of Panchatantra and selected Unani Translation
229
WHO Collaborative Study
229
Medico-Historical Library and Museum
229
Conclusions and Recommendations
229
Annexure
Annexure-I: Research Activities Reported in NIIMH Bulletin/Journal, 1963-2009
224  Status of Indian Medicine and Folk Healing
230
8 National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) - A Historical Overview and Major Contributions Historical Overview The PI visited the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH), Hyderabad which is a unique institute with potential to become a hub for academic interaction on the history of medicine. The Institute has its origins in a recommendation made by Professor Henry E. Sigerist (1891-1957), Director of Johns Hopkins Institute of History of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. A recommendation to open an Institute of History of Medicine1 was made to a Committee, headed by Sir Joseph W. Bhore. Based on this recommendation, a special committee headed by Dr. A.L. Mudaliar, the then Vice Chancellor of Madras University was established to identify suitable premises to house the new institute. Dr. Mudaliar and Major General S.L. Bhatia, the Surgeon General of the composite State of Madras recommended that a Department of History of Medicine be opened in the Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. At that time, no college in India had a History of Medicine Department. After the formation of Andhra State, the Department started functioning from Visakhapatnam which was later transferred to Hyderabad in 1957 as the State capital already had many Ayurveda
and Unani Colleges as well as libraries and museums. In 1958, a postgraduate diploma in History of Medicine was instituted. In 1962, the department shifted to the newly constructed building of the Osmania Medical College and was handed over to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). In 1969 it was renamed as the Institute of History of Medicine. In 1970, the Institute was transferred to the Central Council for Research in Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (CCRIM&H). In 2009, the institute was again renamed as the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage. Prof. Sigerist saw India as a country in transition moving from heavy dependence on indigenous medicine practitioners to greater reliance on scientific medicine. According to him an understanding of the evolution of medicine would enable medical graduates to integrate better with the emerging social and economic structure of Indian society. While recognizing that the “history of medicine is both history and medicine”2 Sigerist said that the Institute should “investigate the medical heritage of the country dispassionately and critically, not in order to prove a point”. He was perhaps hinting at the need to avoid
1. Report of the Health Survey and Development Committee (Vol. III, Appendices) p. 204-213. Simla: Government of India Press. (1946) 2. Government of India. (1946). Report of the Health Survey and Development Committee (Vol. III, Appendices) p. 209. Simla: Government of India Press.
National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) 225
using history for political ends and noted that the institute should “reconstruct and envisage the medical past of India from the perspective of history, in relation to and as part of the general civilization of the various periods”3. His aim was to preserve and exploit what was of use in the indigenous systems while refuting claims that were not justified4. He therefore recommended that a critical study of medical folklore should be undertaken to provide evidence of the sustenance of tradition. He stressed the need to investigate books, folklore and other sources of information keeping in mind the interaction that India had with other cultures and expected the Institute to study the efficacy of reported treatments not directly, but by pointing out to pharmacologists and clinicians what needed to be tested. He felt that such initiatives would enrich the medical education curriculum by bringing in a historical perspective. Dr. D.V.Subba Reddy is generally recognized as the pioneer in the study of Indian medical heritage5. He joined the Visakhapatnam Medical College in 1931 and when Andhra Pradesh state was formed in 1956 he became the first Chair in the History of Medicine at the Andhra Medical College. He is credited with establishing the medico-historical library which forms the core of NIIMH’s current collection. These include medical classics from around the world, books on the history of medicine, and books on the history of culture, literature and science. His second major contribution was the setting up of a museum,
which continues to be developed at NIIMH. Himself a prolific researcher he produced more than 125 articles, 19 monographs and books on Indian systems of medicine and Indian medical heritage6. He was among those who believed in pursuing a rigorous scientific approach and emphasized the view that “the medical historian must find out what the health conditions were in a given society at a given time”7. This broad mandate provides the rationale for the work the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage has undertaken over the years. The PI had visited the Institute on 10th May, 2012 during her visit to Andhra Pradesh and met the Director and his officers.
Interaction with Director and other Research Officers of the NIIMH, Hyderabad
Contribution of the Institute The current activities include: 1.
Collection of old medical manuscripts and rare books on indigenous medicine systems, in different languages.
2.
Translation and publication of selected manuscripts.
