Ayurveda Day celebrations were hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels recently, delayed from November 2019 due to elections in the UK and Brexit. The chief guests included Geoffrey Van Orden CBE MEP, Dinesh Dhamija MEP, Neena Gill CBE MEP, Jo Linen MEP, Her Excellency the Ambassador of India to the Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Gaitri Issar Kumar, Dr Tony Nader, and Dr Nagendra.
Practitioners and stalwarts of Ayurveda from about 20 countries have gathered on the occasion. This historical programme was organised by Amarjeet S Bhamra, Secretariat- All Party Parliamentary Group for Indian Traditional Sciences based in the United Kingdom. In her address, Ambassador Kumar commended the role of the APPG and Secretariat Bhamra in raising the profile of alternate medicinal systems of Ayurveda and Yoga in the European Parliament.
Speaking on the occasion, Amarjeet S Bhamra highlighted the cooperation received in terms of arranging awareness meetings particularly from the above chief guests over years and their unstinting support in the incorporation of Indian Traditional Sciences into the health system of the European nations. He also handed, along with Prof. Madan Thangavelu, a statement of intent between the EU and India to all chief guests. A proposal was made for the creation of Ayurveda Centre of Excellence for Research, Education and Practical Application in continental Europe, post Brexit scenario.
Dr Tony Nader and Dr Nagendra presented their speeches via Skype and addressed Ayurveda being the science of life at both physical and mental levels. Recalling her own visits to India, Neena Gill MEP opined that the benefits be recognised across Europe in that they are cost saving and healthy. MEP Geoffrey Van Orden MEP has applauded the work done in the EU in the field of Ayurveda.
Valuable presentations were made by Gita Desai (USA), Dr Carolyn Peters (Austria), Yannick Pots (Belgium), Dr Martina Ziskova (Czech Republic), Durlabh Vasudeva (France), Gayatri Puranik and Dr Peter Kath (Germany) and Dr Partap Singh Chauhan (India). A trailer of Gita Desai’s her new documentary “Ayurveda Unveiled” was shown on the occasion. Ragasudha Vinjamuri, award-winning dancer from the UK perfomed classical dance depicting the story of Ayurveda. Dignitaries have also attended from Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Portgual, Romania, Spain, Germany, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, and the UK.
