Memoriam - Kumar Batra, PhD
September 18, 2009

Kumariji passed from this world on September 18, 2009 after serving Light on Ayurveda Journal as a review editor for several years and serving Ayurveda as one of the founders of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and its past president. Below is a tribute consisting of words of memory from his many Ayurvedic colleagues and friends who wish to honor the memory of this exceptional man.

Dr. Kumar Batra was well-known to the Ayurvedic community as one of the founders and past presidents of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). He remained on the NAMA board and was fully active this year as Conference Chairman for the upcoming March Conference in 2010, resigning only when illness prevented him from carrying out his role. He was totally dedicated to Ayurveda, an example for all, contributing selflessly through the years.

He had a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and served as the director of the Toxicology and Drug Analysis Laboratory in the Department of Pathology at University of California Davis. He was also an adjunct assistant professor at the university. He graduated from the California College of Ayurveda as a Clinical Ayurveda Specialist and practiced Ayurveda in Berkeley, CA.

His gracious presence at nearly every NAMA conference left a special imprint on all attendees. He was always interested in how we might further Ayurveda and gave of his talents as a review editor for Light on Ayurveda Journal. His insights were of great assistance to LOAJ and he will be missed both professionally and personally.
Genevieve Ryder, Editor of Light on Ayurveda Journal

Namaste,
By now, most of you know of the passing of Kumar Batra. On this day, we celebrate the life and mourn the loss of a man who directly impacted many of us and whose efforts will continue to affect the entire Ayurvedic community throughout the rest of history.

My experience of Kumar is that he was both a gentle and passionate man. He worked very hard for what he believed in. He served his highest understanding of Truth and he was not afraid of conflict in pursuit of that Truth. He served at the highest level. What more can any human being do? He was an inspiration to everyone who took the time to get to know him.

As a student, he was passionate about the knowledge of Ayurveda and how it fit within the Indian and American cultures. I remember him studying in Oakland quite well, sitting in the front row on my left so happy to be there. As a graduate, he worked tirelessly to assure that Ayurveda had its place in the United States as a bonafide system of healthcare. He played an instrumental role in the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine as a member of the board and he did much of the coordination for the early conferences that were put together in Berkeley. But his greatest Ayurvedic accomplishments were with the National Ayurvedic Medical Association of which he was one of our four Founders. Working along with Wynn, Cynthia and myself, he helped give birth to the organization and nursed it through its infancy. The Ayurvedic profession will always be grateful.

I will miss Kumar’s kind smile and gentle handshake at our next NAMA conference. His legacy will be a reminder of the importance of serving Truth and humanity at the same time.

I invite any of you who wish to share about his life and legacy to do so through email. Those of us who cannot be at his memorial service can still find community as we reflect upon the life of this special man. Let us hear the stories of this man. When we all pass on, what will be left is our story.
Om Shanti,
Dr. Marc Halpern, LOAJ advisory board

We are very much saddened by the loss of Kumar Batraji. He has been such an important voice of hope and enthusiasm for the Ayurvedic community, as well as a dear personal friend who has helped us out in many ways. We will miss him dearly, particularly at the next NAMA conference that he worked so hard to develop. Kumarji will always remain in our hearts and thoughts!

We pray you will be strong in your deepened sorrow and carry on the work he has been dedicated to!
With love, light and bliss!
Vamadeva (David Frawley) and Shambhavi

With passing away of Kumar ji, we have lost a great soul from planet earth. As his soul moves on to rest in peace, on behalf of the Ayurveda community in India, I pray to God to give strength to his immediate family and his extended Ayurveda family, to bear this loss.  We have lost a saint, who worked tirelessly for recognition of Ayurveda in the US. His loss is irreplaceable. I can never forget his kind and smiling face. Every time I met him, he would talk about propagating authentic Ayurveda not only in the US but all over the world.

Although he is no more with us physically, he will always live in our hearts and keep inspiring us to continue working for Ayurveda. Let us all pray for his soul to rest in peace in the lotus feet of Lord Dhanwantari. May he continue to serve the Lord and we continue to work to accomplish the mission he had started.  

Sending love and support to Manjul and the entire family on behalf of Ayurvedic community in India.
Hari Om, Dr. Partap Chauhan

He was a true apostle for Ayurveda – tirelessly seeking to integrate Ayurveda with Western science.
Dr. Jay Glaser, LOAEF Board of Directors 

Kumar Batra will be sorely missed amongst his colleagues and friends. He was a kind and gentle soul with a strong and determined spirit to serve Ayurveda and all those in its community. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family. May we cherish his memory and continue his work.
Vishnu Dass, author and former LOAJ review editor

Kumar Batra will always live in my heart. The memory of his spirit will always reside in the in NAMA and those who got to experience his commitment to the growth of Ayurveda. His spirit will reside in the light of divine masters.
Namaste, Light Miller( Jyoti ) LOAJ advisory review board