3. Government of India. (1946). Report of the Health Survey and Development Committee (Vol. III, Appendices) p. 210. Simla: Government of India Press. 4. Government of India. (1946). Report of the Health Survey and Development Committee (Vol. III, Appendices) p. 211. Simla: Government of India Press. 5. Dr. D.V.Subba Reddy Memorial Lectures: Souvenir, P-3. Hyderabad: Indian Institute of History of Medicine. (1992) 6. Dr. D.V.Subba Reddy Memorial Lectures: Souvenir, P -5. Hyderabad: Indian Institute of History of Medicine. (1992) 7. Dr.D.V.Subba Reddy Memorial Lectures: Souvenir, P -32. Hyderabad: Indian Institute of History of Medicine. (1992)
226 Status of Indian Medicine and Folk Healing
3.
Collection of medical information from non-medical sources like ancient literature, archaeological and epigraphical sources, and accounts written by foreign travelers to India.
3.
4.
Studying the historical development of concepts of disease and drugs in the indigenous systems of medicine.
Collection and Digitization of Medical Manuscripts from South India, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
5.
Preparation of biographies of physicians and authors and creating a commentary of classical medical literature, during different periods.
6.
7.
8.
Writing the history of medicine, focusing on geographical areas, specific time periods, and specific themes. Disseminating information, holding exhibitions and seminars, providing referral services and guidance to research scholars. Collecting the oral history and material from hereditary physicians and traditional medical practitioners in and around Hyderabad.
The Institute has been publishing a Bulletin/ Journal since the seventies now renamed as the “Journal of Indian Medical Heritage”. 39 volumes of the journal (1971-2009) contain 711 articles which present an interesting record of years of research activities. The outcome of the research is summarized in the table (Annexure-I). Current Priorities The recent priorities of the institute include: 1.
Collection and Digitization of Medical Manuscripts from South India, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
2.
Preparation Encyclopedia.
of
an
Ayurvedic
Creating a Research database on Ayurveda, Siddha, other traditional medicines and related sciences and an Ayush Research Web Portal (http:// ayushportal.ap.nic.in/).
The NIIMH has digitized 2568 manuscripts (801 palm leaf and 1767 paper manuscripts), 691 rare books and 407 rare journals. Thus, in all, 3666 items have been digitized during the three years of the project (Table 2). Table 2: Manuscripts, books and journals digitized, NIIMH, June 2011 Subject Ayurveda
Manuscripts Rare books Total 1502
Siddha
559
Unani
506
Naturopathy Sub-total
1 2568
Rare Journals Total
571 2073 46
605 506
74
75
691 3259 407 3666
Ayurvedic Encyclopedia The project will provide the scientific, academic and lay users an authentic ready reference for the correct usage of Ayurvedic technical terms. The translation of Ayurvedic terminology would have authentic references, etymology, definitions, synonyms, and literal and applied meanings. The encyclopedia has been planned to be printed in English and Hindi supported by a digital version. This would be a word lookup tool developed inhouse which would be useful for searching different texts.
National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) 227
Centre, Hyderabad, an electronic database was developed which comprises four volumes of research databases available online. Research Database Volume I, cover page, NIIMH
Samhita Look-up tool and Ayurveda Encyclopedia, NIIMH
E-book version of Caraka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Nibandha Sangraha and Nyaya Chandrika commentaries have already been released and e-books on Vagbhata, Madhava Nidana, and 24 Nighantus are under finalization. The CDs are reported to be in great demand. The Unani books are yet to be included as e-versions. The encyclopedia and the e-books would mainly be of use to the researcher, but they can be converted into interesting products for the general public. Research database on Ayurveda and Siddha AYUSH Research Web Portal (http://ayushportal.ap.nic.in/) This project began in February 2008. Academic and research institutions of Ayurveda and Siddha, medical colleges, universities, pharmaceutical industries, agricultural universities, research scholars, and others were approached to provide research abstracts available with them in a prescribed format. With technical assistance from the National Informatics
228  Status of Indian Medicine and Folk Healing
An Online Ayush Research Portal has been launched where it is possible to search of research data by user. Selected institutes can also upload research data. The table below indicates the status as of September, 2011. A brief overview of data upload on the online AYUSH Research Portal Disease related
September 2011
Standard Treatment Guidelines
78
Preventive & Promotive health care
227
Pre-clinical & Clinical
3085
Literary & fundamental
355
Drug standardization
83
Local health traditions
71
Drug Monographs
2891
Ayurvedic Formulary of India
2193
References from classical texts
32
Plant monographs
304 9319
Other than Disease related Literary, basic & fundamental research
1711
Drug research
1693
