All India Unani Tibbi Congress Holds Conference on the Status of Unani Medicine in Jammu & Kashmir
Srinagar: Under the auspices of All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC) Jammu and Kashmir chapter, a one-day conference titled “The Status of Unani Medicine in Jammu and Kashmir” was held at Hajj House here, under the chairmanship of Hakim Mohammad Ashraf Lone.
In his presidential address, Hakim Lone presented a comprehensive review of the current situation of Unani medicine in the region, shedding light on the challenges faced by the practitioners and institutions, and placed those concerns before the Director of AYUSH. He also proposed practical suggestions to address these issues and to enhance the role of Unani medicine in the public health system of the Union Territory.
The Chief Guest, Dr. S.K. Sharma, Director of the Department of AYUSH, Jammu and Kashmir, began his keynote address with the couplet of Allama Iqbal: Kuch baat hai ke hasti mitti nahi hamari/ Sadiyon raha hai dushman daur-e-zamaan hamara (There is something about us that our existence never perishes; for centuries, time itself has been our adversary.)
Dr. Sharma assured that every possible effort would be made for the promotion and strengthening of Unani medicine in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasised that since the establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH in 2014, all indigenous systems of medicine, including Unani, have been receiving equal opportunities for growth and institutional support. “With vision, commitment, and perseverance,” he said, “we can achieve our goals and elevate Unani medicine to new heights.”
He further added that the Central Government supports integration among medical systems, aiming for mutual learning and greater public benefit. Dr. Sharma underlined three essential components for the promotion of any medical system: first, government attention; second, professional dedication and sincerity toward the art; and third, public demand. He noted that the current environment, both in India and abroad, is highly favourable, as indigenous systems, particularly Ayurveda and Unani, are gaining remarkable global attention and acceptance.
Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Rahmatullah Farooqi described Unani medicine as a divine blessing, highlighting its natural foundation and minimal side effects, which make it equally effective for the elite and the common people.
Dr. Irfat Ara, Deputy Director, CCRUM (Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine), discussed the Council’s achievements and ongoing research initiatives aimed at scientific validation and modernisation of Unani practices.
Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, Secretary-General of All India Unani Tibbi Congress, elaborated on the organisation’s activities and called for strengthening its movement to ensure that Unani medicine continues to flourish across India.
Prof. S.M. Arif Zaidi, former Dean, Faculty of Unani Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, advised Unani practitioners to uphold ethical and dignified standards in their clinical practice. He urged them not to succumb to any sense of inferiority, reminding them that the strength of the Unani system lies in its time-tested wisdom and healing potential.
Other prominent speakers included Dr. Shaukat Ali Yatoo, Registrar, AYUSH, J&K; and Prof. Shariq Masoodi, who shared their perspectives on institutional development and interdisciplinary cooperation.
The conference witnessed a large participation of Unani physicians from across Jammu and Kashmir. Notable participants from other states included Dr. S.M. Yaqub (Nagpur), Dr. Laiq Ali Khan (Kasganj, UP), Dr. Mohammad Rafiq (Delhi), Dr. Ehsan Ahmad Siddiqui (Delhi), Dr. Faizan Ahmad Siddiqui (Delhi), Dr. Abdul Majeed Alig (Delhi), Dr. Farman Ali (Delhi), Dr. Syed Mansoor Jamal Kazmi (Delhi), Dr. Khurshid Alam (Delhi), Dr. Mohammad Owais (Nagpur), Dr. Minhajuddin Khan (Hyderabad), Dr. Mrs. Minhaj (Hyderabad), Advocate Shah Jabeen Qazi (Delhi), Mr. Israr Ahmad Ujjaini (Delhi), and Mr. Iqbal Ali (Delhi).
The proceedings of the conference were ably conducted by Dr. Mohammad Yousuf Dintho, who skilfully anchored the event, ensuring an engaging and insightful exchange among the participants.
