The vice chancellor (VC) of the newly established AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) University in Kurukshetra, Dr Baldev Kumar Dhiman on Tuesday denied having said that gender selection before conception was possible through Ayurveda.

Speaking to The Statesman over phone, Dr Dhiman, however, said even if Ayurveda had remedy for bearing a male child, it was not sensible to pursue it in the modern era as gender based discrimination is against the existing laws.

” Even if it’s (medicine for male child) there in Ayurveda, we should not encourage such things in present era as boys and girls are equal. We should respect the laws and leave the history,” he said.

Clarifying his reported remark, Dr Dhiman said while speaking at a function to mark the birth anniversary celebration of Narad Muni on Sunday, he had just tried to clear the myth over certain Sanskrit words which, he said, are misinterpreted in Hindi language.

“While clearing the myth over the Sanskrit word purushatva (manhood), I had said that purushatva is applicable to both males and females. Therefore, I had said there was a controversy over an Ayurvedic medicine (Putrjeevak Beej which it allegedly promised male child to user women), some years back. But as per its meaning in Sanskrit, it’s applicable to both the male and female child. All it (medicine) promises is a healthy child if the medicine is taken two months before conception,” he said.

Dr Dhiman said his remark was misinterpreted by linking it to male child conception through Ayurveda. “If my remark has hurt anyone, I express my regret and take my words back. But all I had tried was to clear the myths and misconceptions about meaning of Sanskrit words in Hindi,” he said.

The AYUSH university authorities maintain that in Ayurdeva scriptures have detail, about the “putrjeevak beej”. In Sanskritm ‘putra’ means son, ‘jeevak’ means birth and ‘beej’ means seed. But putrjeevak beej is for treating causes of infertility and childlessness but there is no drug which can guarantee a male child as the Ayurveda scriptures.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s pharmacy was in dock in the past for its controversial infertility medicine,’Putrajeevak Beej’, as it was allegedly being sold in violation of the PCPNDT Act and promised male child to user women.As per the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, sex selection is illegal, whether before or after conception.