Integrated Medical Association (IMA-Ayus) Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary and Bhagwan Dhanwantri Jayanti -

Ashok Kumar Kinker

New Delhi: The Integrated Medical Association (IMA-Ayus) celebrated its 40th Anniversary along with the Bhagwan Dhanwantri Jayanti function at the NDMC Convention Hall, Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place, New Delhi.

The function was inaugurated by Prof. (Dr.) P. K. Prajapati, who commenced the programme with the worship of Bhagwan Dhanwantri.

Dr. Ramphal Panchal, Media In-charge and Chairman of the Legal Committee of IMA-Ayus, informed that the programme began with Dhanwantri Vandana, followed by a devotional presentation dedicated to Lord Ganesha by the Sur Jhankar Group. A cultural enactment depicting how Bhagwan Dhanwantri emerged during the Samudra Manthan (Churning of the Ocean) was also presented. Thereafter, the women doctors of IMA-Ayus performed a devotional hymn in praise of Bhagwan Dhanwantri.

The function was presided over by Prof. (Dr.) P. K. Prajapati, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA).

The distinguished guests and dignitaries included Dr. Sushrut Kannaujia, Chairman, Board of Ethics and Registration, NCISM, Government of India; Shri Murli Manohar Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Lal Bahadur Shastri Sanskrit College, Delhi; and Shri Rakesh Thapliyal, President, National Union of Journalists(India).

All the distinguished guests were warmly welcomed by the office-bearers of IMA-Ayus, Delhi State, who presented them with mementoes as a mark of respect.

In his address, Dr. Sushrut Kannaujia emphasized the importance of organizational unity, stating that a strong organization is essential in determining the future and progress of any institution.

Dr. Arun Kataria, President of IMA-Ayus, Delhi State, also welcomed all the dignitaries by presenting them with mementoes and floral garlands. Dr. Raman Khanna, National General Secretary of IMA-Ayus, presented the annual report of the association.

Dhanwantri, Sushrut and Charak Awards Presented

Dr. Ramphal Panchal, Media In-charge of the association, informed that the prestigious Dhanwantri Awards were presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to Ayurvedic healthcare to:

Prof. (Dr.) K. K. Sijoria, Former Principal, Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, Delhi, and Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi.
Dr. Durga Prasad, Marketing Director, Dabur India Limited.

For their remarkable contributions to Ayurvedic medicine, the Sushrut Award was presented to Dr. Shubham Saini, Jhajjar, Haryana, while the Charak Award was conferred upon Dr. Veena Himanshu Sharma, Head of Department and Associate Professor, MSM Institute of Ayurveda, Sonipat, Haryana.

Dr. Purushottam Paliwal was also honoured for his exceptional humanitarian contribution, having donated blood 86 times during his lifetime.

Dr. Famidа Kaushar and Dr. Ayesha Parveen were honoured with Appreciation Awards in recognition of their contributions.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Panchal further informed that the association conferred its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award upon Dr. Chandrashekhar Bhardwaj in recognition of his outstanding services and valuable contributions towards the welfare and progress of the association.

He was honoured with a memento by the association’s Patron, Dr. R. S. Chauhan.

Memorial Awards and Recognition of Doctors

Dr. Panchal stated that the association also recognizes and encourages doctors who have made significant contributions to its activities and organizational development.

This year, the Dr. J. S. Panwar Memorial Award was presented to Dr. Munish Gulati, Delhi, while the Dr. Hari Shankar Dev Sharma Memorial Award was conferred upon Dr. Vijender Pal Singla, Faridabad.

Doctors who attended the समारोह from different states and regions were also felicitated. These included doctors from Faridabad, Panipat, Karnal, Kaithal and Jhajjar in Haryana, as well as Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

IMA-Ayus: Forty Years of Service to Indian Systems of Medicine

In his address, the Patron of the association, Dr. R. S. Chauhan, highlighted the achievements of IMA-Ayus over the past 40 years in the development, promotion and propagation of Ayurveda and other Indian Systems of Medicine.

