LUCKNOW: Breaking a 110-year-old tradition, the fresh batch of MBBS students at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) took Maharishi Charak Shapath instead of Hippocratic oath on the first day of the 2021-22 academic session that began on Monday with an induction ceremony.
Not only in KGMU, the newly admitted medical students in all the medical education institutes, both government and private, took the Charak Shapath in their respective induction ceremonies. The oath was in Hindi, instead of English.
At KGMU, Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen (Retd) Prof Bipin Puri also presented aprons to 250 MBBS and 70 BDS students who have taken admission in this session.
Decision on oath on NMC recommendation
The decision to replace Hippocratic oath with Charak Shapath has been taken on the recommendation of National Medical Commission (NMC) to all medical education of India. The NMC regulates medical curriculum and education in the country. The NMC replaced the Medical Council of India (MCI) in September 2020.
According to KGMU officers, the NMC gave the suggestion to replace the oath on February 7 and uploaded “Maharishi Charak Shapath” on its website.
The Hippocratic oath goes like this, “I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgement this oath and this covenant.... I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice...” Maharishi Charak Shapath is originally in Sanskrit and has been taken from Charak Samhita said to be written by Maharishi Charak who is believed to be one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda.
The NMC got the oath translated in Hindi and English as well and uploaded on its website. In English, it says, “Not for the self, not for the fulfillment of any worldly material desire or gain, but solely for the good of suffering humanity, I will treat my patient and excel all.”
