Prof (Dr) Gyanendra Pandey dedicated his life studying, researching, practicing, and teaching Ayurveda, which is the oldest healing science. Ayurvedais referred to as “The Science of Life.” Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is known as the “Mother of All Healing.” It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for thousands of years in an oral tradition, from accomplished masters to their disciples. While some of this knowledge on Ayurveda was set to print a few thousand years ago, much of it even today remains inaccessible.
Dr. Pandey was born on 20th January 1943, in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. A well-known specialist in the Indian traditional medical system, Dr Pandey did Ayurvedacharya (1963), Post Graduate in Ayurveda (1968), Master’s Degree In Indian Ancient History, Culture & Archaeology(1969) from Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, Uttarakhand;Master’s Degree in Ayurveda (1967) from Gujrat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujrat; and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. His PhD thesis was on ‘Traditional Medicine in South-East Asia and Indian Medical Science’, which was later published as a book. He was an internationally acclaimed authority of Ayurveda and was part of several government projects over the past 50 years.
He regularly participated in various national and international conferences on Ayurveda, Yoga, Indology and Indian Culture. He was a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society (FRAS) of Great Britain and Ireland.
Dr. Pandey along with being an Ayurveda doctor, was a well-known research scholar, medico botanist, medicine inventor and professor. He wrote more than 75 books and 400 research papers on Ayuveda and Indian traditional medicinal system in Sanskrit, Hindi and English, languages he was fluent in speaking and writing. His books are now included in the curriculum of various prestigious institutes in the country.
He dedicated his life to Ayuveda, having worked for 55 years. He held the post of Deputy Director (Ayurved) with Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry Of Ayush, Government Of India where he worked for 33 years from 1st July 70 to 31st January 03, and retired on superannuation. Many of his research projects were given to the Ministry of AYUSH, and he was conferred the title of ‘Professor Emeritus’ by Gujarat Ayurved University for his unparalleled work in Ayurveda. Post retirement from Govt service, he became a Senior Professor and taught at Gujrat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Uttaranchal Ayurveda Medical College & Hospital, Dehradun, Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, Haridwar, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj – Shantikunj, Haridwar.
Dr. Pandey was featured as the eminent Ayurvedacharya of this century in the ‘Biographical History of Indian Medicine’ by K.R. Srikant Murthy Varanasi, 2005, pp 274 -275. This biographical history documents life and works of distinguished personalities who propagated Ayurved from the period of the Indus Valley Civilization up to the present day.
Dr.Pandey passed away on August 21, 2022 in Rishikesh, India at the age of 80.
With Dr Pandey’s passing away, an era ends. His legacy will live forever.