Astrology course in Ayurveda curriculum 'ridiculous'; science group urges people to oppose

NEW DELHI: The Breakthrough Science Society urged people to oppose “unscientific belief systems incorporated in curriculum” and register strong protest to protect education and scientific thinking in the country. The statement comes after the National Council of Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) introduced a course on astrology in the Ayurveda curriculum.

Breakthrough Science Society is a voluntary organisation that aims to encourage scientific thought and create a science movement in India.

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The organisation said: “According to Sanjeev Sharma, vice chancellor of the National Institute of Ayurveda, this course will help students because the changes in planets and constellations according to a person’s natal chart have a direct effect on the body and mind of humans.” As per reports, more than 1,000 students have registered for the medical astrology course.

“Many diseases are caused by the imbalance of vata-pitta and cough, which can be identified by studying the planetary placements,” it quoted Sunil Kumar Sharma, chairman of the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences.

Criticising the move, Dhrubajyoti Mukhopadhyay, president of Breakthrough Science Society and Soumitro Banerjee, general secretary said: “The Indian education scenario has deteriorated so much that nothing seems impossible.” It asserted that “astrology is a set of beliefs that have no scientific basis. Distant objects like planets do not affect human physiology and psychology in any way and the knowledge of planetary placements have no medical value.”

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“These sort of unscientific belief systems incorporated in the curriculum will produce medical practitioners with an irrational bent of mind and will undermine the medical practice itself,” it said.