The quiz saw the four finalist zonal teams - Ayurveda & Unani Tibbia College, New Delhi; Government Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Balangir, Orissa; Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Jamnagar, Gujarat; and Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara College of Ayurveda, Udupi, Karnataka compete for the Champions Trophy.

The first prize was bagged by Dr. Malay Dineshbhai Pathak and Dr. Bhadarva Abdeli Saifideen of Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Jamnagar, Gujarat. Dr. Chaithra S. Rao and Ms. Shyamala of Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara College of Ayurveda, Udupi, Karnataka were the first runners-up and Dr. Raman Kaushik and Dr. Sadaf Khan of Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, New Delhi were the second runners-up at the quiz.

The winning team received two Sony Vaio Laptops worth Rs. 50,000 each. The first and second runners-up received two Sony Vaio Laptops worth Rs. 37,000 each and two Sony Vaio Laptops worth Rs. 25,000 each respectively.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Philipe Haydon, President & CEO, Pharmaceuticals, The Himalaya Drug Company said, “Himalaya Ayurwhiz 2009-10 is the first quiz contest which provides students of Ayurveda a competitive platform on a national level. The objective of the event is to enhance knowledge and increase learning opportunities, through national level exposure and interaction with the larger student fraternity. Today, the caliber of students studying Ayurveda is very high and what is encouraging to see is that colleges are actively promoting partnerships with industry, to further improve the quality of education. As pioneers of contemporary Ayurveda, Himalaya strives to engage with the student community on a continuous basis in order to promote exchange of ideas, healthy interaction and debate, and increase competitiveness.”

Mr. Haydon further added, “The science of Ayurveda is gaining global recognition. Western countries and universities are actively promoting research on Indian herbs. If India has to retain its pride of place in the field of Ayurveda, we need to provide the right environment and opportunities to young minds. Himalaya's aim is to globalize Ayurveda and make it relevant to modern society. We are witnessing a significant change in attitude towards Ayurveda with the global medical fraternity accepting it as a complementary health system. The future of this ‘traditional science' depends on the quality of students who will practice this system of medicine or conduct research in this field.”

Congratulating all contestants, Haydon said, “All teams should be very proud of their accomplishments. This contest is not just about winning, but about learning. We want students of Ayurveda to realize their potential and strive to reach greater heights.”

Apart from the Ayurwhiz quiz contest, Himalaya is also conducting several other programs with Ayurveda colleges under the aegis of the Ayurveda Medical College (AMC) Connect initiative. The AMC Connect is an initiative undertaken to bridge the gap between the academia & the industry.

The activities include:

• The Jivaka and Ayurvisharada awards instituted to recognize and reward academic excellence in over 120 Ayurveda colleges across India. The awards are granted to the first and second rank holders in each of these colleges.
• Himalaya Infoline – A quarterly magazine for under-graduate students
• Continuous Medical Education (CME) programs, workshops and seminars with guest lectures by eminent scholars
• Rural Medical Camps in association with National Service Scheme Units of Ayurvedic Colleges, which includes general health checks and specialized camps (Diabetes detection camps; Bone Mineral Density test camp).
• Co-curricular activities (sports and quiz)
• Public social awareness programs – blood donation, health awareness events, afforestation

The national level quiz contest was preceded by a national level seminar on ‘Essentials for Effective Ayurvedic Medical Practice' presided by Mr. Srikantaiah, Director, Department of AYUSH, Government of Karnataka and inaugurated by Mr. Philipe Haydon, President & CEO, Pharmaceuticals, The Himalaya Drug Company .

The seminar also saw the release of the handbook, “Pathway to Success - A Career guide for an Ayurvedic Graduate”, a step-by-step guide for Ayurvedic graduates on the various career options available to them and how to pursue these successfully. Dr. Rangesh, Head - New Product Initiatives, R&D, The Himalaya Drug Company, upon releasing the handbook, highlighted the need for such a book and spoke of the many career options available after graduation . He also emphasized on the importance of building a firm foundation as clinicians towards successful Ayurveda practice.

The seminar was designed to give students an insight into current trends dominating the science and practice of Ayurveda, its relevance in the modern scenario and guidelines to set up a successful Ayurvedic practice.

Several distinguished Ayurveda experts and clinicians including Vaidya Vilas Nanal, Dr. J.L.N. Sastry and Dr. L. Mahadevan were keynote speakers at the seminar.

Dr.Sastry, Chief Physician, Ayushman Ayurvedic Center, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, spoke on the role of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in clinical practice. Having recognized several herbs with potent anti-inflammatory activities in his practice, he shared useful insights with the students.

Dr. Mahadevan, Director & Chief Physician, Sri Sarada Ayurvedic Hospital, Tamil Nadu, discussed basic concepts of Ayurveda (Dosha, Dhatu & Mala) and their role in the maintenance of health and causation of diseases. 

Dr. Prakash, Adjunct Professor of Law, National Law School University of India, Bangalore, highlighted the legalities involved in setting up a clinic and the basics of consumer protection act relevant to medical professionals.

Mr. Maraddi, Senior Manager, Union Bank of India, Regional Office, Bangalore, enlightened delegates on the financial support available to set up an Ayurvedic clinic or hospital.