K. N. Udupa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1920 Udupi, Karnataka, India |
| Died | 22 July 1992(1992-00-00) (aged 71–72) |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
| Known for | Conventional and Indian medicine system |
| Spouse(s) | Lila & Sushma |
| Children | One daughter & two sons |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Kodethur Narasimha Udupa (1920–1992) was an Indian surgeon, medical administrator, a pioneer of integrative medicine and the founder director of theInstitute of Medical Sciences,Banaras Hindu University (BHU).[1][2] Born inUdupi in the South Indian state ofKarnataka, His father was Tamayya Udupa scholar in Sanskrit and Jyotish belonging toShivalli brahmin community.[3] He passed his bachelor's degree in Ayurvedic Medicine (AMS) from Banares Hindu University, secured his master's degree (MS) from theUniversity of Michigan in 1948 and passed FRCS examination from Canada.[4]
Starting his career atMandi district,Himachal Pradesh, Udupa worked atShimla andBoston. Returning to India in 1956, he resumed his work in Shimla and in 1958, he was appointed as the head of the committee constituted by theGovernment of India,Committee on the Reform of Education, Practice and Research in Indigenous Systems of Medicine which later came to be known asUdupa Committee.[5] It is reported that the recommendations of the Udupa Committee helpedAyurveda system to claim national status and a name under new nomenclature,Indian Systems of Medicine.[6] After the submission of the committee report, Udupa joined the Ayurveda College of BHU as the principal and professor of surgery in 1959. Under his leadership, the college became aCollege of Medical Sciences for both conventional and Indian medicine systems and started post graduate course in Ayurveda (MD Ayur). Later, the college was upgraded toInstitute of Medical Sciences (IMS) retaining Udupa as its founder director.[7] He had several medical articles to his credit and his efforts were reported to be behind the establishment of a Central Surgical Research Laboratory at IMS andSir Sunderlal Hospital at BHU.[8]
After retirement from BHU in 1980, he became the university's Professor Emeritus and continued his associations with theIndian Council of Medical Research andWHO. Udupa was married to Lila, a medical nurse, and the couple had one daughter, Anjali. He was remarried with Sushma and adopted her two sons Saurabh and Sachin. He died on 22 July 1992, succumbing to colon cancer.
He was honoured by theGovernment of India in 1972 withPadma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award.[9]
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