Prachin Bharate Chikitsabijnan

• Author: ডা. শ্যামল চক্রবর্তী (Dr. Shyamal Chakraborty)
• Publisher: Ananda Publishers
• Language: Bengali
• Edition: Hardcover
• ISBN: 9789354255700
• Pages: 356

Book Description:

প্রাচীন ভারতে চিকিৎসাবিজ্ঞান (Prachin Bharate Chikitsabijnan) by Dr. Shyamal Chakraborty offers a detailed exploration of the remarkable advancements in ancient Indian medicine. The book delves into the foundational texts of Indian medicine such as the Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, exploring the collective identity of these ancient medical practitioners, known as Charaka and Sushruta, rather than as individual figures. These physicians, emerging from the ranks of itinerant healers and surgeons, defied the rigid caste system of the time and played a critical role in the development of Indian medical science.

Dr. Chakraborty highlights how ancient Indian medical practitioners, including Buddhist doctors and indigenous tribes, contributed to a rich repository of medical knowledge that evolved into Ayurveda. Despite opposition from the orthodox Brahmin society, which rejected the idea of lower castes engaging in healing practices, these physicians were instrumental in advancing medical science. The book explores how, in the face of social and religious barriers, ancient Indian doctors maintained and preserved their medical knowledge.

This pioneering work in Bengali literature offers an in-depth examination of the evolution of ancient Indian medicine, providing a new perspective on a field that has often been overlooked in historical narratives. It serves as a comprehensive resource for readers interested in the origins and growth of Indian medical science.

About the Author:

Dr. Shyamal Chakraborty was born in Uttarpara. He holds both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in medical science from the Calcutta National Medical College and Medical College, Kolkata. A practicing physician, Dr. Chakraborty is currently associated with the R. G. Kar Medical College Hospital.

He has been writing since his student days, contributing not only to the field of medicine but also to humor, travel writing, and children’s stories. He has a particular interest in Rabindranath Tagore’s works. His first book, স্বপ্ন দেখেন কেন (Why Do We Dream?), was published in 1998. His continued contributions to popular science writing earned him the Jagattarini Gold Medal from the University of Calcutta in 2015.