Our Founder
P.R.Krishnakumarji
Our Founder
P.R.Krishnakumarji
A true plural being - A life profile of P. R. Krishna Kumar
Gurdjieff called man a plural being because he considered men as divided in themselves, with hundreds and thousands of “I” s. But only an extraordinary man can have many “I” s of uniquely diverse characteristic features, recognize and maintain a fine balance and successfully use them for the sake of the society. P. R. Krishna Kumar, the head of The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy(Coimbatore) Ltd. is such a being, able to support a plurality of roles based on the strength of his inner unity.
A true plural being - A life profile of P. R. Krishna Kumar
Gurdjieff called man a plural being because he considered men as divided in themselves, with hundreds and thousands of “I” s. But only an extraordinary man can have many “I” s of uniquely diverse characteristic features, recognize and maintain a fine balance and successfully use them for the sake of the society. P. R. Krishna Kumar, the head of The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy(Coimbatore) Ltd. is such a being, able to support a plurality of roles based on the strength of his inner unity.
Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases
A Modern Sage Balancing Tradition, Spirituality, and Innovation in Ayurveda
His daily life adorns the roles of an Ayurveda physician, teacher, visionary, philosopher, counselor, administrator and entrepreneur. The profound equilibrium that he maintains between these roles leads many to treat him as a sage, in the sense defined by Osho, one of his favorite spiritual leaders.Spiritual, traditional and revolutionary, all at the same time – such is Krishna Kumar. This account is merely an elucidation of these adjectives from the perspective of his inseparable personal and professional lives.
A Modern Sage Balancing Tradition, Spirituality, and Innovation in Ayurveda
His daily life adorns the roles of an Ayurveda physician, teacher, visionary, philosopher, counselor, administrator and entrepreneur. The profound equilibrium that he maintains between these roles leads many to treat him as a sage, in the sense defined by Osho, one of his favorite spiritual leaders.Spiritual, traditional and revolutionary, all at the same time – such is Krishna Kumar. This account is merely an elucidation of these adjectives from the perspective of his inseparable personal and professional lives.
Bridging Tradition and Innovation in Ayurveda Through Scientific Validation
Krishna Kumar was born in 1951 as the son of Arya Vaidyan P. V. Rama Varier, the founder ofArya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP), and Smt. Pankajam Rama Varier. His father, Rama Varier, hadbeen the only son of Vaidyavichakshanan Mankulangara Kunjan Varier, a reputed Sanskritscholar, poet and physician. He became a trusted disciple of Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier, and latera trendsetter in his own way, as evidenced by the establishment, growth and spread of AVP during his time. His deep knowledge, innate sincerity, humility and capacity for untiring hardwork won for him the deep affection and trust of all those who came into contact with him.Even today, experts are surprised that Rama Varier could think of starting the company as aPublic Limited Company. As early as the 1940s, globalization of Ayurveda was his vision andcreating a new breed of physicians was his great desire.
Bridging Tradition and Innovation in Ayurveda Through Scientific Validation
Krishna Kumar was born in 1951 as the son of Arya Vaidyan P. V. Rama Varier, the founder ofArya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP), and Smt. Pankajam Rama Varier. His father, Rama Varier, hadbeen the only son of Vaidyavichakshanan Mankulangara Kunjan Varier, a reputed Sanskritscholar, poet and physician. He became a trusted disciple of Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier, and latera trendsetter in his own way, as evidenced by the establishment, growth and spread of AVP during his time. His deep knowledge, innate sincerity, humility and capacity for untiring hardwork won for him the deep affection and trust of all those who came into contact with him.Even today, experts are surprised that Rama Varier could think of starting the company as aPublic Limited Company. As early as the 1940s, globalization of Ayurveda was his vision andcreating a new breed of physicians was his great desire.
Krishna Kumar has always stood for scientific validation of Ayurveda, and incorporation of thebest of modern science in both clinical practice and medicine production, particularly in theorganizations that he heads, and that too, without compromising traditional standards. It waswith this intention that he supported the creation of the AVT Institute for Advanced Research(AVTAR) to conduct clinical, literary, field and drug researches and to train aspiring Ayurvedascholars. The purpose of the institute is to “back up tradition with evidence”.
Continuing his fight for the cause, however, he eventually convinced them of its value andpersuaded them to participate in the first clinical research on Ayurveda treatment ofrheumatoid arthritis. This was started in 1977 under a WHO and ICMR partnership. Attractingappreciation and criticism from different corners, the study presented the only model availableat the time. In recognition for that and his continued efforts to bring quality research to thefield of Ayurveda, National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, funded a clinical trial project recentlythrough University of Washington (2004–2006). It was the very first time that such a study hadbeen funded outside the USA. The trial was successful, and has been accepted for publication inindexed, peer-reviewed journals.
Krishna Kumar's Vision of Ayurveda Globalization: Balancing Acceptance and Integrity in Health Tourism
According to Krishna Kumar, “these are not individual or institutional milestones. Rather, theyare those of the Science of Ayurveda in its journey of globalization”. As far as Ayurveda isconcerned, the “globalization” he refers to need not be taken in a negative sense, for he adds,“When it comes to a science, globalization without compromises helps it attain acceptability.On the other hand, efforts to market science as a commodity for the sake of globalizationshould always be deplored”.Krishna Kumar has successfully implemented a number of projects approved by theDepartment of Science and Technology and Department of Environment in various areas andtopics related to Ayurveda. For example, his execution of a Department of Environment funded“All India Coordinated Project on the Ethnobiology of Tribals in the Western Ghats (1985–88)”was widely praised.
