Rasaushdhies as Antivirals: A New Paradigm for Research

A couple of days back I watched a beautiful video clip made by a group of our first year BAMS students. Their enthusiasm was contagious. They were full of energy and their conviction towards the goal was worth appreciation. They sure had a message to deliver. I felt an urge to talk to them, to know their plans, to learn what they want to do after this first wave of insurgence passes...which has arisen out of the "being sidelined" treatment.

I did call them. We had a nice interaction. If they continue to work with the same enthusiasm, constructively and in focused manner, they will outshine.

Here is the link to the video they made and my lecture presentation in a webinar on 25th April 2020, due to निमित्त कारण of COVID-19.
Your suggestions and questions are welcome.

Why Not Ayurveda?

Ayurveda approach to treat viral diseases

Food for 'The You'

I always feel that it takes 'out of the box thinking' to make Ayurvedic knowledge contemporary in a user-friendly manner for new-age users and consumers. In the era of medical pluralism, people are easily exposed to sources of information coming from various directions. At times the information is contradictory which leaves the reader confused. The common man needs quick tips instead of a long explanation, yet he expects that those tips should arise from a strong scientific base. Most of the practicing vaidyas deal with this situation in daily practice.

While watching a video of Ms. Rujuta Divekar (I am a big fan of her, simply because, she is the first celebrity who talks on Indian Foods and Indian Foods only) I noticed the similarities of some guidelines in Charaksamhita stating the methodology and rationale of food consumption for a healthy and diseased person. I could not hold back myself from sharing the shloka and the video with you. Fortunately, she has used the word traditional foods, though not Ayurveda. 

In this video, titled Mental Meal map, after general guideline, she talks about how to calculate one's portion size - Aharmatra. Not only that, but she has also matched it with current knowledge of proteins, carbs and has pointed out societal needs.

1. तत्रेदमाहारविधिविधानमरोगाणामातुराणां चापि केषाञ्चित् काले प्रकृत्यैव हिततमं भुञ्जानानां भवति- उष्णं, स्निग्धं, मात्रावत्, जीर्णे वीर्याविरुद्धम्, इष्टे देशे, इष्टसर्वोपकरणं, नातिद्रुतं, नातिविलम्बितम्, अजल्पन्, अहसन्, तन्मना भुञ्जीत, आत्मानमभिसमीक्ष्य सम्यक् ॥२४॥

2. आत्मानमभिसमीक्ष्य भुञ्जीत सम्यक्; इदं ममोपशेते इदं नोपशेत इत्येवं विदितं ह्यस्यात्मन आत्मसात्म्यं भवति; तस्मादात्मानमभिसमीक्ष्य भुञ्जीत सम्यगिति ॥२५॥

(चरकसंहिता विमानस्थान १/२४-२५)
3. त्रिविधं कुक्षौ स्थापयेदवकाशांशमाहारस्याहारमुपयुञ्जानः; तद्यथा- एकमवकाशांशं मूर्तानामाहारविकाराणाम्, एकं द्रवाणाम्, एकं पुनर्वातपित्तश्लेष्मणाम्; एतावतीं ह्याहारमात्रामुपयुञ्जानो नामात्राहारजं किञ्चिदशुभं प्राप्नोति ॥३॥
(चरकसंहिता विमानस्थान २/१)


How Much Should I Eat? by Rujuta Divekar

Hassle to safeguard Academic Certificates may be gone for Gen-Next

The MHRD has directed UGC to use the platform of digilocker. Here is the news:

"In a series of tweets, DigiLocker official twitter handle stated that this would pave the way for nationwide digitization of academic awards, certificates, report cards and mark sheets in the education sector via DigiLocker for all institutions under MHRD. This would include central universities, state universities, private universities, other institutions and school boards."

Interesting Statistics of Increase in Life Expectancy

Professor Hans Rosling presents a documentary about statistics, exploring their history, how they work mathematically and how they can be used to see the world as it really is.

Have a look at my book titled 'Principles of Research for Ayurveda,

https://www.chaukhambha.com/singlebook.php?bookid=606

Interview on Hungarian TV Hir-Teve, regarding Need of Ayurveda

https://youtu.be/1XDkteHokGY

Education in central European countries

Hello Students.

I have always heard good about the teaching-learning methods in developed countries. They expect the students to think and find solutions rather than mug up and write a memory test. Project-based learning is at the core, that I knew. In a way, it is good that I never expected too many things.

My practical experience is very much mixed.  Where to start with? I think let's start from the beginning. When the student after completing his graduation enters the University, a one-week orientation program is arranged for the new entrants. In this program conducted by senior students, the new entrants are taken around the complete campus. They are engaged in various group activities, competitions, cultural activities so that they get acquainted with each other and also with the campus environment. The program includes guidance to various types of paper works, Visits to different labs and classrooms, auditoriums, gymnasiums, and also the canteens.

Thereafter their formal education begins. Let's say about it in the next blog.