Why you deny truth to ‘self’ and ‘others’? Truth about ISM

An interesting statistics was shared to us by some institutionally qualified Siddha practitioners here in Chennai. The statistics shows that about 60% of allopathic clinicians encourage and or ensure their children study allopathic medicine - MBBS.

On the contrary, only 1% or may be less the children of the institutionally qualified ISM private practitioners study BSMS and MD courses, over last 15 years.

Interestingly, the children of many Siddha graduates are studying MBBS, Engineering and other courses. We are not debating upon the freedom of any one to choose which subject they want to study. The government of India must understand the ‘truth’ in the above and must change its policy towards ISM and Siddha. Only to show the path and truth, we bring this topic for discussion.

Is it not due ‘hollowness’ of Siddha system as experienced by the Siddha practitioners, pushing their children to study other subjects, asked one Siddha expert?

The following issues such as

1. Why some (may be majority of) Siddha and ISM private practitioners reject own system and going after allopathic practice?

2. Why CCIM is asking for bridge course for ISM graduates to practice allopathic drugs even for common diseases?

3. Why large percentages of institutionally qualified Siddha private practitioners do not want their children study Siddha or ISM?

we need to understand scientifically than a mere point to debate or argue.

Government needs to show lot of openness and courage to accept the truth that the ISM has lost its charm and sheen due to lack of science and merit.

Why ISM looses its charm. Absolutely the issue is relating to ‘its merit’. If there is any merit, nothing on earth will ever lose its value. Sometime its value may dwindle.

Some of the Siddha graduates even shared their pain and regrets that only after joining the course they have understood the course to be different from allopathic system.

Since Siddha system is packaged, displayed and sold as ‘SYSTEM OF MEDICINE’ and the degree is awarded as BSMS and MD, almost equivalent to MBBS and MD, many believed it to be a medical science and that why they joined for BSMS.

Many had done MD course only because of the fellowship they get in Government colleges.

They joint the BSMS just to know it had only promises to offer to sick patients and not treatment, the way allopathic system has.

Naturally those who aspire to study MBBS and have missed the race due to some unfortunate reasons will not like to waste another year to try again for MBBS.

For people under such anguish state, naturally the BSMS would look like glittering gold as it is look yet another ‘Medical Science’ said Dr Abdul Abbas, MD-Siddha.

They further said that the modern generation will regard anything as medical science only if it has drugs like allopathic system and nothing else. The status of ISM is no way different.

This is the reason why most of them never want their children to study such course and regret rest of their life.

Siddha course may be quite rewarding to those who could join the Government service. The salary they receive is quite envious, said one Siddha practitioner.

The Government must bring strict accountability in AYUSH by asking where the Siddha system will really fit in today’s context.

Unfortunately only due to the ‘last faith’ of many patients who have lost all hopes, gives a little hope and scope to the system.

When allopathic system accepts its limitations and say certain diseases are incurable, such patients largely visit the ISM doctors with an ‘iota’ of hope. That is how ISM has a toe hold space in offering treatment to incurable diseases. For curable diseases, especially the infectious diseases, ISM and Siddha has nothing except some promises to offer. Some sell such promises smartly through cross-pathy.

The question is why the Government promotes such system as system of medicine?

Why the AYUSH, NIS, CCRS etc., can’t speak boldly that it has absolute limitations in treating and curing patients, it can only give palliative care and that to, for some limited diseases. If they admit and re-position the system as non medical science, the system can be developed very well.

Let truth and science prevail in ISM and not self defeating promises and denying truth to ‘self’ and ‘others’.

By Dr S Ranganathan