Maharishi Sushruta is one of the most remarkable figures in the history of medicine. He lived in ancient India and is remembered as a pioneer of surgery, often referred to as the "Father of Surgery" in India.
Origin Story: According to ancient Indian texts, God Indra taught medicine to Sage Dhanvantari, who incarnated as King Divodasa of Kashi (Varanasi) and passed this sacred knowledge to his student, Sushruta. Some texts suggest he was the son of Rishi Vishvamitra, though accurate details about his family are not available. He is believed to have lived and practiced medicine near Varanasi, and to have written his greatest work between 200 BCE and 400 CE.
The Sushruta Samhita: This ancient Indian medical book comprises 184 chapters, lists more than 300 surgical procedures, describes over 120 surgical instruments, and includes descriptions of over 100 medicinal plants. It emphasises hands-on training for surgery students, including anatomical dissection and practicing incisions on soft fruits and vegetables to build precision before performing actual surgeries.
Surgical Techniques: Sushruta categorized surgery into eight types - excision, incision, scarification, puncturing, probing, extraction, drainage, and suturing - emphasizing careful planning, precision, and clean technique. He used natural anesthetics including wine and cannabis-like substances to reduce pain, and described reconstructive surgeries in detail, including rhinoplasty (nose reconstruction), lip repair, and ear reconstruction.
Legacy and Recognition: Sushruta's detailed accounts of rhinoplasty are considered the earliest known written records of plastic surgery, and his "Indian flap" technique is still referenced in modern plastic surgery today - earning him the title "Father of Plastic Surgery". In 2018, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons honoured him with a statue on their campus in Australia. A palm-leaf manuscript of the Sushruta Samhita dated to 878 CE, discovered as part of the ongoing "Sushruta Project", is nearly a thousand years older than previously known copies, helping scholars better understand his work's significance in the history of medicine.