Hindustan Times
NEW DELHI, INDIA, July 5, 2003: Union Minister for Science and Technology, Murli Manohar Joshi, has appealed to the populace and in particular to allopathic physicians, not to “belittle” ayurveda. Joshi says, “It is the oldest system of medicine, and I fail to understand why they call it an alternative system of medicine. Ayurveda has been practiced by our ancestors even thousands of years ago.” He further adds, “Despite having effective medicines for a variety of diseases, ayurveda is not getting its due respect in its own land, and that is not a good sign for its future.” Joshi has given full support to a book recently released by Professor M.S. Valiathan, a renowned cardiac surgeon who values the traditional system of ayurveda.