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| C.K.Kunjalan Gurukkal, Changampally Vaidya Bhavan, Kunnumpurath, Edakkulam, near Thirunavaya |
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The muslim family, Changampally, of Thirunavaya has been engaged in traditional medicine and ‘nadi chikitsa’ for many generations now. Dating back from the centuries-old Mamankom days of martial art displays, the familiy has been successfully engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments.
Mundassery, the 1st Education Minister of Kerala recounts in his autobiography, his encounter with a grand old doctor of the family for curing his backache. The blind doctor just held his palm and felt certain veins and without much ado, pronounced the diagnosis and treatment. Mundassery recounts that he was back to normal after 21 days of treatment prescribed by the nonagenarian doctor.
Of the 150 odd houses of the Changampally family, about 50 are engaged in traditional medicine now. While C.K.Kunjalan Gurukkal is the most noted doctor of the family, Jabbar Gurukkal is engaged in producing and marketing Chnagampally ayurvedic medicines. Atleast in a few cases, Kunjalan Gurukkal and his daughter Firdous Iqbal have been successful in curing cancer as 7-year-old Jaseem of Chendamangalloor certifies. He was diagnosed with brain tumour and declared as beyond cure by the Manipal Medical College. The parents brought the child to Kunjalan Gurukkal who prescribed a 45-days treatment. Now he goes to school like any normal boy.
However he is prompt to add that such treatment may not be successful for everyone. “If it is curable, it will be evident at the first meeting itself. If not, that will be informed. However, if they want to still try the treatment, then they can.”
The Changampally family were originally Hindus, who embraced Islam with conditions during the Tipu era. Perhaps that could explain why in many households of the Changampally family, only vegetarian food is taken. There are many houses with tulasi in the front and traditional lamp lighted in the evenings. Many learn ayurveda classics like Ashrtanga Hridayam and many children from the family learn Sanskrit as 2nd language at school.
Courtesy: V.R.Jyothis (text), Asim Komachi (photo), Vanitha, September 1-14, 2004
Contributed by: Administrator
