The National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex regulatory body for medical education in India, has landed in a controversy over its revamped logo that shows a colourised image of Ayurveda god Dhanvantri.
Reacting to the move, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Shantanu Sen has asked NMC to “reconsider” its decision.
Sen, who is also a former national president and state secretary of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), shot off a letter to BN Gangadhar, chairman of NMC, warning that the “issue might be taken to a court of law by anyone putting NMC as a whole and you in trouble”.
The letter dated November 30 says: “When our Constitution of India speaks about secularism and we promote dovetailing of religions, a symbol of one particular religion in the logo of NMC having immense national and international importance goes against the basic essence of our Constitution.”
It added: “It has been brought to my notice from different sources that NMC has recently adopted a new logo which symbolises a particular religion of the country.”
Sen has asked Gangadhar for multiple details to validate if decision-making has been done officially or the logo has been changed randomly without following any set protocol.
“…in which meeting of the advisory council the decision of such adoption took place and under the provision of which rule/guidance of NMC,” he asked.
“I would also like to know that if you have taken the decision, then which section/rule of NMC provides you with the authority to take such a decision.”
Sen claimed that he has also been informed by several other members of NMC across the nation that they have hardly any information regarding such adoption.
However, NMC clarified that there is no serious reason behind the criticism.
According to NMC’s Dr Yogendra Malik from Media and Ethics Department, the body never had the Indian emblem as its logo — as claimed by various social media accounts.
“We didn’t have a logo one-and-a-half years ago. It was only around a year back when the NMC, after taking suggestions, came up with the logo. The Dhanvantri logo was black and white for over a year and we realised we need to colour it. So that is the only change that has happened. I don’t understand the criticism.”
Other reactions
Thomas Isaac, former finance minister of Kerala who represents the Communist Party of India, also tweeted about the issue, linking the change in logo with the recent change in the name of health and wellness centres by the central government.
“Yesterday I tweeted about Kerala being threatened by Centre to change the name of ‘Family Health Centers’ to ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs’. Today worse news – National Medical Commission has replaced the Asoka emblem by the image of Hindu god Dhanvantri. Bigots of the first order!”
Yesterday I tweeted about Kerala being threatened by Centre to change the name of ‘Family Health Centers’ to ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs’. Today worse news – National Medical Commission has replaced the Asoka emblem by the image of Hindu god Dhanvantri. Bigots of the first order! pic.twitter.com/vhPyO5QVch— Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) November 30, 2023
Kerala’s IMA branch also raised the issue by calling the change “unacceptable”. “This is to bring to your notice that the recent change in the NMC logo is not acceptable to the modern medical fraternity.”
It said that the new logo gives a wrong message and will harm the scientific and secular nature of the commission.
“Members of the profession have already raised their voices against this unacceptable move. We at IMA Kerala State branch strongly condemn the decision and demand immediate action in this regard.”
Calicut Medical College has also raised concerns, calling it a “Hindutva takeover of higher education institutions in our country”.
“The logo is a direct attack on the secular and scientific ethos of medicine and raises a question about neutrality and quality of medical education in our country,” they said.
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