World Unani Day is a global event taking place every year on February, 11th, which is the birthday of great Unani scholar and social reformer “Hakim Ajmal Khan”.
The main objective of the celebration of said event is to pay tribute to the legendary for his wonderful contribution in the sustained development of Unani system of medicine in the country and rest of the world and to spread the awareness in masses and action about healthcare delivery through Unani system of medicine worldwide through its preventive and curative philosophy.
Unani system of medicine is a science of life, a system of health and medicine which aims to assist people in living a healthy life. It provides knowledge of how to live longer and healthier life.
These days whole world is undergoing a rapid change in its all spheres because of degradation of healthy eco system, nature and living beings are under strong survival stress due to severe uncontrolled pollution, climatic changes, population rise and other socio-economic reasons. And that’s why the quality of life is falling to the new low; incidents of deaths are reportedly increasing day by day all over the world due to non communicable and communicable diseases and other diseases are at alarming rate.
Life expectancy is falling in all ethnicities and countries, and this scenario is likely to get worsen day by day.
Maintaining the integrity of nature and human health is a big challenge in front of the world leaders. At this complex juncture, human beings are struggling to overcome these odds for survival. There is a strong need to look into the opportunities which are available in ancient Unani medical system, having outstanding potential to reverse the worsening health status across the world.
Unani system of medicine cannot be ignored at this stage due to its holistic approach, safety profile, efficacy, easy availability and cost effectiveness.
Hakim Ajmal Khan (11th February 1868 – 29th December 1927) was an eminent Indian Unani physician who was a versatile genius, a great scholar, a social reformer, a noted freedom fighter, an Unani medical educationist and founder of scientific research in Unani System of Medicine.
To recognize his tremendous role and immense contribution in the development of Unani system of medicine, the Ministry of AYUSH, government of India has declared his birthday as “World Unani Day”.
He was one of the founders of the Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. Seeing his role in the foundation of Jamia Millia Islamia University, he was appointed the university's first chancellor in 1920 and remained in office until his death in 1927. He was the founding Member and President All-India Muslim League and President Indian Congress.
By profession he was a distinguished Unani Clinician, Great Herbalist, Spiritual Healer, Politician, Sufi and Poet. Seeing the importance of this legendary, a part of the Unani Day celebrations, various activities including quiz competitions, marathons, public health talks, writathon, daily health tips for the general public and workshops are being organised across the country and abroad.
First Unani Day was celebrated at Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM), Hyderabad in 2017. During that event, the celebration included CCRUM (Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine) Awards distribution ceremony and a Two-day National Seminar on Skin Diseases and cosmetology in Unani Medicine at that time.
With the declaration of 11th February as Unani Day, the CCRUM started the scheme of AYUSH Awards in different categories for Unani system of Medicine on the directive of the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India in the year 2018.
As 11th February 2018 marks 150th birth anniversary of the legendary Hakim Ajmal Khan, it was decided by the ministry of AYUSH to celebrate the 2nd Unani Day in a big way. The celebrations included distribution of AYUSH Awards for Unani Medicine and a two-day International Conference on Integration of Unani System of Medicine in Mainstream Healthcare, dated 10–11 February 2018 at Vigvan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Now a-days, in various teaching and research institutions, awards and schemes are organised in government and non government patronage in the country and abroad on World Unani Day.
Hakim Ajmal Khan took great interest in the expansion and development of Unani sytem of medicine and built three important institutions, the Central College in Delhi, the Hindustani Dawakhana and the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbiya College better known as Tibbia College, Karol Bagh, Delhi, which expanded research and practice in the field and saved the Unani System of Medicine from extinction in India.
His continuous efforts infused a new energy, force and life into an otherwise decaying medical system under British rule.
At Unani Day in 2019 an International Conference on Unani Medicine was organised at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, which was inaugurated by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, MoS (Minister of State) PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and Department of Atomic Energy & Department of Space Dr. Jitendra Singh and chaired by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of AYUSH, Mr. Shripad Yesso Naik ji. It was organised by Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM). The theme of the conference was Integration of Unani System of Medicine in main stream healthcare.
At Unani Day in 2020, similar pattern was adopted.
It’s a Hybrid Virtual Conference with Participation by Online Mode Only
References
