Gopi Warrier

Gopi Warrier is best known as an expert in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. He is also a playwright and poet.

Gopi Warrier
NationalityIndian
EducationLondon Business School, Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales, New York University
OccupationAyurvedacharya, Playwright, Poet
Parent(s)G.P. Warrier
Websitehttp://poetryandbooksofgopiwarrier.com/

Life and career

Gopi Warrier is the son of G.P. Warrier, chairman of Indian National Railways and Principal Secretary to the Government of India.[1] His grandfather was M.R. Krishna Warrier, a poet in Kerala. Warrier studied English Literature in India; he then took an MBA at the London Business School, studying also at the French Business School (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales) near Paris, and at the New York University Graduate School.[1]

The West's first Ayurvedic hospital

In 2000, Warrier founded The Ayurvedic Charitable Hospital, with 30 beds, in London.[2][3] The hospital was initially located on the third floor of the old Royal Masonic Hospital in Chiswick.[4] Audrey Gillan, writing in the Guardian, reports Warrier as "concerned that Ayurveda's image could become spoiled" at the same time as the "first charitable Ayurvedic hospital outside India and Sri Lanka" was being founded.[3] According to Gillan, Warrier "believes that many are guilty of intellectual pilfering of Ayurvedic principles."[3]

According to the BBC, despite celebrities such as Cherie Blair, Naomi Campbell and Madonna "reported to be among those undergoing treatment", Warrier did not see this as the hospital's purpose. "The hospital's founder, Gopi Warrier, whose family runs several Ayurvedic hospitals in the Indian state of Kerala, says the new hospital is not for rich celebrities but for ordinary people."[2] Warrier went on to dismiss any interest in having celebrities at his hospital, replying "The West has a tendency to dilute and distort and commercialise everything, including sacred knowledge", said Warrier, according to the BBC report.[2] According to Laura Barton, writing in The Guardian, Warrier "looks appalled by the sudden Ayurveda hysteria. He would rather it were not treated as the latest item on the cosmetic counter to be listed in the stockists pages of Vogue and Cosmo, alongside anti-cellulite creams and bio-thermal wraps."[5]

Similarly, two years later, Jo Revill, writing in The Observer, reports Warrier as criticising the West's approach: "Ayurveda is being plundered. Its beliefs and practices are being hijacked and the public are being conned."[6] Warrier continued, Revill reported, "Our remedies are being pilfered - there's no other word for it - in order for spas and clinics to jump on a New Age bandwagon and con people out of their money"[6]

Ayurvedic university

In 2004, Warrier, David McAlpine and Lady Sarah Morritt (trustees of the Ayurvedic Charitable Hospital)[3] founded Mayur, the "Ayurvedic University of Europe", in London; it offers a B.Sc. degree in Ayurveda.[7]

London's first ayurvedic restaurant

Warrier opened London's first Ayurvedic restaurant (named Mantra) in 2004 on Crutched Friars (a street in the City of London).[8] According to Richard Johnson, writing in The Independent, "This new London restaurant is unique. You don't order your food, the waiter orders for you. You arrive, your constitution is assessed, and you're fed the appropriate food.".[9] Barbara Lantin, writing in The Daily Telegraph, reports Warrier as explaining "Food is extremely important in Ayurveda. Even one meal can make a difference." [10] However, in the following year, the restaurant was forced to switch cuisines in order to survive: "in 2005, it's out with the healthy grub [food] and in with a big bar".[11]

Plays, Poems and Films

Warrier is the author of three books of poems, Varaha,[12] and Lament of JC.[13] and "Tenth Incarnation".

Warrier has staged several plays in London[14] and Mumbai: God Sports, The Tenth Incarnation, Genesis of Karma -Three Faces of Evil, Siddhivinayak Saves Mumbai from Terror Attack.[15] "Ego of the Yogis - Searching for Spirituality in a Contaminated World" and "A Polyester Lordship" in London at the Steiner Theatre,

Warrier has written and produced several poetry films "Any Takers" " Godsports" and "Trapeze" filmed and directed by Jon Bunker see YouTube. The Last And Final Call For Flight Meenakshi RR1, was performed on stage and filmed.[16]

Bibliography

Ayurvedic medicine
  • Gopi Warrier. Ayurveda: The Right Way to Live - The Ancient Indian Medical System, Focusing on the Prevention of Disease Through Diet, Lifestyle and Herbalism. Carlton Books, 2002. ISBN 978-1-84222-604-9
  • Karen Sullivan, Harish L. Verma, Gopi Warrier. Secrets of Ayurveda. Dorling Kindersley, 2001. ISBN 978-0-7513-3563-7
  • Gopi Warrier and Deepika Gunawant. The Complete Illustrated Guide to Ayurveda: the Ancient Indian Healing Tradition. Barnes & Noble, 1997. ISBN 978-0-7607-0702-9

Poetry
  • Gopi Warrier and Amanda Brett. Lament of JC: Poems by Gopi Warrier. Delhi London Poetry Foundation, 1999. ISBN 978-0-9535679-0-4
  • Gopi Warrier. Vahara: The Secret of Evolution - New and Selected Poems. Mayur University, 2009. ISBN 978-0-9535679-8-0
  • Gopi Warrier. Karma is a Slow Virus. McAlpine & Hutton-Williams, London, 1988. ISBN 978-0-9514301-0-1
  • Gopi Warrier. In a Country near Zimbabwe: Indian socialites, Interviewing a Brahmin. McAlpine Hutton-Williams, London, 1980. ISBN
  • Gopi Warrier Tenth Incarnation - Destruction and Transformation of the Existing World Order. ISBN 9780-9535679-9-7 Delhi London Poetry Foundation 2013.

References
  1. "Gopi Warrier". Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  2. "Hospital offers ancient healing". BBC News. 27 June 2000. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  3. Gillan, Audrey (17 June 2000). "Life forces to be rebalanced at holistic hospital". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  4. "Alternatives". Alternatives. Guardian.co.uk. 25 June 2000. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  5. Barton, Laura (22 March 2001). "Guardian: Health & Wellbeing". Open to the elements. Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  6. Revill, Jo (12 January 2003). "Observer: UK news: West plunders Indian therapy for quick profit". West 'plunders' Indian therapy for quick profit. Guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  7. "Mayur University". 20 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  8. Jeffries, Stuart (27 October 2004). "Menu? What Menu?". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  9. Johnson, Stuart (1 January 2005). "Mantra Ayurvedic Restaurant, London EC3". A faltering start on the road to enlightenment. The Independent. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  10. Lantin, Barbara (11 August 2004). "Lifestyle". Expat: Learning how to be hungry only at mealtimes. The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  11. Campion, Charles (6 May 2005). "Stick to the buffet at Mantra". Stick to the buffet at Mantra. Evening Standard / Metro Life. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  12. Warrier, Varaha, 2009
  13. Warrier, Lament of JC, 1999
  14. "London Theatre Guide - Online". A Genesis Of Karma by Gopi Warrier at New End Theatre. LondonTheatre.co.uk. 8 May 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  15. "Theatre of the Devas". Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  16. YouTube video, The Last And Final Call For Flight Meenakshi RR1, 2009
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