Pune : Indian chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi found himself at the centre of a heated online debate this week after he posted a Doctor’s Day tribute to his family—only to be publicly challenged by Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a hepatologist widely known on social media as “The LiverDoc.”
On July 1, which is observed as Doctor’s Day in India, Vidit shared a message expressing gratitude to his parents, wife, and sister for dedicating their lives to helping others. His father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, his mother a cosmetologist, his wife holds an MD in homeopathy, and his sister is a physiotherapist.
While the message was meant as a heartfelt tribute, it quickly turned into a flashpoint over what qualifies as medicine. Dr. Philips responded critically, stating that Ayurveda and homeopathy were not scientific forms of clinical practice, and declaring that only physiotherapy among the mentioned professions was a legitimate healthcare branch. He further characterised homeopathy as “sham,” sparking outrage among Vidit’s supporters.
In response, Vidit issued a firm statement defending his family’s work and accusing Philips of building his public persona by insulting others. “Your entire brand and personality is built on insulting others,” he wrote. “They’ve helped more people than your ego can count. Stay in your lane.”
As the exchange drew widespread attention, many weighed in on whether traditional medicine and homeopathy deserved to be recognised alongside allopathic practice. While supporters of Dr. Philips praised his insistence on evidence-based standards, others criticised what they saw as an unnecessarily aggressive dismissal of respected Indian health systems.
Ultimately, Vidit made clear that he would not be engaging further in the argument, writing, “I have no time for this noise.”The episode underscored the growing cultural clash in India between advocates of modern medicine and practitioners of traditional systems—and the delicate line between scientific scrutiny and personal respect.
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