Health aspects of Panchatantra and selected Unani Translation Panchatantra is a non-medical text which contains some information on health. It dates back to 300-200 BCE, and is believed to have been composed by Vishnusharma. A research study is in progress covering five texts among around 50 editioins. Translations of the Persian manuscript Ilajul-Atfal, by Syed Fazl Ali Shifae Khan (1836) are also being prepared, and this work is important as it focuses on paediatrics at a time when this specialty did not exist. Another text called Ain-ul-Hayat (Spring of Life), by Mohammad Ibn Yousuf Harvi (1532) is a manuscript in Arabic on Geriatrics. The work of translating it into English and identifying the specific formulations claimed to delay aging and counter diseases of old people, is also in progress. WHO Collaborative Study Evidence-based Ayurvedic remedies/therapies identified through research work: This study aims at presenting evidence on the efficacy of Ayurvedic Drugs/practices as identified by the Research Councils and National Institutes. From an initial selection of 1000 short-listed studies an expert Committee has included 106 papers which are being scrutinized according to prescribed parameters to decide finally about their inclusion. Medico-Historical Library and Museum A specialized library devoted to the history of medicine was one of the early objectives of NIIMH. Over the years, a medico-historical library with 9194 books, 282 medical manuscripts (170 Ayurvedic, 106 Unani and six
Siddha manuscripts) has been established. Of these, 444 of the books are classified as “rare books”. The focus is on medicine as reflected both in medical literature as well as found in works on art and sculpture, archeology, epigraphy, history of science and in world medicine. The library is open to historians and research scholars. Early and first editions of rare books (like the A. F. Rudolf Hoernle edition of The Bower Manuscript, 1893-1912, and Richard Quain’s The Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body 1844) which are of immense medico-historical value are also available. There is also a small Medico-Historical Museum which displays exhibits like photographs, paintings, charts, models, postal stamps of medico-historical importance, and antique clinical apparatus. Some important palm leaf and paper manuscripts are also on display. In all there are 840 exhibits.
Conclusions and Recommendations For all the work that the institute is doing in a comparatively rudimentary set up, there exists little knowledge about its presence and output. The Institute should hold annual seminars in which academics active in the history of medicine field should be invited along with publishers who specialize in this area. Linkages should be established with international scholars who are proficient in Ayurveda and Unani medicine so that they begin to use the resources. The Institute should set up on Advisory Committee with representation from different stakeholders, particularly from scholars of public healthfrom institutions like Johns Hopkins USA and European institutions so that new ideas are generated and the institute becomes a gateway for scholars and students of the history of Indian Medicine.
National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) 229
Annexure-I Research Activities Reported in NIIMH Bulletin/Journal, 1963-2009 Sl. No.
Name of Project
196365
197180
198190
19912000
200109
Total
Ayurveda 1
Search for, and editing and publication of rare medical manuscripts/books
11
27
6
6
4
54
2
Biographical studies and articles on authors/compilers, redactors/ commentators, phywsicians of classical treatises
1
19
–
6
14
40
3
Translation of selected passages from ancient medical classics
12
8
–
–
1
21
4
Study and collection of medical information from archaeological and epigraphical sources and archival records
–
3
–
–
–
3
5
Collection/ compilation of medical information from non-medical literature (Vedas, Puranas etc.)
4
4
1
5
15
29
6
Medico-historical papers on drugs/ diseases
–
5
–
5
14
24
7
Projects on writing the history of medicine (area wise, period wise and theme wise)
–
7
3
5
5
20
8
Compilation of travelers’ accounts of the development of medical science
7
4
–
1
–
12
9
History of Ayurveda
–
1
1
3
–
5
10
General articles on Ayurveda
–
12
10
3
1
26
11
Lists of medical works
10
1
4
2
–
17
45
91
25
36
54
251
20
14
4
5
–
43
Ayurveda total
Unani 1
Search and collection of information, editing and publication of rare medical manuscripts/ books.
2
Biographical studies and preparation of articles on authors/ compilers, redactors/ commentators and physicians of classical treatises.
1
14
2
3
–
20
3
Translation of selected passages from ancient medical classics.
6
6
5
2
1
20
4
History of Unani medicine area wise, period wise and theme wise.
–
5
3
–
–
8
230 Status of Indian Medicine and Folk Healing
Sl. No.
Name of Project
196365
197180
198190
19912000
200109
Total
5
Drafting/Publication of MedicoHistorical paper on drug/disease
–
–
–
–
2
2
6
Lists of medical works
9
1
–
–
–
10
36
40
14
10
3
103
Unani total
Others 1
Siddha
–
16
–
–
3
19
2
Homeopathy & Naturopathy
–
8
–
–
–
8
3
Modern Medicine
4
11
1
1
–
17
4
Early European medical writers
8
2
–
–
–
10
5
Book reviews
–
11
4
16
1
32
6
Compilation of bibliographic indexes
6
5
2
3
1
17
99
184
46
66
62
457
National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (NIIMH) 231