Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in ancient India thousands of years ago. The importance of Ayurveda education and its rich history cannot be overstated, as it has had a profound impact on healthcare and holistic well-being.

Ayurveda education plays a significant role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. The history of Ayurveda stretches back thousands of years and has been passed down through generations. Studying Ayurveda not only allows individuals to tap into this ancient wisdom but also helps in preserving the traditional knowledge and practices associated with it. By understanding the historical context of Ayurveda, including its philosophy, diagnostic methods, and treatment modalities, students gain a deeper appreciation for its relevance and continue to carry the torch of this ancient tradition.

Ayurveda education also contributes to the overall development of healthcare systems worldwide. While modern medicine excels in acute care and emergency situations, it often needs to improve in addressing chronic illnesses and promoting preventive health. Ayurveda, with its holistic approach, fills this gap by focusing on individualized treatment plans, disease prevention, and health promotion. Integrating Ayurveda into mainstream healthcare systems requires well-trained professionals who understand its principles and practices. By educating individuals in Ayurveda, we create a pool of knowledgeable practitioners who can collaborate with conventional medical professionals, enhancing patient care and providing a more comprehensive approach to health.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Ayurveda globally, with people seeking natural and holistic alternatives to conventional medicine. As a result, Ayurveda education has gained significance, and as a means to meet this growing demand, institutes like Tapovana Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital came into existence.

The Inception Story

Tapovana Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital were founded by Dr Shashikumar. V. Meherwade under SRI SHAKTHI ASSOCIATION ®, located on five-acres of land at Doddabathi, Davanagere district; initially, the hospital started in the year 2000 with seven OPDs and 60 bedded hospital with a dispensary and therapy section for male and female separately. With a vision to provide the opportunity for students to get the ideal medical education in the year 2015, Tapovana Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital came into existence. The college started in a new building on the same campus. First-year classes started with well-trained staff, Digital Library, Physiology Lab, Dissection Hall and Herbal Garden in the year 2015. Students were provided with quality education by skilled staff also encouraged to participate, and they bagged many prizes in different Seminars, Conferences, Quiz competitions, Poster presentations and Sports at Intercollege and University level competitions. They came out with good results.

Meanwhile, all the speciality departments were developed, including the Pathology Lab, Forensic Museum, Pharmacy, Digital X-ray, Minor and Major OT, and Labour Room. Since the beginning, the college has been running with its full admission and good result, with many distinctions from every batch.

Its first and second batch students took the oath to serve the society on Feb 4th 2023. The first convocation was held in the presence of the Honorable Governor of Karnataka Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot.

Currently, the hospital is serving those in need, treating all kinds of lifestyle disorders and non-communicable diseases successfully.

Today the institution stands tall as a prestigious institute in the central part of Karnataka.

Honing Better Professionals

The vision and mission of the college are to nurture the skills of punctuality, humbleness and problem-solving. The college facilitates a caring, effective and resourceful learning environment on campus, which enables the students to utilise advanced technology as an effective means of communication to make their careers more successful.

The core values of the college are.

• Move up through initiatives to achieve global excellence.
• To achieve ‘Health for All’ through preventive and curative measures.
• Accomplish a process to advance new knowledge in a rigorous academic and research environment in Ayurveda.
• To produce many caring, clinically outstanding, research-capable potential leaders in Ayurveda.

Tackling the Current Global Challenges

Dr Shashikumar V Meherwade, Chairman of Tapovana Group of Institutions, founded this institution under Sri Shaktthi Association ®. He could identify with his cognisance of the significance of Ayurveda to improve health through its preventive and curative aspects to tackle the current global challenges of curtailing mainly lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases and psychological disorders. He has won many awards for his service in the field of Ayurveda and for social service. Some of these awards are:

• Republic Day Award 2007
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Ayurveda awarded on the 16 April 2019 from the University of France
• Sadhana Siri Award on 2nd February 2019 at Balehonnur by Jagadguru Rambapuri Samsthana Balehonnur
• Iconic Achiever Award for Health Care Service issued the on 29 June 2019 in Moscow, Russia, by Iconic Achiever’s Council, Moscow
• Times Nation’s Health Excellence Award 2002, awarded the on 15 December 2003 in New Delhi by Sadananda Gowda
• Nations Industrial Excellence Award 2003, awarded on the 28 December 2004 in New Delhi by Indian Organization for Commerce and Industry
• Rashtriya Gaurava Samman Puraskar 2002, awarded on the 27 June 2003 at New Delhi by the Economic Growth Society of India, New Delhi
• Mother Theresa National Award 2020, on 15 October 2020 at Karnataka Chalanachitra Kalavidara Sangha Auditorium, Bengaluru, jointly by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI-GOK, National Press Council of India, New Delhi and The News Paper Associations of Karnataka, Bengaluru
• Honorary Doctorate from Davanagere University

Strive to Uplift the Ayurveda Culture

The college has made an immense contribution to uplifting Ayurveda education. The following features of the college made it possible:

• Providing Evidence-based, Research oriented, Clinical Case-based, Activity based learning for the students.
• Providing Patient oriented learning.
• Providing Community Outreach activities.
• The population surrounding the campus in even in cities like Davanagere and Harihara, were not aware of the Ayurveda system of treatment. Bringing awareness to the common public was the biggest challenge faced by the institution.
• Institution and the staff have worked really hard by conducting regular free medical camps in and across Davanagere and Harihara; many awareness programmes were held in various locations like schools, colleges and primary health centres.

Creating an Engaging Environment

Along with providing ideal education, it is equally important to create an environment where students feel engaged. The college acknowledges and has been trying to achieve this feat with its long range of extracurricular activities. These activities include:

• Sports and Cultural meet
• Conducting different competitions for students involving the principles of Ayurveda in order to increase awareness regarding the practical utility of Ayurveda and adaptation of the same in daily lifestyle
• Basic Life Support training
• Conducting Continued Medical Education programmes (CMEs)
• Manikin and Model-based learning
• Seminars
• Organising different state-level competitions on campus
• Conducting regular Guest Lecture series by eminent Ayurveda faculties

Students are involved in various learning activities like Assignments, Brainstorming, Buzz Group, Case-based Learning, Confusion Technique, Debate, Demonstration, Direct Observation Skills, Flipped Classroom, Group Discussion, Jigsaw or Puzzle, Mnemonics, Model-based Learning, Online Teaching Aids, Panel Discussion, Problem-based Learning, Real Life Experience, Recitation, Role Play, Self-directed learning seminar by Students, Symposium, Team Project Work, Think-pair-share, Tutorials, Simulated Conditions, Video Show, etc.

The institution envisions being recognised as an Authentic, Classical Ayurveda Education provider along with an authentic Ayurveda treatment centre.