|
 Pandit
D Gopalacharulu was instrumental in restoring the lost
glory of Ayurveda (an ancient Indian system of healing), at
a time when western medicine was beginning to gain
acceptance. Born in 1872, at Machilipatnam (now in Andhra
Pradesh) he studied in the Maharajah's Ayurveda Oriental
School at Mysore. Soon after his formal training, he was
appointed as Physician in-charge at the Theosophical
Society's Vaidyasala at Bangalore.
Gopalacharulu pioneered the modernisation of Ayurveda in
South India by concentrating on the systematisation of
knowledge as contained in the ancient works on Ayurveda and
also on institutionalising this ancient practice of
medicine. His major achievements include his discovery of
Haimadi Panakam and Satadhouta Ghritam - the cure for the
Plague in Mysore.
Goplacharulu understood the need for a cheap and easily
accessible method of Ayurvedic treatment, which prompted
him to establish Ayurvedic institutions in Madras(now
Chennai). He first started the Madras Ayurvedic Laboratory
and in 1898 started the Ayurvedasramam (the first Ayuvedic
pharmacy in Madras), thus facilitating large-scale trade in
Ayurvedic medicines at affordable prices. Jeevamrutham,
Aruna, Balaprasa, Bala Bhaskara were some of his most
popular ayurvedic medicines. Gopalacharulu also modernised
Ayurvedic education by establishing an Ayurvedic College in
Madras (1901). Later, this college was shifted to Mount
Road and a free Dispensary was attached to it to enable
students to get theoretical and practical insights. His
Ayurvedic Hospital in Madras was the first in India to have
in-patient wards.
Gopoalacharulu's books include Madhavanidhana,
Arkaprakasika, Ayurvedaparibasha, Rasapradipika and
Bhesajakalpam.
Of the titles bestowed on him, the Vaidyratna, given by
King George V in 1913, was the most notable. The
Ayurvedasramam celebrated its centenary in 1998 and to this
day, is doing a commendable service to Ayurveda by
upholding the lofty ideals of its founder.
|
