Dada Vaidya

Ramchandra Pandurang Vaidya (8 September 1859 – 6 March 1947), better known as Dada Vaidya, was an ayurvedic practitioner, writer, social reformer and educator. He is known for his contributions in the fields of medicine, literature, education, industry and culture. A statue in his honour stands at Ponda, Goa, at a location known today as Dada Vaidya Chowk.

He used to extract medicines from various plants in Goa and administer them to ailing persons. Though the Portuguese Government was advocating allopathic medicines by law, Vaidya had the privilege of Portuguese officers as he treated their family members who had lost hopes of curing by adopting allopathic medicines successfully.

Early life Vaidya was born on 8 September 1859 in Keri, Ponda, Goa. His family originally hailed from Panvel in Tiswadi, and their original surname was Wayangal. During the period of conversions in Goa, the family moved to Volvoi, Keri. They acquired the nickname Panvelkar, denoting their origin from Panvel, and Vaidya, derived from their hereditary involvement in the medical profession. The institution operated under difficult conditions during Portuguese rule, relying on volunteers and community support. Vaidya also set up clinics for Ayurvedic medicines in Panaji and Margao, an Ayurvedic laboratory and a tile factory in Moira, and attempted to establish glass and sugar factories. These ventures were part of his vision for educational, economic and industrial development in Goa.

Patronage of culture At a time when participation in theatre was avoided by the elite, Vaidya sponsored a drama troupe at considerable personal expense. His contributions extended to the arts as well as to medicine, education, literature and industry. His work is therefore often described in terms of five broad areas: political, social, educational, industrial and cultural.

Later life and death In his later years, Vaidya adopted a life of renunciation and resided in a hut at Kavale Mansion in Ponda. He died there on 6 March 1947 at the age of 87. Shortly before his death, he created a trust dedicated to religion and education.

Legacy

In recognition of his lifelong work, the Portuguese authorities erected a full-length statue of him in Ponda, where the square is known as Dada Vaidya Chowk.