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ISWARAN VAIDYAR: DOCTOR OF INDIGENOUS MEDICINE

When 6-year-old Geethu was discharged from Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram after 6 months of treatment for cancer, she was more like a living corpse, sans hair and with blackened nails.  An acquaintance then mentioned to her parents the name of Iswaran Vaidyar, a doctor dealing in indigenous medicine.

The parents brought the child to Vaidyar at Manpurath Veettil, Elanchiyam Choodal, near Palode, Thiruvananthapuram.  After 2 years of treatment under Vaidyar, Geethu was able to regain normal health.  About this miraculous cure the parents can only say: “the Grace of God”.

Before that, a middle aged woman had approached Vaidyar with blood cancer.  She was then destined to live out the balance few months of her life, according her doctors.  When she was finally cured and brought back to normal life, the Director of Kerala Institute for Research and Development Studies of Scheduled Tribes (KIRD ARTS) could not hide his wonder.  It was he who rechristianed Ravikumar as Iswaran Vaidyan.

Ravikumar could study only up to 6^th standard owing to financial difficulties and distance to the schools.  A keen observer, he soon picked up the nuances of indigenous medicine from his paternal uncle.  In this medicine, theory is secondary to practice.

After marriage and with two children, Vaidyar realized that he needed an occupation to make both ends meet.  And so he became a daily labourer.  It was during this time that KIRD ARTS spotted his talents.

Now Vaidyar is quite busy at his house where patients from far and near come.  Although a board is displayed outside his residence that consultation is offered only on Sundays, eager patients come to his sylvan retreat almost on all days.

Courtesy: Shaju Malayadi, Kerala Kaumudi, June 20, 1999

Contributed by: Administrator

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