Unani Convention in Ahmadabad
By Our Special Correspondent / Ahmadabad
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, Panchayati Raj Parsottami Rupala has said that his government will extend all support for promotion of Unani System of Medicine in the country particularly in Gujarat.
‘I consider, it is my personal responsibility to set up a government Unani Tibbi College in Gujarat and I will try that the central government lends all sorts of support to the promotion of Unani medicine in the country, said minister while speaking at the 28th National Unani Tibbi Convention organized by the All India Tibbi Congress (Gujarat unit) here.
The minister from Gujarat also paid rich tribute to Maseehul Mulk Hakim Ajmal Khan. Rupala said he especially came to attend the programme as he wanted to know about Unani medicine and to work for its progress. He also promised to the Tibbi Congress that he would use his office to arrange a meeting between Tibbi Congress delegation and the AYUSH minister Shripad Naik.
Lauding the contribution of Hakim Ajmal Khan for the promotion of Unani and Ayurveda, Rupala said Hakim sb had founded the Tibbia College and it needs to be upgraded as the Unani University. I will extend all help for realizing the dream of a national Unani university, he told the convention amid big applause.
Inaugurating the annual Unani convention, Ahmadabad Mayor Gautam N Shah promised that the Ahmadabad Municipal Corporation will open a Unani hospital in the city.
Welcoming the minister’s assurances, Tibbi Congress national president, Prof Mushtaq Ahmad said there is not a single Unani college in Gujarat and without any educational institution no Indian traditional medicine can survive or develop. It is heartening that the Honourable Union Minister has promised that he will take a special interest in setting up the Unani College in Gujarat as he himself from the state, Prof Mushtaq said.
He also said the Indian traditional medicines cannot prosper without the progress of the Unani Medicine. The AYUSH ministry was established for the promotion of all Indian traditional medicines but the Unani was not getting its due, he said and adding that now the Unani is being recognized at the international level while more and more countries adopting this system of medicine. Besides, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries, USA and many European countries are also taking interest in Unani system as it is a most effective and harmless medicine. He also demanded that a center of the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) should be set up in Gujarat.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Hansmukh Soni, president Gujarat Ayurveda, and Unani Board said the Board would extend all the necessary support for the promotion of Unani in the state. He said it was his moral responsibility to promote the Unani Tibb as it one of the Indian traditional medicine systems.
Tibbi Congress’ Academic wing president Prof M A Farooqi stressed the need of promoting regimental therapy and cupping therapy. He suggested that CCRUM should launch a diploma course in regimental therapy as it is a very popular treatment in the masses.
In his welcome speech, Tibbi Congress Secretary-General Dr. Syed Ahmad Khan has highlighted the problems faced by Unani practitioners in the country. He said Tibbi Congress has been trying to protect the interest of Unani medicine and to promote it by holding seminars, workshops and free health camp across the country. He said Unani is survived only by on its strength as it did not get enough official patronage in comparison to other traditional systems of medicine, the patron of Tibbi Congress Gujarat Hakim Abdul Razzaq Qasmi and, Dr. Adam Sisodiay, Dr. Akbar Youshar Gaonkar and other delegates also spoke on the occasion.