Scotland: As a tribute to the ancient Indian medical heritage and civilisational wisdom, the statue of Maharshi Sushruta was unveiled at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Scotland of the United Kingdom. Maharshi Sushruta is revered as the Father of Surgery as he pioneered the complex techniques of plastic surgery around 2,600 years. The statue resonates the message of India’s civilisational and ancient scientific legacy across the globe. The statue stands as a testament to the historical medical supremacy of India amid the modern medicine era.
Unveiling of Sushrutha’s statue at the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh. What a great event, a historical event in the histories of both India & the U.K. pic.twitter.com/or8JMZDvQK
— Nilesh Nilkanth Oak निलेश ओक (@NileshOak) June 21, 2026
The 90-kilogram bronze statue of Maharshi Sushruta was installed in the Playfair Auditorium at the Royal College of Surgeons. The college is the world’s largest and oldest surgical institution. It was established in 1505. Installation of Maharshi Sushruta’s statue at such an esteemed medical institute helps to reverberate the message of Indian civilisational wisdom to the countries around the globe.
The statue was unleashed on June 19, Friday and the event was organised under the leadership of Professor Chandra Cheruvu, a UK-based surgeon, who is of Telugu origin. The statue was donated to the medical college by the Cheruvu Family Foundation which was established by Professor Cheruvu and his family. The statue of Maharshi Sushruta was crafted by a sculptor from Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.
In addition to Professor Cheruvu and his family, the event was attended by Siddharth Malik, Consul General of India in Edinburgh, Professor Rowan Parks, previous President of the college, Professor Clare McNaught, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Professor Marc Halpern, Founder of the California College of Ayurveda. Also, numerous dignitaries from the USA, India and the UK attended the event and acknowledged the legacy and stellar medical wisdom of Maharshi Sushruta.
“Maharshi Sushruta: A Compendium – Father of Surgery” book released
During the occasion of unveiling the statue of Maharshi Sushruta, Professor Chandra Cheruvu also released a comprehensive evidence-based book titled “Maharshi Sushruta: A Compendium – Father of Surgery”. With this, the work, the immense knowledge potential and sound medical expertise of Maharshi Sushruta is spread across the world. The book of Professor Cheruvu also testifies the contributions of ancient Indian science to the world.
In this book, 36 experts from the fields of Ayurveda and modern medicine across the globe engaged in comprehensive discussions on how Maharshi Sushruta’s methods and practices remain highly relevant in the 21st century. The book provides an evidence-based explanation on how Sushruta had formulated high ethical standards for performing surgeries, centuries before theories emerged in the western world surrounding complex surgeries. The book says, Sushruta systematized various medical disciplines, including general surgery, plastic surgery, orthopedics, gynecology, toxicology and urology.
Sushruta had performed over 300 types of surgeries and invented 124 distinct surgical instruments. With the goal of passing on this medical treasure to future generations, Sushruta authored the ‘Sushruta Samhita’, the world’s first treatise on surgery. For example, centuries before the advent of modern plastic surgery, Sushruta performed nasal reconstruction using skin flaps from the forehead.
Acknowledging the unveiling of the statue of Maharshi Sushruta in Edinburgh, The Consulate of India in Scotland wrote, “Consul General unveiled the bronze sculpture of Sage Sushruta, revered as the Father of Surgery, at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh”.
Consul General unveiled the bronze sculpture of Sage Sushruta, revered as the Father of Surgery, at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh @RCSEd .
The ceremony celebrated India’s ancient medical heritage, the historical India-Scotland links in medicine and surgery, and the… pic.twitter.com/xM59OcKCeM— India In Scotland (@IndiaInScotland) June 19, 2026
The ceremony celebrated India’s ancient medical heritage, the historical India-Scotland links in medicine and surgery, and the important role played by the Royal College in advancing surgical education worldwide. Special thanks to the Royal College and Prof Chandra Cheruvu for the initiative., Indian Consulate in Scotland further reiterated.
