2026-07-26T10:50:24Zhttps://oai.catalogue.archives.ncbs.res.in/oai:archives.ncbs.res.in:/repositories/2/archival_objects/278552026-02-26T12:48:32ZArchives at NCBSTata Institute of Fundamental ResearchAR-029-4.AR-029-4-1https://catalogue.archives.ncbs.res.in/repositories/2/archival_objects/27855Maharashtra Prabodhan Seva Mandal. MPSMNivruti Awari - Session 01, 16-07-202516-07-202542 MinutesengmarNivruti Awari is a traditional bone healer (Vaidu) specializing in the treatment of fractures, dislocations, swelling, and muscle injuries. Trained in indigenous medical practices from his grandfather Hiraman Awari who is a well known Vaidu and author of many books. Nivruti diagnoses conditions through careful physical observation and treats patients using manual bone realignment, therapeutic massage, and herbal plasters prepared from forest-sourced medicinal plants.He follows strict dietary and dosage guidelines, adapts treatments for both humans and animals, and maintains an ethical practice by accepting only voluntary fees. Dedicated to preserving traditional healing knowledge he is passing his skills on to his children to ensure continuity of this practice. The interview documents the indigenous healing practices of Nivruti Awari, a traditional healer (vaidya) specialising in the treatment of bone fractures, sprains, joint pain, and nerve-related ailments in both humans and animals. The narrative details the preparation and application of herbal remedies sourced from forest plants such as ambe halad, ragat roda, bandgul, bentvel, and besram. Treatments include external application of herbal pastes (lep), oral administration in measured doses, therapeutic massage, and dietary restrictions to aid recovery.(00:00:00) He describes how he became a Vaidu (traditional healer), how he learned about medicinal plants and herbs, and how he gained knowledge of diagnosing diseases.
(00:02:58) He explains his methods for treating bone-related conditions such as fractures and swelling. He discusses how he realigns dislocated bones and prepares herbal ointments used for plasters, including the ingredients and roots involved.
(00:03:00) He talks about his treatments for various bone and muscle-related issues. He uses massage techniques after diagnosing the condition of the muscles and veins, and prescribes medicines prepared from mango turmeric and Diospyros virginiana. The same herbal paste is also used for plastering.
(00:04:45) He explains his diagnostic methods and the symptoms he observes in patients to determine their ailment.
(00:08:33) He describes how he stores medicines, where he sources medicinal plants and herbs, and how he remembers the locations of specific plants in the forest.
(00:10:30) He discusses several medicinal plants and roots used during treatment, along with their dosages and methods of preparation. He also explains how he prepares similar dosages for treating animals.
(00:16:13) He explains the dietary guidelines he gives to patients and the specific medicine dosages they must follow during the course of treatment.
(00:18:14) He talks about the recovery period for patients, noting that it varies depending on the type of illness or injury. He also mentions the precautions patients must take during recovery.
(00:19:30) He shares how he treats animals himself but advises human patients requiring plaster to visit a city doctor for proper medical intervention.
(00:21:52) He speaks about his fee structure, explaining that he never demands payment and accepts whatever the patient voluntarily offers.
(00:23:15) He discusses the number of patients who visit his home to receive treatment.
(00:29:07) He talks about how he is passing on his knowledge to his children to ensure that the healing practices and traditional medicinal knowledge are preserved for the future.Access Level 1: Online. See https://archives.ncbs.res.in/accessCopyright may not have been assigned to Archives, National Centre for Biological Sciences. Permission for reproduction or distribution must be obtained in writing from the Archives at NCBS (archives@ncbs.res.in). The Archives at NCBS makes no representation that it is the copyright owner in all of its collections. The user must obtain all necessary rights and clearances before use of material and material may only be reproduced for academic and non-commercial use.Oral History Interviews of Vaidu, AR-029