He stated that although IMA-Ayus is a non-governmental organization, it has consistently struggled for the rights and professional interests of its practitioners.

Referring to the association’s four-decade-long journey, Dr. Chauhan explained that IMA-Ayus has continuously worked towards the development and wider recognition of Indian Systems of Medicine. He noted that the establishment of a separate Ministry of AYUSH by the Government of India was a significant milestone in this direction.

Contributions of IMA-Ayus Towards the Rights of Medical Practitioners

Dr. Ramphal Panchal, Media In-charge and Chairman of the Legal Committee, emphasized that laws remain ineffective unless they are properly implemented.

He explained that the association’s sustained legal efforts and its involvement in a case before the Supreme Court resulted in the landmark order of 1 October 2018, which was made possible by the earlier order passed in 1998.

He further highlighted several important legal and professional achievements of the association, including:

Securing an order from the Delhi High Court for conducting physical elections for the Delhi Bharatiya Chikitsa Parishad.
Obtaining a stay from the Supreme Court concerning the integration rights of practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine.
Securing integration rights for Ayurveda and Unani practitioners through the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), Government of India.
Getting medical certificates issued by ISM doctors in Delhi approved by the Delhi High Court for the purpose of obtaining driving licences.
Organizing National Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes for Ayurveda and Unani practitioners in Delhi, which are essential for the annual renewal requirements of medical practitioners.

Dr. Panchal emphasized that these achievements reflect the association’s continuous commitment to safeguarding the professional rights and interests of Ayurveda and Unani practitioners.

Appreciation Awards for Media Representatives

Dr. Panchal further informed that Dr. P. K. Prajapati, Director, All India Institute of Ayurveda, presented an Appreciation Award to Ms. Sarjana Sharma in recognition of her contribution to the promotion and propagation of Ayurveda through the press and media.

The association also felicitated several media professionals and representatives for their valuable contributions in highlighting and promoting the AYUSH sector.

The following dignitaries and media representatives were honoured with mementoes:

Shri Gaurav Sharma, Media In-charge, Ministry of AYUSH
Shri Ashok Kinker, Managing Editor, Khel Today Group
Ms. Meena Kumari Jangid, Senior Consultant, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Shri Prahlad Rajput, Rajawat Times
Shri Ajit Singh, Rashtriya Chhatra Shakti
Shri Akshive Thakur
Shri Himanshu Pandey
Shri Virendra Kumar Gupta
Shri Sachin Budhauliya, Exicutive Editor, Hindustan Samachar
Shri Vishal Mishra
Shri Subhash Chandra, Editor, WWW.NEWSHARPAL.COM
Ms. Abhi Singhal, The Pioneer
Shri Gurwinder Singh
Krishna Kumar Tiwari, Group Editor, Pahal Today Newspaper

Publication of the Association’s Annual Souvenir

Dr. Panchal also informed that, as in previous years, the association published its annual souvenir on the occasion of the function.

He acknowledged the valuable contribution of Dr. Love Kumar, Chief Editor, and the editorial board members, namely Dr. Rajiv Malhotra, Dr. Mohd. Ashad, Dr. Shailesh Dwivedi, Dr. K. K. Singhal and Dr. Jitendra Gaur, for their dedicated efforts in bringing out the publication.

Vote of Thanks

At the conclusion of the function, Dr. Arun Kataria, President, IMA-Ayus, Delhi State, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the distinguished guests, dignitaries, doctors, media representatives and participants for their gracious presence and valuable contributions in making the 40th Anniversary and Bhagwan Dhanwantri Jayanti celebration a grand success.

The function concluded with a renewed commitment to the promotion of Ayurveda, the development of Indian Systems of Medicine and the protection of the professional rights of Ayurveda and Unani practitioners.