Padmasree Dr. P.R. Krishnakumar

Date of Birth:- 23 September, 1951
Place of Birth:- Coimbatore, Tamilnadu.
Details of family:- Born on 23 September 1951 in Coimbatore, as the sixth among seven children of Aryavaidyan P. V. Rama Varier and Smt. Pankajam Rama Varier, Dr P.R. Krishnakumar was highly inspired towards the cause of Ayurveda from early childhood. His father, P.V Rama Varier, was the only son of Vaidyavichakshanan Mankulangara Kunjan Varier, who himself was a reputed Sanskrit scholar and physician and a direct student of Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier, the founder of Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal. Dr P.R. Krishnakumar remained a bachelor and devoted his entire life to Ayurveda and the welfare of society.

Educational Qualifications:-

Dr P.R. Krishnakumar had a very disciplined and happy childhood, and his leadership skills were noticeable even at a young age. He completed his schooling at Stanes Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School in Coimbatore. In 1969, as instructed by his father, he joined Shoranur Ayurveda College, which was run by Ayurveda Samajam, where his leadership skills were enhanced. 

Professional Trajectory:-

Establishing a legacy:- Aryavaidyan P.V. Rama Varier founded Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP) in 1943 with the vision of globalizing Ayurveda, later expanding it into a Public Limited Company and establishing its clinical wing, Arya Vaidya Chikitsalayam. Dr. P.R. Krishnakumar, who became Managing Director in 1994, further developed AVP by maintaining high standards in Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing, focusing on sustainability and quality, including initiatives for medicinal plant cultivation. He also launched the Centre for Indian Medicinal Heritage to train farmers in cultivating medicinal plants. As an administrator, Dr. Krishnakumar’s inclusive leadership ensured excellence by personally overseeing daily operations and appointing highly skilled staff. He prioritized Ayurveda’s global prominence over profits, integrating modern technologies while upholding traditional values.

International face of Ayurveda:- Padma Shri Dr. P.R. Krishnakumar played a pivotal role in globalizing Ayurveda, visiting over 50 countries to present its potential before the scientific community. His efforts led to significant collaborations, including a landmark agreement in 1976 between the World Health Organization (WHO) and Arya Vaidya Chikitsalayam for clinical research on Ayurveda in managing Rheumatoid Arthritis. This research, initiated in 1977, marked a scientific breakthrough for Ayurveda. In 2004-2006, his persistence secured funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for further clinical trials in the U.S., with ongoing studies in collaboration with the University of Washington. Dr. Krishnakumar’s relentless advocacy has been instrumental in gaining global acceptance for Ayurveda.

Contributions towards Ayurveda Education and Research:- Dr. P.R. Krishnakumar championed the global recognition of Ayurveda through scientific validation, founding the AVP Research Foundation (AVPRF) to promote research, practice, and documentation of Ayurveda. He initiated key projects, such as clinical trials during COVID-19 and the RUDRA clinical documentation program to generate practice-based evidence. In 1978, he established a Gurukula system combining Ayurveda with traditional knowledge, creating a unique breed of Ayurvedic scholars known as the ‘Coimbatore experiment.’ His efforts also led to the creation of Ancient Science of Life, a peer-reviewed journal, and the Tatwaprakashini program, which offers students profound Ayurvedic learning experiences. Throughout his career, he successfully implemented projects in collaboration with the Indian government to advance Ayurveda.

Publications:- Scientific papers on clinical trials on Rheumatoid arthritis were published in association with Daniel Furst et al. in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology,17(4):185-92 and Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, 70(2):392-3. The biography of Padmasree P. R. Krishnakumar, titled ‘Samavarthanam,’ was published by Mathrubhumi Books in 2015.

Awards and achievements:- Dr. P.R. Krishnakumar was the chairman of CAReKeralam (Confederation for Ayurvedic Renaissance-Keralam Limited), a public limited company established as a cluster of Ayurveda industries supported by the AYUSH department of the Government of India and Government of Kerala. For his phenomenal contributions to the field of Ayurveda, the Government of India honored him in 2009 with the prestigious Padmashri Award (Figure 4). In 2011,Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan honored him with the ‘Kulapathi Munshi Award’ for his contributions to Ayurveda and Indian Culture. In 2012, Kuvempu University, Shimoga, presented him with an Honorary Doctorate. He became the Chancellor of Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore. In 2016, the Government of India presented him ‘Dhanwanthari Puraskar’ for his contributions to the Ayurveda Education, Health, and Community Services field.

Social engagements:- Dr. P.R. Krishnakumar tried to restore the traditional values that had become defunct by establishing the Arsha Yoga Vidyapeedam trust. The trust offered education in gurukula style in subjects like Ayurveda, Yoga, Dharmasastra, Vyakarana, Jyothisha,etc., where many students, including those from abroad, had gained knowledge without expecting any formal certificate. The training was also imparted to Ayurveda therapists under ArshaYoga Vidyapeedamon the intricacies of Marma, Kalari, and massaging techniques. KshetropasanaTrust is a religious and charitable trust based at Sriperumbuthur in Tamilnadu, constituted in 1987 by Dr P.R. Krishnakumar in association with renowned spiritual leader Pujyasri Prema Pandurang. The Trust was formed to revive and rejuvenate the values and ideals of Indian culture and upliftment of weaker and downtrodden sections of society. The trust activities are being executed actively, including preserving old temples and Vedapadasalas, running old-age homes, Gosalas,etc. He initiated the Divyam school for holistic education, where Indic knowledge was imparted along with the conventional curriculum. He firmly believed that all knowledge systems would eventually merge and promoted astrology, architecture, art,etc., along with Ayurveda. He was closely associated with the Bharatamuni Foundation for Asian Culture,an organization created by the famous Natya Shastra artist Ms Padma Subrahmanyam for the research and development of various art forms.

Principles and Ethos:- Throughout his life, he remained very dynamic, tirelessly engaged in various activities for almost twenty hours a day. He remained a learner throughout his life and firmly believed that one cannot move away from his Dharma and Karma.Dr. P.R. Krishnakumar was focused on his duties towards society and maintained sanctity in his thoughts, words, and actions. He wanted physicians to have spiritual knowledge, which can make them socially responsible. This will also help control the body, mind, and senses.He focused only on good attributes in everyone and considered everyone approaching him equally. He never worked for the development of AVP alone but for the development of Ayurveda as a science.