Business Magnate Yash Birla Stepping into the Ayurveda Field

April 14, 2007

(Ayushveda.com) - If the attention of multinational businessmen is any indication of growing popularity, then Ayurveda could well be on its way to international fame and glory. According to a recent announcement, Mr. Yash Birla, the heir of the vast Birla Group of Industries has expressed a keen interest in acquiring 50% stakes in Kerala Vaidyashala, the arm of the already huge chain of wellness spas run by the Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa. Mr. Birla already has an empire that maps several countries. If these talks meet with success, then Ayurveda can see itself being promoted as a sophisticated worldwide brand within the next decade.

The Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa is quite easily one of the world's largest chains of Ayurveda-based therapy centers in the world. Currently, the Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa runs several Ayurvedic resorts, schools, institutes and clinics; about 30 in all. They cater to both an Indian as well as a foreign clientele, with their foreign guests forming the major chunk of their business. The main center of operations of this Health Spa is the idyllic south-western Indian state of Kerala, but through online business, it is spread all over the world.

It is in a major way to the credit of Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa that the concept of Ayurvedic herbal medicine has gained such wide currency today not only in the developed nations of the world, but even in India itself, which is the birthplace of the stream of medicine. One of Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa's chief assets is its ability to innovate in the highly orthodox field of Ayurveda, by providing modern facilities to their clients, but still virtuously maintaining a traditional Ayurvedic core.

Perhaps this medley of innovation and tradition is what has attracted the attention of Mr. Birla, who is planning to take Ayurveda to new heights all over the world. There are already some great competitors to this project of Indian origin, but having their businesses all over the world, such as Dabur, Himalaya and Maharishi Baidyanath among others, but Mr. Birla is undeterred. He plans to strategize the Ayurvedic brand in a unique manner in order to humble the competition on the world stage.

Kerala is considered to be the nestling ground of Ayurveda today. About 7 million tourists on an average visit Kerala annually and about a fifth of them take benefits of the rejuvenation therapies of Ayurveda, most of which are conducted by the Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa itself. And this figure is existent despite there being a relative ignorance of Ayurveda in the world at large.

Mr. Harshjeet Kuroop and his wife Mrs. Sugana Kuroop jointly run the helm of affairs at the Kerala Ayurvedic Health Spa in the capacities of director and corporate communications officer respectively. Mr. Vishwajeet Kuroop, the brother of Mr. Harshjeet Kuroop is also director. They were not forthcoming with any developments in their talks with Mr. Birla.

However, with the involvement of Mr. Birla in Ayurveda, Ayurveda is certain to become a global brand. This is certainly a great opportunity for both Ayurvedic exponents and Ayurvedic patients all over the world to rejoice and anticipate a better future.