Indigenous and Western Medicine in Colonial India: A Social History

Summary

Madhuri Sharma’s *Indigenous and Western Medicine in Colonial India* examines the complex interplay between traditional and Western medical systems in colonial India, using Benares as a case study. The book explores how Western medicine coexisted with indigenous practices like Ayurveda and Unani, despite its dominant position, and analyzes the social, economic, and political factors influencing this dynamic. Sharma argues that Western medicine, supported by colonial patronage and technological advancements like smallpox vaccination, gradually gained prominence but did not entirely displace indigenous systems. The work highlights the resilience of Ayurveda, which maintained its relevance through hereditary practices, parallel institutions, and efforts to professionalize and legitimize its credentials, particularly in response to challenges like the Medical Registration Bill. The book also delves into the role of educated Indians in engaging with modern medical technologies and concepts, showcasing debates in vernacular media that reflected both anxiety and attraction toward Western medicine. It examines the professionalization of medicine, including conflicts between British and Indian doctors, as well as indigenous practitioners’ efforts to compete for clientele. Entrepreneurship in medicine is another key focus, with indigenous manufacturers adopting Western-style marketing strategies, including print media and religious symbolism, to compete in the colonial market. Sharma critiques colonial capitalism’s impact on health and society, emphasizing that Indians were not passive recipients of Western medicine but actively negotiated its influence while preserving indigenous traditions. The study concludes by framing medicine as both a tool of colonial control and a site of resistance, reflecting broader tensions between modernity and tradition in colonial India.