Born on 2016 B.S. Chaitra 8, to Dharma Kumari Roka and Tej Bahadur Roka, Dr. Dev Bahadur Roka is one of the prominent faces in field of Ayurveda in Nepal. Dr. Roka’s origin is in Arjunchaupari- Sangja. Best known for his academic excellence (excellent practice), simple and down to earth nature, Dr. Roka is now Chief of Ayurveda Campus, Kirtipur. He did his intermediate course at Ayurveda Campus Nardevi, BAMS in State Ayurveda College Lukhnow, and MD (Ayurveda) in Banarus Hindu University. He has got a long experience of health practice and teaching health in hospitals and colleges. His work experience includes health post of Sindhuli to Teaching Hospital Maharajgunj and BP Koirala Cancer Hospital Bharatpur. On his time he had to struggle a lot to study due to unfriendly political situation of the country. Panchyat system withdrew his name from Colombo Plan Scholarship despite him being the top student. Indian Embassy supported him get educated in India.
Ayur-Info had an extensive talk on his personal life and issues of Ayurveda and health of these days. The synopsis goes this way:
• Sir will you tell us some memorable events you came across during your medical career?
I have witnessed a lot of events which make me feel proud of being a doctor. When I was Health Assistant in Sindhuli, there was a pregnant lady with a big carbuncle on her back; I managed surgical procedures with best possible sterilization. She got well; I could save her life in critical situation when there was no availability of good instrument and medicines. People applauded me a lot.
Another person of Hepatitis B, a very sensitive case, was brought to Nardevi Hospital after a long history of medication with western medicine in different reputed hospitals. Doctors, nurses, and other staffs were afraid of being infected with such dangerous infection, but I took the responsibility of the patient. I served him day and night, finally he got cured. I used Ayurvedic drugs and tested health with modern lab investigation. The Ayurvedic medicines used were Nirocil, Septilin, Guduchi, Kutki preparations, Rajbrikshya, Tapaswini vati, Shankhapushpi, Phalatrikadi kwath, and Rohitkyadi Churna. He was a teacher who had passed B.Sc. He was a friend of the then Health Minister Sharad Singh Bhandari. Health Minister came to see him in Nardevi Hospital provided him some financial assistance, and appreciated me and my labor very much.
• Sir, how do you distinguish Ayurveda from other medical systems?
Ayur Vigyan is a broad term which includes the knowledge, science and techniques that is related to health and happiness of people. It existed from the very beginning of life. There are many points that make Ayurveda distinct and interesting to anyone all over the world. Ayurveda is the first attempt known in the human history for health and happiness, and is very much useful even today. Its importance is increasing day by day as the civilization tries to live in harmony with the natural environment. Ayurveda uses natural substances like plants, minerals, and animal product in medicine. Ayurveda also gives a lot of knowledge regarding life style, health promotion, and prevention of disease condition in a nature friendly way. Ayurveda has peculiar surgical practices which are very much effective. But these days we have to work ahead to reestablish this things in practice. Yoga, Pranayam, Panchakarma and many naturopathic procedures used in Ayurveda makes it more holistic system of medicine which imparts sustainable health. There are many hidden knowledge and practices in Ayurveda and tradition still to be explored, studied and used for the betterment of life. We are planning to provide all sorts of Ayurvedic treatment to people in coming days which were once almost lost due to various ups and downs in the history caused by merciless sociopolitical upheavals.
Ayurveda focuses on balance between body, mind and soul, in relation to its theory on Tridosha. The present situation of Ayurveda is improving in Nepal and worldwide as people are being more conscious on natural ways of re-establishing their health with diet, behavioral changes, and elimination of toxins from the body.
There are evidences that it works. People trust it. We need more trained man power to serve people of all villages. In some cases fusion of modern technology and concepts of Ayurvigyan i.e. Ayurveda can help humankind to maintain a qualitative and quantitative life.
