Medical education in Varanasi, the oldest living city in the world, dates from the days of Sushruta 500 BC. This is also the history of Medical education in India. The great treatise - 'Sushruta Samhita' is a living testimony of contributions to Medical education that originated in Varanasi, Sushruta was the first to perform cadaver dissections and described several operating instruments and surgical operations. Perhaps it is a continuation of this historical perspective that Medical education at Banaras Hindu University took roots in 1920 with the establishment of the Department of Ayurveda under the Faculty of Oriental Learning and Theology (1922-1927). Under the influence of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviyaji, Seth Mathuradas Vissanji Khimji of Bombay donated a large sum of Rs.1.5 Lacs for the Ayurvedic College. This was further augmented by donations from Shri Daya Shankar Dev Shankar Dave of Kathiawar and Bombay.