Cancer prevention is a great challenge for the whole world. Instead of waiting for the invention of a preventive medicine or vaccine against cancer, it is desirable to look for other alternatives. India, the land of Ayurveda and Yoga, should be able to provide the alternatives.

If one carefully look at it, prevention of cancer imply holistic approach towards the health of a man (physical, mental and spiritual health) as well as care and protection of his living surroundings i.e. the environment. Harmonious relationship between mind, body and environment is very important. Those who understand the biochemistry of the relationship between mind, body and environment can only treat a sick person effectively. This is more understood by one’s own personal observation on one’s own body than by laboratory experiments. Indian sages are living words in this respect. Sages after sages taught the mankind to live in harmony with nature. Indian health sciences such as Ayurveda and Yoga bear testimony to this and these health sciences have a holistic approach towards health.

As a mass national leader Mahatma Gandhi understood it fully and he gave top priority for preventive health care in his village re-construction plans known as constructive programs. Even in the midst of freedom struggle against the mighty colonialists Mahatma Gandhi found time for health care and it was one of his top priorities. He had a long term object and not short term objects just to be populist in nature. That sort of a leadership is totally lacking now, not only in India but also throughout the world.

Independent India’s leadership totally ignored Mahatma Gandhi’s well-conceived and practiced constructive programs for village re-construction including preventive health care. Health care, especially preventive health, received the least priority in their political agenda. That continues to be so even today. Even in budget allocations Health is given least priority in comparison to Defense and Atomic Energy, etc. Therefore, health suffered and all-round human development suffered. Not only that we failed to achieve health for all by 2000 A,.D. and in this way we will fail to achieve health for all even by 3000 A.D. What a pity that in the land of great sages and prophets like Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi and in the land of invaluable health sciences like Ayurveda and Yoga, Defense expenditure and Nuclear Weapons acquisition expenditure are given more importance! With carcinogenic substances and nuclear weapons / substances all around the country and in its immediate neighborhood, cancer cases are bound to increase multi-fold and it looks as if cancer can never be controlled. If there is a will, these challenges can also be met as India met the mighty colonialists.