One of the most bewilding identity spaces that BAMS students inhabit is the area in which they live.
Am I a doctor? Alternative medicine practitioner? Both? Or neither?
On the one hand, Ayurveda is described as an old knowledge- ancient, holistic, natural. The reality, on the other side, intrudes and poses a rather contemporary question: "Ok, but what is the pay like?
And then the discussion turns off the subject of herbs and doshas on to that of survival and stability.
You teach physiology and herbal medicine and diagnostics and classical ideas–all in the same brain. Then some one casually questions you at a family gathering: So what the hell do you do?
And a moment, all your life seems like it must be reintroduced.
What are your thoughts on this ?
MBH/PS
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“BAMS students don’t just study medicine — they constantly balance tradition, science, identity, and society’s expectations all at once.”
Many students nowadays choose mbbs, bds bit very few are choosing bams but to be honest we need bams because of the natural and low side effects
Everyone fights for space and identity in one way or the other. What I feel is, if one knows what they are, what they are capable of, and qualified to do, then don’t let the noise around you shake the clarity within you! It’s a bit embarrassing for me to admit that even I have no idea what BAMS or Ayurveda students do, but I’m open to learning more about this allied science.
Very thoughtful perspective on an often overlooked issue.
Professional identity struggles are real, and better awareness about the scope and role of BAMS can help reduce this confusion.