In a heartfelt tribute to the late Dr. Ashok Vaidya, one of India’s foremost medical researchers and visionary thinkers in integrative medicine, the first Dr. Ashok Vaidya Memorial Oration was held with participation from leading figures in the medical field along with his family and friends.
The evening marked the unveiling of KIHS-MRF (Kasturba Integrative Health Sciences & Medical Research Foundation), a new initiative aimed at continuing Dr. Vaidya’s legacy by bridging traditional knowledge with modern scientific research. This was inaugurated by Ashwin Shroff, Chairman, Managing Director of Excel Industries Ltd. A brochure of the company was formally released before the oration, highlighting its vision for a future where innovation, tradition and health converge.
The keynote oration was delivered by Dr. Vishweshwaraiah Prakash, a renowned food scientist, former director of CFTRI, Mysore and lifelong friend of Dr. Vaidya. In a heartfelt address that spanned decades of professional collaboration and personal memories, Dr. Prakash celebrated Dr. Vaidya’s pioneering contributions to Ayurveda, drug development and integrative health.
In this oration lecture titled “India’s Food Culture of Herbaceuticals Science and Products.” Dr. Prakash explored a range of fascinating topics, emphasising how healing can be personalised to the unique physiology of each individual by choosing a personalised food choice. He argued that our approach to wellbeing should be rooted in an understanding of our own body’s physiology, making taste a secondary consideration when it comes to food.
He also highlighted the richness of India’s traditional and ethnic food systems, referencing ancient texts such as the Charaka Samhita and the Pakashastra. Dr. Prakash discussed the emerging landscape of ceuticals derived from herbaceuticals, introducing concepts such as Ayurceuticals, Homeoceuticals and other evolving integrative approaches that bridge traditional knowledge with modern science.
Dr. Prakash emphasised the holistic qualities that food must embody: it should be clean, pure, safe, tasty, virtuous, easy to digest, personalised, interesting, properly sequenced, healthy, affordable, peaceful and complete, ultimately making one feel wholesome and nourished.
With his chemistry background, Dr. Prakash also highlighted the concept of repurposing of existing formulations and chemical compounds, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This period, he noted, was a turning point when established knowledge and existing ideations were creatively adapted to develop new solutions. In a similar vein, he suggested that we can re-examine and redefine our understanding of existing foods, not just as sustenance, but as tools for enhancing the body’s well-being. By repurposing our approach to food, we can make more informed life choices that support overall health and wellness.
This remarkable oration that cast food in an entirely new light underscored the timeless truth in the saying “Food is thy medicine.”