Experts, faculties, researchers, practising doctors and students of Siddha system of medicine are in agreement that only through English language the system can be made globally acceptable.

They were responding to queries from Pharmabiz with regard to the proposal made by Indian Siddha Medical Graduates Association (ISMGA) which is submitting a memorandum to the government of Tamil Nadu and to the central Ayush department demanding immediate steps for the change of medium of instruction in to English language for Siddha system.

Although a few of these professionals have favoured a bilingual concept, no body objected the idea of converting the medium into English language. Even some of the Siddha experts claimed that they had made attempts for English medium instruction decades ago, but failed.

Dr P Banumathi, principal of Government Siddha Medical College in Chennai said if the courses in Siddha are taught in English language it will help the growth of the system and become world wide. But she said some papers in the curriculum should be in Tamil language.

When the principal of Government Siddha Medical College at Palayamkottai in Thirunelveli district, Dr D Chandra Mohan, favoured English language, Dr Jeeva Gladys, a PG student at the same college responded that the medium should not be completely in English as certain original Tamil verses cannot be translated into any other language, and if it is done, the originality will be lost. So the medium could be bilingual, she said.

Going back to the days of his academic career, Dr T Thirunarayanan, secretary of CTMR, said while he was working as Siddha lecturer at GSMC at Palayamkottai, he raised this issue and approached the MGR Medical University in Chennai with a proposal. Based on that, he was assigned by the university to translate the ancient Siddha books into English. Before completing the assignment he had to quit the university and nobody took interest there after. He said the only four English books in Siddha are translated by him only.

Dr Meenakshi Sundaram, principal of Sairam Siddha Medical college, Chennai said proposal for a change of language is a welcome thing, but while doing it the original concept should not be changed. He said English will help the system to grow in other places in India and in outer countries.

While supporting ISMGA for its decision to approach the government with this proposal, Dr Madhukumar, a teaching faculty at RVS Siddha Medical College in Coimbatore said the best way to protect the system is to teach it both in Tamil and in English. For the students of Tamil Nadu some papers should be taught in Tamil also. But he favoured the idea of changing the medium of instruction into English.

Dr Arul Amuthan, lecturer in Pharmacology at Manipal University in Karnataka has said that English language can cross all barriers. “Now Siddha is taught in Tamil which often becomes a barrier for those who want to go outside. We have to cross Tamil Nadu, so we should encourage the instruction through English medium. Ayurveda has now crossed all barriers and it is taught in foreign universities along with allopathy, because it is taught in English. Likewise, Siddha system should also be taught in English,” he said. Further, he said, besides English the books and reference materials should also be translated into all the regional languages in India so that every body can know about Siddha.

Dr M Raja, managing director of Tanjore based Perfect Pharmaceuticals said in order to make it a global system, Siddha should be taught in all colleges in English language. Similar opinion has come from Dr P Sankar Raj, secretary of Tamil Nadu Siddha Post Graduate Doctors Association

When contacted Dr S Natarajan, assistant registrar at Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) in New Delhi, he parried the question by saying that there are restrictions because of government service. He is a Siddha post graduate from Tamil Nadu working outside the state.