Union Minister of State for AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav has called Ayurveda "India's soft power". He has also claimed that it has a global acceptance based on strong evidence backed by modern medical research.

In this regard, a documentary titled Ayurveda –‘The Double Helix of Life’ was premiered in New Delhi. It highlights Ayurveda’s potential to transform global healthcare. Minister of State for AYUSH, Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the screening. Speaking at the event, the Minister said it is not just a film but a movement to create awareness about the uses of Ayurveda, as India has always emphasized the use of Ayurveda. The 90-minute film showcased Ayurveda’s holistic approach to managing chronic diseases, backed by research and evidence. Produced by Dr. A.V. Anoop and directed by Vinod Mankara, the documentary aims to dispel myths about Ayurveda and demonstrate its scientific validity. The documentary further emphasizes prevention through daily routines, seasonal care, and balanced nutrition, offering a sustainable and affordable approach to healthcare.

Uttar Pradesh’s first ‘AYUSH University’

President of India Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Uttar Pradesh’s first ‘AYUSH University’ in Gorakhpur on June 30. AYUSH University is slated to reflect the growing national and international interest in India’s ancient wellness traditions.

In a major boost to traditional medicine and integrated healthcare, President Murmu is expected to inaugurate the Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath AYUSH University in Gorakhpur on June 30, 2025. This will be Uttar Pradesh’s first dedicated AYUSH university, marking a historic moment for the region and for India’s growing focus on alternative medicine systems.

The new university, located in Pipri, Bhathat, has been constructed at a cost of ₹267.5 crore and sprawls over 52 acres. Final touches are currently underway, and officials report that over 95% of the construction work is complete, including academic blocks, hospitals, and hostels.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi started a revolution in Ayurveda by establishing the AYUSH Ministry. Today, people around the world are talking about Ayurveda and Yoga. The result of this is seen in India and abroad. The popularity of its traditional treatment methods is going towards its peak.

The minister made the statement, "India has always given importance to Ayurveda, and we have been trying to increase its popularity for centuries. Today, its acceptance across the globe is validated by strong evidence of continuous quality and modern medical research," he said.

Jadhav called the film "a unique amalgamation of science and culture" that highlights the global relevance of Ayurveda in modern healthcare.

The film is directed by national award-winning filmmaker Vinod Mankara and produced by Dr AV Anoop under AVA Productions, in association with the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organization of India (AMMOI).

According to a statement, the documentary addresses public misconceptions surrounding Ayurveda and connects traditional knowledge with modern scientific research.

It references over 1,000 peer-reviewed studies and highlights "quality-controlled manufacturing and clinical trials" to prove Ayurveda's claims.

"Ayurveda has faced criticism from other systems of medicine and international audiences. Today, clinical evidence is available, and for certain conditions, Ayurveda may offer the only solution. This film aims to present where Ayurveda stands today."

Ayurveda, the Ancient Indian system

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of medicine focused on holistic health and wellness, aiming to restore balance in the body and mind. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the individual, their environment, and the universe, with a strong focus on individual constitution and a balanced approach to life.

Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.” Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.” It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples.

Some of this knowledge was set to print a few thousand years ago, but much of it is inaccessible. The principles of many of the natural healing systems now familiar in the West have their roots in Ayurveda, including Homeopathy and Polarity Therapy.

Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle, and the use of herbs. Knowledge of Ayurveda enables one to understand how to create this balance of body, mind, and consciousness according to one’s own individual constitution and how to make lifestyle changes to bring about and maintain this balance.

Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, each person has a particular pattern of energy—an individual combination of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics—which comprises their own constitution. This constitution is determined at conception by a number of factors and remains the same throughout one’s life.

Many factors, both internal and external, act upon us to disturb this balance and are reflected as a change in one’s constitution from the balanced state. Examples of these emotional and physical stresses include one’s emotional state, diet and food choices, seasons and weather, physical trauma, and work and family relationships.

Once these factors are understood, one can take appropriate actions to nullify or minimize their effects or eliminate the causes of imbalance and re-establish one’s original constitution. Balance is the natural order; imbalance is disorder. Health is order; disease is disorder. Within the body, there is a constant interaction between order and disorder. When one understands the nature and structure of disorder, one can re-establish order.

Ayurveda identifies three basic types of energy or functional principles that are present in everyone and everything. Since there are no single words in English that convey these concepts, we use the original Sanskrit words vata, pitta, and kapha. These principles can be related to the basic biology of the body.

Energy is required to create movement so that fluids and nutrients get to the cells, enabling the body to function. Energy is also required to metabolize the nutrients in the cells and is called for to lubricate and maintain the structure of the cell. Vata is the energy of movement; pitta is the energy of digestion or metabolism and kapha, is the energy of lubrication and structure. All people have the qualities of vata, pitta, and kapha, but one is usually primary, one secondary and the third is usually the least prominent. The cause of disease in Ayurveda is viewed as a lack of proper cellular function due to an excess or deficiency of vata, pitta, or kapha. The disease can also be caused by the presence of toxins.

Highlights of the Film:

Real-life success stories in treating conditions like diabetic neuropathy, renal stones, infertility, and even Parkinson’s disease in Germany.
Evolution in Ayurvedic manufacturing—from classical decoctions to user-friendly formulations such as Rejuran and sustained-release wound dressings.
Insights from 52 experts including global health professionals, WHO consultants, and clinical researchers, bridging the East-West medical dialogue.
Following its New Delhi debut, it is expected to tour various global platforms, highlighting India’s role in integrative medicine.
A Global Message: Far from being a nostalgic look at traditional healing, the documentary boldly asserts that Ayurveda is poised to contribute meaningfully to global healthcare challenges—when supported by research, innovation, and evidence-based practice.

As the world looks for sustainable, holistic, and personalized healthcare solutions, “Ayurveda – The Double Helix of Life” arrives not just as a film, but as a movement—inviting audiences to see Ayurveda not just as heritage, but as hope.

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