Jawaharlal Nehru University to start 5-year course on ayurveda biology

NEW DELHI: From July 2020, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will start a five-yearintegrated interdisciplinary programme leading to an MSc degree in ayurveda biology. The course intends to teach traditional medicine and ayurvedic texts in the context of modern science. In what is being termed a first-of-its kind experiment in India, the professors of life sciences, molecular medicine and biotechnology will be concurrent faculty at the School of Sanskrit and Indic Studies (SSIS).



Among other new plans, JNU will set up the School of Indian Traditional Music and Dance from 2020 to conduct research in the disciplines and a start-up incubator at a cost of Rs 455 crore to host 100 new setups at any given time to boost its internal income receipts. According to vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar, the ayurveda biology programme will be jointly run by SSIS, School of Life Sciences, School of Biotechnology and Special Centre for Molecular Medicine.

Ayurveda biology: First batch likely in July

The initiative to start the ayurveda biology programme will be supported by the Union ministry of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha, sowa rigpa and homoeopathy (AYUSH).
Vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar said, “If things go according to plans, we will have the first batch starting in July 2020. It’s a new experiment in the country. Nowhere will you find science professors as concurrent faculty in any school of Sanskrit.” The VC said the course will aim to produce scholars who are familiar with both modern and ayurvedic sciences. “There are many companies producing ayurvedic medicines and they require expertise. We hope our scholars will fill that gap,” said Kumar.

Admission for this programme will be based on the entrance test to be conducted by the National Testing Agency. The research laboratories will be located in the modern science schools while the theory will be taught at SSIS.

SITMD will similarly be a unique section that will research Indian music and dance, from tribal and classic music to instruments. Already approved by the Academic Council and Executive Council, the school will begin by offering PhD programmes. “As the school grows, we can consider offering undergraduate programmes,” said Kumar, explaining that undergraduate courses were important to find a place in world ranking of universities. It is for this same reason, he said, that the School of Engineering has started offering undergrad courses.

To create new revenue possibilities, JNU is planning a start-of-the-art incubation infrastructure for enterprises started by students, alumni and faculty. The university has applied for funding from the Higher Education Funding Agency for this. “We formed a promotion company under Section 8 of the Companies Act to enable startups on our own campus. Three on life sciences are already functioning,” revealed Kumar. “Once the funding comes, we hope to incubate around 100 startups and we expect this to boost JNU’s internal resources generation.”