Kabiraj Krishna Chandra Tripathy Sharma: The visionary behind Orissa’s first Ayurveda pharmacy

Abstract Kabiraj Krishna Chandra Tripathi Sharma was born on February 23, 1914, in Jagarnathpur Shasan village in the Ganjam district of Odisha, India. He belonged to a Brahmin family and was the son of Shri Maguni Pathi and grandson of Shri Lachhman Pathi. Kabiraj Sharma’s early years were characterized by his innate curiosity and insatiable thirst for knowledge, which he pursued with unwavering dedication, excelling in various academic subjects. His excellent academic performance gained him wide recognition and respect within his community. Kabiraj KC Tripathi, a distinguished scholar and practitioner of Ayurveda, started his educational journey in his village, Chatsali. He had a remarkable command over Sanskrit. He joined the famous Bhesaja Temple (Ayurveda School) at Paralakhemundi in 1929, where he began a transformative educational journey. His constant pursuit of excellence and dedication to his studies, from 1933 to 1936, resulted in attaining LAMS, Visagratna, and Kabyatirtha degrees from Astanga Ayurved College, Kolkata. He established the Ayurvedic Pharmacy and Utkal Chemical Dispensary and has played an important role in the distribution of medicines throughout Odisha and significantly contributed to the field of Ayurveda by establishing a famous book publishing house named Utkal Ayurveda Library. As a physician, he has written and published 54 invaluable Ayurvedic books in the Oriya language; some of his notable published works include “Apoorva Yoga Ratnakara,” “Ashtanga Ayurveda Chikitsa” (in seven parts), “Ayurveda Chikitsa Sangrahalaya” (Part I and II), “Sachitra Paribarika Dravyaguna,” “Charakasamhita,” “Vaidya Panjika,” and “Vatrog Chikitsa.”. Kabiraj Krishna Chandra Tripathi Sharma started his active participation in politics in 1966 and was elected as a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 1971–1972. Notably, among his development-oriented initiatives, he proposed the establishment of a State-Level Pharmacy and Research Center for Ayurveda in Odisha with a budget of 12 lakh rupees to spread awareness and promote Ayurvedic practices in the region. The remarkable contribution of Kabiraj Krishna Chandra Tripathi Sharma in the field of Ayurveda and his selfless community service has been widely recognized and appreciated. He has received many prestigious awards, including the esteemed “Vaidya Shiromani” Award, “Ayurveda Ratna” Award, “Ayurveda Gaurav” Award, “Neelasaila” Award (1974) by the Neelashaila Cultural Organization Cuttack, “The Jayadava” Award (1981) Are. “Sananda” Award (1981) by the State Culture and Tourism Department of Odisha, Center for Musical Arts, Berhampur, “Vaidyakul Chandra” Award (1988) by Dhanvantari Indian Medical Development Institute Ganjam, and “KBJ Basudev Mahapatra Smriti” Award in 1993 by Kedarnath Research Organization, Bhubaneswar, and others. In 2006, Kabiraj Krishna Chandra Tripathi Sharma passed away, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts and minds of those he served. He has left an indelible mark through his outstanding contribution to the field of Ayurveda and community service in Odisha. His selfless dedication and unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of others have inspired many, and his teachings and principles are respected by his followers and admirers, thereby benefiting the society. Key Words: Krushna Chandra, Utkal Pharmacy, Vaidya Shiromani.