Being a strong representative of the great South Indian Ayurveda tradition has not preventedKrishna Kumar from promoting preventive medicine aspects of Ayurveda for health tourism inspite of inviting criticism from his peers. He has done so adhering to the hita (suitable) and mita(moderate) concepts in Ayurveda, rather than to theories of indulgence guiding the hospitalityindustry. Such treatment centers, run in association with leading hotel chains in nationallyfamous destinations, have thus remained centers of more authentic Ayurveda, rather thanmerely becoming profit-making ones.
Krishna Kumar's Vision of Ayurveda Globalization: Balancing Acceptance and Integrity in Health Tourism
According to Krishna Kumar, “these are not individual or institutional milestones. Rather, theyare those of the Science of Ayurveda in its journey of globalization”. As far as Ayurveda isconcerned, the “globalization” he refers to need not be taken in a negative sense, for he adds,“When it comes to a science, globalization without compromises helps it attain acceptability.On the other hand, efforts to market science as a commodity for the sake of globalizationshould always be deplored”.Krishna Kumar has successfully implemented a number of projects approved by theDepartment of Science and Technology and Department of Environment in various areas andtopics related to Ayurveda. For example, his execution of a Department of Environment funded“All India Coordinated Project on the Ethnobiology of Tribals in the Western Ghats (1985–88)”was widely praised.
Being a strong representative of the great South Indian Ayurveda tradition has not preventedKrishna Kumar from promoting preventive medicine aspects of Ayurveda for health tourism inspite of inviting criticism from his peers. He has done so adhering to the hita (suitable) and mita(moderate) concepts in Ayurveda, rather than to theories of indulgence guiding the hospitalityindustry. Such treatment centers, run in association with leading hotel chains in nationallyfamous destinations, have thus remained centers of more authentic Ayurveda, rather thanmerely becoming profit-making ones.
Cultivating Cultural Integrity in Ayurveda and Beyond
Despite being the head of a leading Ayurvedic firm, Krishna Kumar supports a vaidya-centered approach, rather than a product-centered one. To him, the vaidya is a guardian, messenger and practitioner of authentic Ayurveda. He firmly holds that philosophical and cultural components are integral parts of Ayurveda, strongly opposing attempts at “de-philosophizing” made even inKerala, a supposedly safe haven for the sastra. He says, “It is imperative to market our culture in order to succeed in taking our medicines abroad”, while pointing out how Ayurveda’s spread was supported by the popularity of yoga and meditation in the west. He has no doubt when he says that “to the loss or dilution of the cultural and value components in what we do as students and as physicians, we attribute the cause of entire crisis faced by Ayurveda”. To him, this is the major threat Ayurveda faces today.In recognition of his contributions to the field of Ayurveda, the Government of India conferred the prestigious “Padma Shri” award on him in 2009. In his words, it is “a recognition forAyurveda”.
Cultivating Cultural Integrity in Ayurveda and Beyond
Despite being the head of a leading Ayurvedic firm, Krishna Kumar supports a vaidya-centered approach, rather than a product-centered one. To him, the vaidya is a guardian, messenger and practitioner of authentic Ayurveda. He firmly holds that philosophical and cultural components are integral parts of Ayurveda, strongly opposing attempts at “de-philosophizing” made even inKerala, a supposedly safe haven for the sastra. He says, “It is imperative to market our culture in order to succeed in taking our medicines abroad”, while pointing out how Ayurveda’s spread was supported by the popularity of yoga and meditation in the west. He has no doubt when he says that “to the loss or dilution of the cultural and value components in what we do as students and as physicians, we attribute the cause of entire crisis faced by Ayurveda”. To him, this is the major threat Ayurveda faces today.In recognition of his contributions to the field of Ayurveda, the Government of India conferred the prestigious “Padma Shri” award on him in 2009. In his words, it is “a recognition forAyurveda”.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity – A Life Committed to
Ayurveda and its Evolution
Many of Krishna Kumar’s works have been misunderstood, and many have met with failure. AsSwami Vivekananda remarked, “each work must pass through these stages – ridicule, opposition and acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood”. When his works are accepted, his past failures will be ours and not his, as all he conceived and implemented were actually not for him, but for others. The recent interest inreviving the gurukula pattern for Ayurveda education, shown by the same authorities who earlier destroyed it, is the latest example of acceptance that naturally follows ridicule.
Abridged version from Reference: Indulal U. A true plural being – A life profile of P. R. KrishnaKumar. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2011;2(1):32.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity – A Life Committed to
Ayurveda and its Evolution
Many of Krishna Kumar’s works have been misunderstood, and many have met with failure. As Swami Vivekananda remarked, “each work must pass through these stages – ridicule, opposition and acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood”. When his works are accepted, his past failures will be ours and not his, as all he conceived and implemented were actually not for him, but for others. The recent interest inreviving the gurukula pattern for Ayurveda education, shown by the same authorities who earlier destroyed it, is the latest example of acceptance that naturally follows ridicule.
Abridged version from Reference: Indulal U. A true plural being – A life profile of P. R. KrishnaKumar. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine. 2011;2(1):32.