Indian Origin of Plastic Surgery

In 1794 AD, The Third Mysore war took place between Tipu Sultan and the Britishers.

Cowasjee, a Parsi bullock-cart driver commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ward, and four other British soldiers were taken prisoner by Tipoo at Seringapatam (modern day Srirangapatna, Mandya, Karnataka). Their noses and hands were cut off and the men were sent back to the British army, along with their amputated noses, as a mark of humiliation. Nose amputation was a common punishment for adultery, witchcraft, theft, and for prisoners of war at that time in India, Arabia, Persia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

A British doctor came forward to treat him. But Cowsajee did not allow that doctor to treat him and said to take him to a traditional physician named Kumar. The Britishers scolded him for choosing the local remedy instead of modern medicine.

He said, “Kumar will fix my cut nose again.” Everyone started laughing. But they agreed to his request and took him to Kumar. The local physician, Kumar, was doing a brick kiln business. He peeled some skin from Kosaji’s forehead and stitched it with the nose. The nose grew back. The skin from the forehead also grew back.

The British doctor, who saw this “miracle”, drew a painting of the miraculous incident and sent it to Britain. On seeing the message,Joseph Constantine Carpue , an English doctor, came from London and met Kumar. He stayed for several years and returned back after learning this surgery therapy. When he went to London, he performed the world’s first “plastic surgery” in 1816. It was then known as a Carpue operation.

How did Dr. Kumar know plastic surgery?

An ancient Indian physician, named Sushrutha, wrote about plastic surgery around 2500 years ago. The book, Sushruta Samhita, still contains the details of the surgery. Though it is called plastic surgery, no plastic was involved in this surgery.

Those who practiced this surgery for generations were doing simple brick kiln business.

Picture of Kosaji from British museum

This is the most interesting thing I read today. I am feeling proud of our knowledge and sad that India is merely known as a country that has high imports and barely any innovation centers. It’s high time we spread our knowledge and be proud of our ancestry.