Prof. Dinkar Govind Thatte
Date of Birth:- August 2, 1930
Place of Birth:-Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Details of family:- Dinkar Govind Thatte was born into a traditional Maharashtrian family in Banda, Uttar Pradesh was raised in an environment that highly valued education and culture. His father, Govind Raghunath Thatte, a respected school teacher, and his homemaker mother fostered a culturally rich and education-focused environment. The family’s deep commitment to education led them to migrate from Maharashtra to Uttar Pradesh. Prof. Thatte developed an early interest in Ayurveda and Indian medicine. In May 1959, he married Ms. Pratibha Joshi, daughter of the late Lt. Narayan and Sakhubai Joshi, and together they built a family that supported his academic and professional endeavours.
Educational Qualifications:-
He completed high school in Banda and intermediate studies in Kanpur in 1947. Driven by his passion for Hindi, he earned degrees in Sahitya Visharada and Sahitya Ratna in 1947-48. He then began his Ayurveda journey, enrolling in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) at King George’s Medical College, a program combining Ayurveda and Allopathic medicine. Despite disruptions and a proposed merger with the MBBS curriculum, D.G. Thatte remained committed to Ayurveda and graduated in 1957 with a gold medal for his outstanding academic performance. He further earned postgraduate degrees, including M.D. (Hon.) from West Germany, which solidified his expertise and international recognition.
Professional Trajectory:-
Pioneering Contributions in Sharira (Sharira Rachana and Sharira Kriya): Prof. Dinkar Govind Thatte was an iconic figure in the field of Ayurvedic Anatomy and Physiology (Sharira Rachana and Kriya). His dedication to preserving traditional Ayurvedic knowledge, especially in Sharira, and his pioneering work in cadaveric dissection as a core part of Ayurvedic education, which was a revolutionary step in Ayurvedic pedagogy. His extensive contribution has significantly shaped the way Ayurvedic anatomy is taught and studied today.
Undergraduate Faculty and Principal:- In January 1957, D.G. Thatte started his profession as a House Officer at the State Ayurvedic College and Hospital, Lucknow. His subsequently worked as a RMO from Jan’1961 until Dec’1963 and later as Demonstrator in the Department of Rachana Sharira in Dec’1963. He was promoted as a Lecturer in the Department of Rachana Sharira in May 1970. Dr. Thatte maintained an amiable relationship with students while maintaining a vigilant eye on their academic development.
Postgraduate Faculty:- Upon being granted an esteemed postgraduate degree, “MD. (Hon),” from West Germany, he stayed true and devoted to the teaching profession; he was promoted to position of Reader in April 1972. Subsequently, he served as a professor and head of the Post Graduate Department of Sharira at SAC&H, Lucknow from April 1983 to June 1986. He mentored and guided numerous PhD and postgraduate scholars, leaving an indelible mark on their academic journeys. In 1983, at the “World Congress on Holistic Medicine” in Colombo, Sri Lanka, he presented a Scientific Paper on “Marma and Acupuncture” which led to the conferment of an PhD in recognition of his outstanding work
Academic Reforms:- Prof. Thatte played an instrumental role in modernizing Ayurvedic education by integrating traditional Ayurvedic knowledge with modern anatomical science. He introduced significant reforms, including a stronger emphasis on hands-on dissection, a practice that was rare in Ayurveda before his time. In 1992, he founded the All-India Sharira Research Institute (AISRI), the first institute in the country dedicated exclusively to research and educational programs in Sharira (Ayurvedic anatomy). AISRI became a pioneering center for training students and educators in Sharira-related subjects.
Aptitude for Research:- He led two significant research projects sponsored by the Government of Uttar Pradesh: “Practical Observations on a Few Marma Points” and “Nutritional and Immunological Studies on Human Mother’s Milk and Child Health.” These studies explored critical yet under-researched areas. Prof. Thatte also mentored numerous PhD and postgraduate scholars, guiding groundbreaking work such as “Dalhan’s Commentary on Sushrut Samhita” and “Sara Purusha,” which enriched academic research in Ayurveda.
All-India Sharira Research Institute (AISRI):- In 1992, Prof. Thatte founded the All-India Sharira Research Institute (AISRI), a center dedicated to education, research, and documentation in Sharira Rachana (Ayurvedic anatomy). AISRI played a pivotal role in training students and advancing research nationwide.
Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth (RAV) Guru:- Prof. Thatte was appointed as a Guru at the Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth, where students in ‘Advanced Ayurvedic studies’ particularly focusing on Sharira Rachana and Sharira Kriya.
Positions Held:- Prof. Thatte was deeply involved in several academic administrative roles:
- Principal-cum-Superintendent at SAC&H, Lucknow.
- Additional Director (Education) for Ayurvedic and Unani services under the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
- Dean of the Faculty of Ayurveda at Lucknow University.
- He served as an expert examiner at postgraduate levels in many Ayurvedic universities across India.
- Officer on special duty (OSD) role at the Directorate of Ayurvedic and Unani Services, Lucknow
- Guru of Sharira Rachana at the (Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth) in New Delhi.
- Visiting professor in the faculty of Ayurveda at the IMS, BHU, Varanasi.
- Member of core group, guiding the educational path for foreign scholars at Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar.
- Member of the Drug Research Committee at the Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), New Delhi.
Literary Contributions:- Prof. Thatte authored numerous influential books, many of which gained recognition from the Central Council of Indian Medicine (Central Regulatory Body under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act 1970 and functioned till the enactment of the NCISM 2020) as textbooks or reference books. His significant contributions are:-
Accolades and honors presented:-
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