President Droupadi Murmu will grace the inaugural ceremony of Saushrutam 2026 on 15 July, a three-day international seminar being hosted by the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, from 15 to 17 July 2026.
The seminar was preceded by a pre-conference workshop on 14 July, and is being celebrated to mark Sushruta Jayanti, observed annually on 15 July to honour Acharya Sushruta, widely regarded as the Father of Surgery.
Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush; Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi; Ramveer Singh Bidhuri, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, will be the Guests of Honour at the inaugural ceremony.
Prof. (Vd.) P. K. Prajapati, Director, AIIA, said Saushrutam 2026 will serve as a landmark international platform for advancing evidence-based Ayurvedic surgery by bringing together the timeless principles of Acharya Sushruta with contemporary surgical innovations.
He said the seminar would strengthen academic and clinical collaboration, encourage high-quality research, and promote excellence in surgical education. With participation from leading surgeons, researchers, policymakers, and academicians from India and abroad, the event will reaffirm India’s leadership in preserving and advancing its rich surgical heritage.
Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Badwe, Organising Chairman and Medical Superintendent, AIIA, said the seminar will feature keynote lectures, panel discussions, workshops, and scientific paper presentations, with dedicated sessions examining proctology, reconstructive surgery, integrative oncology, medico-legal issues, and intellectual property in surgery.
Scientific sessions will revisit the enduring surgical principles of Acharya Sushruta, including wound management, Agnikarma, Kshara Sutra, and Marma Chikitsa, while showcasing emerging research in Shalya Tantra and integrative surgical care. The deliberations will highlight the continuing relevance of classical Ayurvedic knowledge in addressing contemporary healthcare challenges.
Dr. Vyasadeva Mahanta, Organising Secretary, said the seminar will conclude with a multidisciplinary panel discussion aimed at strengthening evidence-based dialogue, fostering innovation, and expanding collaborative research to further enhance education and clinical practice in Ayurvedic surgery.
The seminar will bring together eminent surgeons, academicians, and researchers from Thailand, Israel, Austria, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Greece, and India. More than 30 distinguished national experts, including Padma Shri Prof. M. Sahu and Padma Shri Prof. K. K. Thakral, along with faculty from premier institutions such as AIIA, IMS-BHU, NIA Jaipur, and ITRA Jamnagar, will participate. Leading modern surgical experts from AIIMS, SGPGI Lucknow, GMC Agartala, and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, will also join the deliberations, fostering a vibrant exchange between Ayurveda and contemporary surgical sciences.
