By George Joseph

EDISON, NJ (TIP) More than 500 people including elected officials and community leaders attended the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Santhigram USA, at the Edison Hotel in Edison, New Jersey, January 20.

The glittering event highlighted the growing influence of Ayurveda in the US as well as the remarkable journey of Santhigram. The event also launched three new projects of Santhigram, an Ayurveda training school, Santhigram herbal products and Santhigram Foundation.

Started in one room at the Edison Hotel a decade ago, Santhigram grew to become a brand name in Ayurveda in the US with 12 centers in five states.

But things were not going well initially and there were heartbreaks and disappointments. “When I landed in the US in 2007, I did not know where to go, whom to meet and how to start the business,” Dr. Gopinathan Nair, who founded Santhigram along with his wife Dr. Ambika Nair, said.

“We humbly acknowledge the multitude of hurdles and challenges we faced, because there was absolutely no precedence in running an Ayurveda wellness business in the US. Coming to US with a dozen Ayurveda specialists in November 2007 exclusively with a mission of spreading Ayurveda wellness was a great challenge in itself.”

In an interview earlier, he said he was fed up to a point that he wanted to throw away the medicines and gadgets in Hudson River and return to Delhi, where they had a successful business.

Yet they persisted, and several people came forward to help. Gradually things began to change and clients from far and wide came for the Ayurveda and Pancha karma treatment offered by the center.

 “We are pleased to say with great pride that we have moved forward overcoming obstacles and managed to spread our wings to as many as five states, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Illinois and Wisconsin.

“This would not have been possible without the support of our dedicated team and the clients who had absolute faith in the effectiveness of the unique system of Kerala-specific Ayurveda treatments,” he said.

Nair said it is gratifying to see the hundreds of patients cured with a holistic solution.  But many are still not able to get the services due to insurance regulations. “Things are changing and we are helping our clients to get the coverage needed,” he said.

New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal presented to Dr Gopinathan Nair, a joint resolution of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly honoring Santhigram. It noted that the company has established a model to emulate and set a standard of excellence toward which others might strive. ‘The Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Company has grown from its humble beginnings to its present vital and dynamic state due to the capable and effective guidance of President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gopinathan Nair and Vice President and Chief Consultant Dr. Ambika Nair, as well as the steadfast commitment of its tireless staff. It is altogether proper and fitting for this Legislature to pause in its deliberations to recognize the Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Company, and to praise it as an essential and superb holistic health organization…,’ the proclamation said.

Noted guests joined the lamp lighting ceremony including New Jersey Utility Commissioner Upendra Chivukula, Congressional candidate Peter Jacob, Padma Shri H.R. Shah, chairman of TV Asia, Padma Shri Dr.  Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parekh Worldwide Media, Rajeev Bhambri, COO of India Abroad, Prof. Indrajit Saluja, editor of The Indian Panorama, Dr. Sudhanshu Prasad and Dr. Binod Sinha, prominent physicians and owners of E Hotel, Melinna Giannini, health insurance consulting specialist and president of ABC Medical Coding Solutions, Deepak Parashar, Bollywood actor and Swami Siddhananda, acharya of Chinmaya Mission.

Dr. Gopinathan Nair and Dr. Ambika Nair honored several people, who helped them in the early days including Attorney Anand Ahuja, Vinay Mahajan, Late Ashok Diwakar, Alex Koshy Vilanilam, Aniyan George, Late Dr. Shakir Mukhi, PK Ramnachandran, Attorney Ram Cheerath, Gulshan Chhabra, Dr. Sudhansu Prasad, Sheela Sreekumar, Attorney Thomas Vinu Allen and Commissioner Upendra Chivukula.

Three people working with Santhigram for the last ten years-Reeja Beegum, Sheena Mohan and Jooly Joy-were honored at the event. Employees who completed more than five years, Nishad Balan, Meenu K Mani and Pradeep Pillai too were honored with excellence awards.

A souvenir with several articles on Ayurveda was released at the event.

Dr. Nair presented the details of the new projects. The Ayurveda training school has the approval of New Jersey State. Those who are successful in the training will be employed at the Santhigram centers.

The second project was introducing authentic Ayurveda products under the label of Santhigram Herbal. It includes products from tooth powder to hair pack and shampoo.

The Santhigram Foundation will support low income people suffering from acute ailments including autism in children to get Ayurveda and Panchakarma treatments.  Several people in the audience pledged money for the noble cause.

The event began with a presentation by Dr. Drakshayani on Ayurvedic diet and nutrition. When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use, when diet is right, medicine is of no use, she quoted the old saying. Ayurveda is based on the belief that nothing is right for everyone and everything is right for someone, she noted. “With a proper diet and lifestyle, Ayurveda’s goal is to help each person to reach their maximum potential physically, emotionally and spiritually,” she concluded.

The presentation given by Dr. Anurag Nair, a physician of modern medicine and one of the vice presidents of Santhigram noted the renaissance of Ayurveda.

He pointed out that till early 20th century all medical systems were respected equally. But the new inventions changed the western medicine and its effectiveness. Life expectancy shot up and maternal mortality and child deaths came down drastically. But modern medicine came with its side effects. For example, chemotherapy for cancer will affect kidneys and liver badly.

People are now looking for alternative medicines without these side effects and they have found out the value of Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda has become a complimentary medicine with modern medicine rather than an alternative medicine.

The program started with a music concert with live orchestra by singers Anitha Krishna and Thahseen Mohammad.

Binu Nair, vice president proposed a vote of thanks to those attended and those who worked to make the event a success, including Tanvi Prenita Chandra, President of Renascent Media for incorporating new style of creative marketing, and Kulraaj Anand of 8K Radio. MCs Sanjiv Pandya of TV Asia and Aanchal Pahwa (Mrs. Bharat USA 2017) who conducted the program admirably received special appreciation.