Vaidya Madhav Vasudev Kolhatkar

Date of Birth:- August 25, 1939.
Place of Birth:- Pune.
Details of family:- Son to Mrs. Radhabai Vasudev Shivram Kolhatkar. Vaidya Madhav Kolhatkar had seven siblings, and he was the second son, known as Anna among his family members. His wife, Mrs. Pradnya Madhav Kolhatkar, and his younger sister, Shubhada Velankar both are also Vaidya. He had two children; Son Vedas and daughter Vyahriti.

Educational Qualifications:-

He completed his schooling at Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya (School), Pune, and passed inter-arts at Sir Parashu Ram Bhau College, Pune, in 1958. Received titles such as Vaidyachudamani from Vedshastrottejak Sabha, Pune.

Later pursued a master’s degree from Pune University in Sanskrit, specializing in Vedanta. In 1962, he acquired a Diploma in Shuddha Ayurveda Course (DSAC) degree from Ashtanga Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya (College) and Rugnalaya.

Later, he went on to teach for 30 years, also served as the principal from 1972 to 1978 at Ashtang Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya. He also served as a professor of Sanskrit at the Department of Sanskrit, Samhita, and Siddhant, Tilak Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Pune, for almost 2 years. From 1988 to 1992, he was appointed as coordinator for the Ayurveda Department at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (University), where he initiated courses in Yoga and Ayurveda and conceptualized 18 different courses for the common public. From 1988 until his death, he worked as an Honorary Physician at Sasoon Hospital (Government Hospital), Pune.

Professional Trajectory
He was a master at teaching Vyakarana (Panini’s Sanskrit grammar) and Padartha Vigyana (fundamental principles) and was keen to explain the clinical application of these subjects. He encouragedstudents to read, understand, and comprehend Ayurvedic textbooks for applying the principles inclinical practice.  He always emphasized treating patients by identifying the disease’s specific Nidana (causative factor) and advised different treatments according to the specified Samprapti (pathogenesis). He always emphasized on teaching clinical aspects of Samhita to students.  Number of successful clinical cases treated by applying principles of Ayurved are on his accounts.  Today, a significant number of clinicians from Maharashtra benefit from or are linked to the tradition or teaching of Vaidya Kolhatkar. He strongly inculcated the habit of learning from Vaidyas by observing their clinical practice after college hours.

“Ayurvediya Triskandha Kosha” namely, encyclopaedia of Hetu (causative factors), Linga/Lakshana (symptoms), and Aushadhi (treatment) is a monumental work of  Vaidya Kolhatkar’s vision to the ayurveda. Further, based on this Kosha (database), “Ayuta Nidana” (diagnostic software) and “Ayuta Upachara” (Ayurvedic diagnostic and treatment software) were developed by Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth.

Vidyarthimitra Vaidya M. V. Kolhatkar Ayurved Pratishthan (foundation)

In remembrance of the Late Vaidya V. M. Kolhatkar, his students have established “Vidyarthimitra Vaidya M. V. Kolhatkar Ayurved Pratishthan.” Since 1993, on the occasion of Gurupournima, a series of classes by well-known Vaidya (Ayurvedic practitioners) have been organized. Shree Madhavacharya Gurukul”was established at Padasare village, Raigad District in Maharashtra.  Every year, this Gurukul educating Ayurved students. Since 2009, residential training camps have been conducted thrice a year. In 2017, a national seminar was also organized on Triskandha kosha. A book entitled “Madhavaya Swaha” is also published in his memories.

Awards and Honors

In appreciation of the outstanding services of Vaidya Madhav Vasudev Kolhatkar to the Ayurveda system of medicine, Arya Vaidya Rama Varier Memorial presented the title “Pride of Maharashtra Award-2010” on April 24, 2010.

Full paper link

https://journals.lww.com/jras/fulltext/2024/08001/_vidyarthimitra__vaidya_madhav_vasudev_kolhatkar_.8.aspx