Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday inaugurated the 9th Siddha Day celebrations in Chennai, describing Siddha medicine as a living tradition deeply rooted in India’s civilisational wisdom and a holistic, preventive and sustainable healthcare system for the modern world.
Addressing Siddha physicians, researchers, academicians and students at Kalaivanar Arangam, the Vice President paid homage to Sage Agathiyar, revered as the father of Siddha medicine. He said India’s traditional systems of medicine, including Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and Yoga under the AYUSH umbrella, are not relics of the past but time-tested practices that continue to serve millions in India and across the globe.
Highlighting the relevance of Siddha in contemporary healthcare, Radhakrishnan said the system’s emphasis on harmony between body, mind and nature makes it particularly effective in addressing lifestyle disorders, stress-related ailments and environmental challenges. He noted that Siddha medicine focuses on treating diseases at their root causes and offers a comprehensive approach to prevention, recovery and long-term well-being.
The Vice President stressed the need to integrate traditional wisdom with modern science to build a healthier, more balanced and sustainable society. He urged practitioners, researchers and academic institutions to work collaboratively to document, modernise and globally disseminate Siddha knowledge, while preserving its ethical and philosophical foundations. Encouraging young scholars, he said scientific research in Siddha could lead to breakthroughs, including solutions for diseases currently considered incurable.
He also emphasised that every system of medicine has its own strengths and called for a positive and inclusive approach that utilises the best of all medical systems for the benefit of humanity.
Earlier, the Vice President visited an exhibition organised by the Ministry of Ayush, showcasing ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, classical texts, medicinal herbs and raw materials. He appreciated the efforts being made to preserve and revive India’s traditional medical heritage, noting that sustained documentation and research are essential to prevent the loss of invaluable knowledge.
The celebrations, themed “Siddha for Global Health,” were jointly organised by the National Institute of Siddha (NIS) and the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS), institutions under the Ministry of Ayush, along with the Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy, Government of Tamil Nadu. The event commemorated the birth anniversary of Sage Agathiyar and brought together practitioners and scholars from across the country.
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav said Siddha’s holistic approach, integrating body, mind and nature, aligns closely with modern healthcare needs. He highlighted the progress made in Siddha education and research since the establishment of the Ministry of Ayush in 2014, including infrastructure expansion, technology-enabled training and enhanced research outputs. He also noted that the inclusion of Siddha morbidity codes in WHO’s ICD-11 has strengthened the system’s global recognition.
On the occasion, five eminent personalities were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to the Siddha system of medicine. The awardees included Dr. B. Michael Jeyaraj, Dr. T. Kannan Rajaram, Late Dr. I. Sornamariammal, Dr. Mohana Raj and Prof. Dr. V. Banumathi.
The event was attended by Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, senior officials from the Ministry of Ayush and the Government of Tamil Nadu, and heads of Siddha institutions.
