The Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, also popularly known as Tibbia College, is an institution under Government of Delhi, located at Karol Bagh in New Delhi, India. The institution which offers education and training in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, has its origins dating back to the late 19th century. The college, whose foundation was laid by Lord Hardinge on 29 March 1916, the then Viceroy of India and was inaugurated by the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on 13 February 1921, offers bachelor's and masters degrees in Ayurvedic and Unani streams. On 15 February 2008, a 60-bed maternity and child block in Tibbia College Hospital, and the Delhi government announced about its intentions of developing the college into a university, in recognition of the college's contributions to Ayurvedic and Unani medicine.
History
Beginning years
It was first established by Hakim Abdul Majeed in 1882 in Gali Qasim Jan, a locality in Chandni Chowk, one of the oldest and busiest markets in New Delhi, India. In 1889, after inauguration by a local commissioner, it was referred to as Madrasa Tibbia that functioned under the Anjuman-e-Tibbia society. After the death of Majeed in 1901, his younger brother Hakim Wasil took over the Madrasa and in 1903, Masih-ul-Mulk Mohammad Ajmal Khan, better known as Hakim Ajmal Khan raised the quality of the institution. The efforts of Hakim Ajmal Khan helped extend the site over an area more than of 50 acres including a garden of herbs across the road. At present is named after Hakim Ajmal Khan as "Ajmal Khan Park" maintained by MCD. The road has also been named after Hakim Ajmal Khan as "Ajmal Khan Road", a popular shopping area of Delhi.
Inauguration
After its foundation laid down by Lord Hardinge, the then Viceroy of India on 29 March 1916, the College had buildings that housed classrooms, laboratories, hospital pharmacies, hostels, office and staff quarters. A mix of classical, colonial, Mughul and Indian architecture was utilized for constructing the College buildings. This institution was the first architectural marvel in the newly founded capital of India.It came into existence much before the parliament, north and south avenues, India Gate etc. This institution was inaugurated by Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on 13 February 1921. Ajmal Khan previously corresponded with Mahatma Gandhi during the Khilafat Movement, a political campaign launched mainly by Muslims in British India in the aftermath of the World War I and because of his close association with Gandhi, on 13 February 1921, the latter formally inaugurated the College.
Effect of Partition Riots
The Partition Riots which spread to Delhi in September 1947 affected the functioning of the college. The refugees who settled in Karol Bagh took possession of the college building and its all furniture was disposed of, its property was ransacked and its boarding house was also occupied. This whole episode severely affected the working of the college. A majority of members of the governing body and students were Muslims, and many of them including Ajmal khan family members of the founder Hakim Ajmal Khan migrated to Pakistan in December 1947.
Activities
Research era
It was Hakeem Ajmal Khan who brought two ancient systems of medicine, Ayurvedic and Unani, to one platform resulting in the institution to be one of its kind in India. The main objective behind the institution is to promote Indian medical science and to amalgamate both these systems of medicine. Dr. Salimuzzaman Siddiqui, a notable Pakistani scientist in natural products chemistry was requested by Hakeem Ajmal Khan to initiate the Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbi Research Institute. He continued to be the institute’s director until after Ajmal Khan’s death in 1927. Besides the college and hospital, Ajmal Khan helped establish Hindustani Dawakhana and Ayurvedic Rasayanashastra for manufacturing medicines. The Dawakhana, which appears as a Gothic cathedral with its curious blend of Asiatic and Latin architecture, was founded in 1910. Due to the availability of the herbal garden within its campus, the dispensary was able to obtain patents for 84 rare herbal formulae like Musafi, Sarbat-e-Sadar, Sekhon and Hebab-Kebatare. The institution developed and researched several unparalleled medicines, such Rauwolfia serpentina, the medicine to recover the lunatic mind.
Academic Programme
In 1973, the college was affiliated to the University of Delhi. The five and a half year degrees that are offered by the university are: Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery Besides under-graduate courses in Ayurveda & Unani stream, the post-graduate courses are also imparted in the following specialties: PG courses in Ayurveda: i. Kaya chikitisa ii. Kriya. Sharir PG courses in Unani: i. Ilm-us-Saidla ii. Munafe-ul-Aza iii. Moalejat iv. Amraz-Nissan wa Qabalat
Management
Previously this college and allied units were managed by a Board established under Tibbia College Act, 1952. This Act was repealed by another Act known as Delhi Tibbia College Act, 1998 and enforced by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi w.e.f. 1 May 1998.