There is much technical advancement in medical and technical field. But still many diseases have stood as a challenge to modern system of medicine whereas traditional systems are showing satisfactory results in them. Due to this fact other systems of medicine are able to stand the threats of modern mode of theories and practices of medicine. Modern system has been developed from such traditional practices. If one is prudent enough s/he can see that all systems of medicines can be used rationally for the better health of people.
•Sir, what are other aspects of life related with Ayurved?
Ayurveda or Ayurvigyan is a broad term and is connected with all aspects of life. If we are not healthy then what’s the use of other things? Similarly Ayurveda is eco-friendly, it is conservationist. We have to depend on natural products rather than synthetics. We need to protect biodiversity. And many people get health services. Many farmers can earn livelihood by plating herbs and selling them. They can use themselves for prevention and cure of diseases. We have to further educate people on this matter. It’s the responsibility of government and concerned bodies to protect the right to health of people. It is to be done in wider range for the development of the nation.
• Sir, what are activities going on to strengthen the college academically and providing qualitative and quantitative services to the people?
Now we have a bus for students that will help students to do field study and hospital duties. Now we are going to organize a herbal garden. We already have hundreds of herbarium in Dravya guna lab and minerals in Rasashatra lab. We are preparing for our own hospital with all sorts of facilities. TU/IOM is working ahead. Ministries are also ready to work with us. But things work slowly when it comes in the governmental process. We are going to start Masters Programs in near future. Recognition with India will pave way to our students for other formal education opportunities in India. We are fulfilling other necessities. And another important thing we are going to do is review of our curriculum. We want to make it up to date, community oriented, problem based, and student centered. We are preparing for a full fledged institute of Ayurveda.
• Sir, how do you analyze the present and future of Ayurveda?
Ayurveda was advanced in earlier periods. In the middle age it lagged behind due to some ruthless political upheavals. Now things have changed and ever will keep changing. These changes have advocated for the Ayurveda. Whether one desires or not, the Ayurveda is going to be a bold system of Medicine and an indispensable part of everyone’s life. If all sectors work in collaboration, the development will be sooner and better.
• Sir, sometimes Ayurvedic services and products are said to have improper herbal combination, sometimes the questions are concerned with safety and regulations?
These questions are everyone’s concern. But there is no point in having doubt over long rooted tradition. But sometimes the monitoring bodies are found not doing all sorts of screening of products and services. So the governmental and other concerned agencies should do check up regularly to protect people from being cheated. If such false practices exist, people should inform police, councils and etc. so that wrong practices are stopped and punished before they bring out massive harms.
Since most of the Ayurvedic medicines are being used for long time they have got people’s approval. Their safety concerns will be addressed by the responsible monitoring of the Drug department. If such medicines are made properly they are safe. Some medicines have been proven by modern trials and studies; others will be further studied by other trials and studies.
• Sometimes modern Ayurvedic practioners are said to be influenced by modern medicine, what do you say?
This is not always correct. Some Ayurvedic students, in past, choose to go, study and practice Modern medicine. Many modern doctors, these days, are turning towards to Ayurveda and Yoga. Ayurveda practioners are given the working knowledge and skill of modern medicine, and they apply it in some acute or emergency and surgical cases. But it does not mean that there is no better Ayurvedic treatment in such cases. And most of the Ayurvedic practioners do not use modern medicine in most of the cases.
• Sir, what do you want to tell to the students and their guardians?
I would thank them for them playing a great role to mould them as excellent students and then as good doctors in the future. The guardians can be proud on their achievement since BAMS students are one of the good products in our colleges in the country and they can do almost anything which any medical practioners can do in any part of the world.
• Last but not least, do you have any message to convey to the students and aspirants of BAMS in this college?
Yea, study well. This is the right place where you come to know much about health. Utilize all your time properly. Learn well and then go to serve people. If any problem arises contact us, we are here. Your future is bright. You have to do a lot to the society. Many people are waiting to get your service. We need more people like you who can work than those who merely talk.
• Thank you for providing your valuable time to us, and thanks for the services you have given to the people and society.
Its my pleasure. Thanks to you as well for providing me such an honor.
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