New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is planning to create a library in which all books and manuscripts related to medicine and surgery in ancient India will be available. It has called for experts from the medical field and other disciplines to help identify and collect the books and manuscripts for this purpose.
The NMC’s decision comes amid a controversy over its decision to modify its logo to include a coloured photo of Dhanvantari — an avatar of Lord Vishnu, who is referred to as the god of Ayurveda in Puranas.
Senior NMC officials said the Dhanvantari logo has been in use for almost a year. “Earlier, it was in black and white and, therefore, not visible in printouts. We have simply used a coloured photo in the centre of the logo,” said an official. Another official, said even the WHO’s emblem consists of the UN symbol surmounted by a staff with a snake coiling around it. TNN
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NMC plans library of ancient Indian medical books and manuscripts; experts from medical field and other disciplines called to collect; controversy over NMC logo modification to include colored photo of Dhanvantari, avatar of Lord Vishnu, god of Ayurveda; NMC officials clarify colored photo used to make logo visible in printouts; WHO emblem also includes United Nations symbol and staff with snake.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has modified its logo, dropping the national emblem and including the photo of Dhanvantri – an avatar of Lord Vishnu who is referred to as the god of Ayurveda in the Puranas. The NMC logo has no mention of ‘India’ but has used the term ‘Bharat’. The change in logo was criticised by the Indian Medical Association’s Kerala chapter. Dr Sharad Kumar Aggarwal, national president of IMA, said they would discuss the matter in a meeting scheduled on Sunday and then issue a statement.
The National Medical Commission’s decision to replace the national emblem with an image of Hindu god Dhanvantari in its logo has sparked outrage among medical students and professionals. Many believe this move is part of an ongoing attempt to saffronise the education sector. The decision to replace ‘India’ with ‘Bharat’ in the logo has also been met with displeasure. Students express concern over the regressive and anti-women changes to the Hippocratic Oath recommended by the NMC last year. The addition of religion and politics to the noble profession of medicine is seen as having grave consequences.