The M.K. Stalin-led DMK government’s move into its second year in Tamil Nadu this month was marked by two controversial episodes. Within days of taking the decisions to punish the Madurai Medical College Dean following a row over an oath-taking ceremony and to ban the ancient palanquin-bearing ritual of the Dharmapuram Adheenam, the government had to revoke them. In hindsight, both decisions appeared to have been taken in haste; the latter case also called into question the DMK government’s resolve in dealing with Hindu religious practices.
The government had removed the Dean and placed him on ‘wait list’ after first-year medical students were administered the Maharishi Charak Shapath instead of the conventional Hippocratic Oath during the white coat ceremony. The Charak Shapath was recommended by the National Medical Commission as early as February. While the recommendation was instantly opposed for its “regressive nature” by the Indian Medical Association and some political parties in Kerala, there were hardly any voices against it back then in Tamil Nadu. The government too did not issue any specific direction against the use of the Charak Shapath. In fact, had the State Finance Minister, a guest at the event, not flagged it, the new oath would have gone unnoticed. After the Dean was made a scapegoat, video evidence of the use of the oath, much earlier, in other government medical colleges, emerged. With the AIADMK questioning the action and the medical fraternity backing the Dean, the government had no option but to reinstate him citing his good work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Editorial | Standing on ceremony: On Charak Shapath and medical education
