In a landmark recognition of India’s ancient medical heritage, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh recently unveiled a bronze bust of Sushruta, the legendary Indian physician widely regarded as the ‘Father of Surgery.’
The 200-pound sculpture, donated by gastrointestinal surgeon Dr Chandra Cheruvu and created by acclaimed Tamil Nadu sculptor T. O. Ilango, was unveiled at one of the world’s oldest surgical institutions. The ceremony celebrated Sushruta’s pioneering contributions to medicine, with the Consulate General of India in Scotland, Shri Siddharth Malik, describing it as a tribute to India’s enduring legacy in healthcare.
Founded in 1505, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is among the oldest surgical colleges in the world. Yet Sushruta practised medicine nearly two millennia earlier, around 600 BCE in Varanasi, where he laid the foundations of modern surgical science.
Medical historians have long argued that Sushruta’s contributions deserve far greater international recognition. As surgeon and researcher Dr Surajit Bhattacharya observed, Sushruta performed complex surgical procedures centuries before Hippocrates and long before the emergence of renowned Greco-Roman physicians.
The installation of Sushruta’s bust at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh represents more than a symbolic honour. It acknowledges the profound influence of ancient Indian medicine on the evolution of global surgical practice and ensures that one of history’s greatest medical pioneers receives the international recognition his legacy deserves.
Source and Image Credit: Consulate General of India, Edinburgh
