'˜Sushruta' - The life and legacy of a genius surgeon

Abstract

A huge painting of Sushruta, that greets visitors in the foyer of Government Medical College, Kozhikode prompted a review into the legacy of the great surgeon and teacher. His surgical treatise gives a detailed account of practice of surgery in ancient India. The collection of surgical and allied knowledge, covers most of the procedures performed today. Even perioperative care and anaesthesia for surgeries were described by Sushruta. Apart from honing the surgical knowledge and skills of his disciples, this dedicated teacher seems to have insisted on developing the right attitude and ethics to create ideal surgeons in pre medieval India. It is a shame that the treasure house of knowledge in Sushruta Samhita was obscured by the mists of time and India had to depend on the Western world for surgical education. This article aims to illustrate why this genius surgeon is righteously called the Father of Surgery.