Arya Vaidya Sala 'Sthapakan' Drama On March 23 At Kottakkal

Malappuram, Kerala: Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, the globally known Ayurvedic center in India, is all set to recreate its founder and physician PS Varier’s life story through a drama on March 23. The play based on the founder’s life is held as part of the centenary celebration of the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala Charitable Hospital.

A name that has transcended borders, creating a far-reaching impact, the Arya Vaidya Sala (AVS) was founded in 1902 by Vaidyaratnam PS Varier as a small village clinic. The extraordinary growth of the clinic into a full-fledged institution, imprinting a great legacy, occurred right during his leadership tenure.

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The drama named ‘Sthapakan’ (Founder), brings alive key milestones from the founder’s life on the stage. The event will take place at the PS Varier Ayurveda College on March 23rd at 7 pm. The unique aspect of this play is that the entire cast consists of AVS staff members from various divisions, highlights Dr T S Madhavan Kutty, Chief Medical Officer. Over 30 employees will perform in the play, including Managing Trustee and Chief Physician Dr. PM Varier.

The play is expected to navigate the audience through important phases of the PS Varier’s life including his Ayurvedic pursuits, social endeavours and cultural contributions. According to EP Rajagopalan, the playwright, drama aims to herald the legacy and contributions of PS Varier to the world, hence cementing the physician’s place in history.

The rehearsals of the play are going on, and  milestone moments in the life of the PS Varier will be incorporated. The program will also be telecast live, allowing a wider audience to experience the drama. The employees have undergone intensive training for over a month, recording their attendance to present the founder’s life in an engaging way. Originally scheduled for 2018, the program was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are excited to finally bring the story of PS Varier to the stage,” said Dr. Madhavan Kutty.

PS Varier was not just a physician; Beyond just practicing medicine, he started a hospital for Ayurveda treatment known as the PS Varier Ayurveda College, adopting an approach, preserving Ayurveda medicines, according to PM Varier, Managing Trustee of AVS. The institute has a modern research center equipped with a laboratory, a research and development wing, a nursing home, drug manufacturing units, a museum, and a herb garden.

AVS is now one of the pioneering institutions of Ayurveda in India, famed for its traditional therapies and medicines stemming from ancient texts and practices. It has also become a major destination of solace for ailing patients from India and abroad.

Besides hospitals in Kottakkal, Kochi and Delhi, the AVS has factories in Kottakkal, Kanjikode and Nanjangud near Mysore. In addition, there are over 30 direct branches and around 200 authorised dealers, 2,500 direct workforce and over 20,000 additional employees indirectly working in the Arya Vaidya Sala, PM Varier pointed out.

Apart from this, PS Varier’s legacy extends beyond Ayurveda to the cultural and arts contributions. He had a drama group,  performing plays throughout Kerala. Afterward, he led a Kathakali troupe, which became one of the top Kathakali troupes in Kerala, thus helped preserve Kottakkal’s traditional art forms, notes PM Varier. Even today, the Kathakali troupe continues to thrive, admitting students and providing training in these ancient art forms.

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Another important chapter in PS Varier’s legacy is his commitment to religious harmony by embracing all communities. The Arya Vaidya Sala headquarters, Kailasa Mandiram’s gate, built in the 1920s, bears witness to his ideals, sporting the symbols of three major religions: Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.

Born in 1869 in Kottakkal in the erstwhile Malabar district in Madras Presidency, PS Varier was the eldest son of his parents, Marayamangalam Rama Varier and Panniyampally Kunjukutti Varasyar. He started his initial lessons in Ayurveda from the classical Gurukula system from Kuttanchery Vasudevan Moos, a famous Ayurvedic practitioner in Kerala.