Edinburgh: A 90-kilogram bronze statue of Maharishi Sushruta, widely regarded as the ‘Father of Surgery’ and a pioneer of plastic surgery, has been unveiled at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.
The statue was installed at the Playfair Auditorium of the prestigious institution on Friday, marking a significant recognition of the ancient Indian surgeon’s contributions to medicine and surgery.
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, established in 1505, is one of the world’s oldest and largest surgical institutions, with more than 33,000 members across over 140 countries.
Initiative led by Telugu-origin surgeon
The event was organised under the leadership of Professor Chandra Cheruvu, a UK-based surgeon of Telugu origin, who has been instrumental in promoting global recognition of Maharishi Sushruta’s contributions to modern surgery.
The bronze statue was donated by the Cheruvu Family Foundation, established by Professor Cheruvu and his family. It was crafted by a sculptor from Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several distinguished guests, including Siddharth Malik, Consul General of India in Edinburgh; Professor Clare McNaught, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Professor Rowan Parks, Past President of the institution; and Professor Marc Halpern, Founder of the California College of Ayurveda.
According to the organisers, the initiative aimed to present historical evidence of Sushruta’s contributions and honour him as one of the world’s earliest and most influential surgeons.
Book on Sushruta released
On the occasion, Professor Cheruvu also released a comprehensive book titled Maharshi Sushruta: A Compendium – Father of Surgery.
The evidence-based publication brings together contributions from 36 experts in Ayurveda and modern medicine from around the world and examines the continued relevance of Sushruta’s principles and practices in contemporary medicine.
The book argues that Sushruta had established ethical standards and medical practices centuries before the emergence of the Hippocratic Oath and formalised systems of medicine.
It also highlights his contributions to various branches of healthcare, including general surgery, plastic surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, toxicology and urology.
The publication is available in digital format on various online platforms, including Amazon and Kindle.
Legacy of the ancient surgeon
Maharishi Sushruta is considered one of the pioneers of surgical science and is associated with one of the world’s earliest schools of surgery.
Historians believe that nearly 2,600 years ago, Sushruta performed more than 300 types of surgeries and designed 124 different surgical instruments.
His seminal work, the Sushruta Samhita, is regarded as one of the earliest and most important texts on surgery and medicine.
Among his most remarkable achievements was the development of techniques for nasal reconstruction using skin flaps from the forehead, a procedure considered an early form of plastic surgery.
Sushruta also established principles related to surgical training, medical ethics and professional discipline long before such standards were codified in modern medicine.
Scholarships established in surgeon’s memory
Professor Chandra Cheruvu, the son of the late Dr C.S. Shastri, hails from Peravali village near Tenali in Andhra Pradesh.
The Cheruvu family has reportedly been providing free herbal medical services in the village for more than six centuries.
Dr Shastri was a renowned surgeon who practised in Vijayawada from 1974 onwards.
Professor Cheruvu completed his MBBS from Andhra Medical College and his MS from Manipal before moving to the United Kingdom in 1991. He subsequently earned four Fellowships of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) from England, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Intercollegiate Board.
As part of the initiative, Professor Cheruvu also established two permanent annual travelling surgical scholarships in memory of his father through the Cheruvu Family Legacy Grant.
Administered by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the scholarships will enable surgeons to visit leading medical centres around the world and enhance their professional skills.
The unveiling of Maharishi Sushruta’s statue at one of the world’s most respected surgical institutions is being seen as a significant recognition of India’s ancient contributions to medicine and surgery.