7th Nizam of Hyderabad established mobile Ayurvedic clinic at 1942 Kumbh Mela
Hyderabad: In 1942, during the Kumbh Mela held in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Mir Osman Ali Khan, the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, established mobile Ayurvedic clinic for the event’s attendees. The initiative aimed to provide healthcare services to the vast number of pilgrims gathering for religious occasions.
A rare Urdu booklet titled “Report – Nizam Ayurvedic Safari Dawakhana” offers a detailed account of this effort. Researchers S.A. Hussain and Vinod Kumar Bhatnagar, from the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, uncovered this booklet, which was printed in 1942. The document sheds light on Nizam’s vision to support Ayurveda and the historical significance of the mobile clinics.
The report highlights Prayag (Prayagraj) ‘s history, importance, and activities of the Ayurvedic mobile clinic, including the responses of several eminent personalities who visited it. It also provides insight into Nizam’s commitment to promoting Ayurveda in Hyderabad, where he allocated Rs 35,000 annually for its development during his reign.
The mobile clinic, set up on the recommendation of Mahant Baba Puran Dasji, was a first for Ayurveda. The clinic’s activities at the Kumbh Mela were carefully documented, although details on its frequency and results remain unclear. The booklet contains 36 pages, printed by Ahmedia Press at Charminar, Hyderabad, and published by Mahant Baba Puran Dasji.
In addition to details about the mobile clinic, the report includes historical context about Prayag, the religious importance of the Kumbh Mela, and the clinic’s inauguration. It lists the medical team involved and includes two tables showing the number of patients treated. Six photographs unrelated to the medical history are also featured.
This document, available at the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, provides a rare glimpse into Nizam’s efforts to integrate Ayurveda into large-scale public health services.