Kumarji was such a beautiful soul.  He touched many lives and was loved by many in return.  His spirit was gentle and accepting and his mind and heart were so devoted to Ayurveda that, even in poor health, he lived as an embodiment of its principles.  I am blessed to have known him and served with him on the NAMA Board.  His commitment to Ayurveda was profound and his involvement in creating a dignified and coherent professional community cannot be overstated.  I will draw on his legacy for inspiration and I will strive to contribute to healing and building community in his honor.
Jennifer Rioux, LOAJ editorial review board

Kumar was such a kind soul and devoted colleague. His spirit will most definitely live on in all the work we do on behalf of Ayurveda. He was an inspiration and shining light.
Hilary Garivaltis, LOAEF board of directors

Although I did not have the opportunity to know Kumar Batra well,  I deeply appreciated his dedication to advancing Ayurveda in the US as well as to developing his own knowledge and skills continually. His enthusiasm is an inspiration to us all.
Alakananda Devi, LOAEF board of directors, LOAJ review board

I met Kumar 10 years ago, and while it’s been years since I have seen him in person, I was struck immediately by his kind presence and his passionate, stalwart dedication to Ayurveda. It seems certain that his passing must have been blessed with peace and grace. May Kumarji’s intentions and efforts continue to bear good fruit into the future for the benefit of all~
Yours in the Spirit, Niika Quistgard

Although I didn't know Kumar well, I do remember that in every conversation I had with him he was full of enthusiasm, optimism, and genuine love. I'm sure his continuing journey will be filled with grace as well.
Dr. Mark Vinick, LOAJ review board

Aloha Manjul ji,
I am greatly saddened by the demise of Kumar ji. He was a wonderful friend and mentor to me. I was greatly inspired by his positive energy, patience and ability to bring people together. Our Ayurvedic community will greatly miss his fatherly presence.
May his soul rest in peace and we all collectively embark on fulfilling his long time dream of Ayurveda achieving its well deserved and dignified status in US.
On behalf of Kerala Ayurveda Academy,  faculty and students, we express our deepest gratitude toward the departed soul.
Divine support for you and the family in this difficult time.
Suhas Kshiragar & Jay Apte

I always enjoyed talking to Kumar, either in person or on the phone, even though it was mostly about educational "business." He always showed his warm appreciation for the smallest efforts and added a kind word or two so that one somehow felt better just for having spoken with him. He was a wonderful example for the social climate that should develop within ayurveda.
David Adams

I am so saddened by the news of Kumar's passing.  Although I have not spoken to him in the last few years, he holds a special place in my heart.  I met him when he was a student at the CCA and I was intimidated by his background and education.  I think he was among my first Indian students and I felt like a bit of a poser until he smiled his beautiful smile and held me in high regard as his teacher.  He had a very honest and humble way of holding himself and he drew out the best in those around him.  He was always ready with a smile and a hand.  He was tireless in his commitment to Ayurveda and he served on the CAAM and NAMA boards with distinction.  His love of Ayurveda and his desire to see it legitimized in the US fueled so much of his work.  I am grateful to have been able to consider him my friend and I am a better person in many ways because of that friendship.  He encouraged me and supported me while I was a member of the CAAM board and he honored me as a teacher and a friend.
My fondest memory of Kumar occurred at a CAAM conference.  I had only recently found out that I was pregnant and I was not sure how this news would be received by Kumar.  I saw him as a bit of a father figure and here I was unmarried, pregnant and middle-aged.  I wanted to tell him myself before he heard it from others.  When I told him, there was not an instant of any of the judgments I had feared.  There was only love and acceptance for me and for this beautiful soul that would become my son.  He saw this as joyous news and hugged me.  While my own father had died years earlier, it felt like I had my father's approval via Kumar.  I cherish that memory.
The world of Ayurveda has lost a shining star and I know he has inspired many to carry on that radiance in his absence. 
Aum Shanti, Mary Thompson

Dr. Kumar Batra was an important high-level link between India and the U.S.  He was a grass-roots member of N.A.M.A., generating much of its early membership and selflessly serving as its first president.  Kumar Ji, though steeped in western science as a public health pathologist, came to Ayurveda to heal himself, becoming her advocate.  His presence will be missed.
Jaisri. Lambert, review editor LOAJ

I am saddened to hear that our dear Kumar is no longer with us.  What a special jewel he was.  His gentle nature and gift of honesty and directness are still an inspiration to me. 
Pat  Hansen, educator, former review editor LOAJ

Kumar was a Western scientist devoted to energy discipline of Ayurveda because he personally saw it transform his life He was a leader by his love devotion and an inspiration for us all.
Dr. Bill Dean

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to dear Kumar ji's family. To lose such a dear presence among us is certain to have an impact, as did his life.

It was my experience with Kumar ji, that banal agenda and politics would invariably yield to hearfelt joy, participation and cooperation with the living present. Because of this, I always trusted whatever came from our discussions and exchanges. I hope to always remember them. I trust Kumarji will remain a comfort and joy to remember.
Godspeed, Kumarji, Dr. Claudia Welch