UgsPoXanB at 14:00, 15 September 2025

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{{Short description|Indian traditional medicine practitioner and Padma Shri awardee}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Hemchand Manjhi
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|01|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Narayanpur district]], [[Chhattisgarh]], India
| occupation = Traditional medicine practitioner
| known_for = Herbal medicine and traditional healing
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2024)
}}

'''Hemchand Manjhi''' (born 1 January 1953) is an Indian [[traditional medicine]] practitioner from Narayanpur district in [[Chhattisgarh]]. Known locally as a ''Vaidyaraj'', he has treated patients for over five decades using forest herbs and indigenous healing techniques.<ref name="padma">{{cite web |title=Shri Hemchand Manjhi - Padma Shri Citation |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/CitationsForTickets/2024/202474.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

==Early life==
Manjhi was born into a [[Adivasi|Tribal]] family and attended school only for a single day due to poverty and household responsibilities.<ref name="NBTbio">{{cite news |title=कौन हैं हेमचंद मांझी, जिन्होंने 15 साल की उम्र में मुफ्त इलाज शुरू किया |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/chhattisgarh/raipur/padma-shree-who-is-vaidya-hemchand-manjhi-is-providing-free-treatment-since-the-age-of-15/articleshow/107174305.cms |work=Navbharat Times |date=25 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref> After his father’s early death, he worked as a [[Fire lookout|fire watcher]] in the forest department. A turning point in his life came after an illness, when he reportedly had a vision in a dream guiding him to forest herbs that cured his condition.<ref name="padma" />

==Traditional medical practice==
Following his recovery, Manjhi began providing free herbal treatments to villagers using forest-sourced remedies. By the age of 15, he had committed full-time to traditional medicine.<ref name="ZeeProfile">{{cite news |title=Who is Padma Shri Hemchand Manjhi? |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/madhya-pradesh-chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh/padma-awards-2024-who-is-padma-shri-hemchand-manjhi-for-ayush-chikitsa-traditional-medicine-from-naryanpur/2078739 |work=Zee News Hindi |date=25 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref> His reputation has grown across states, with patients seeking treatment for chronic ailments. He has also provided employment to local villagers through his practice.<ref name="padma" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=This Padmashree Vaidya Hemchand Manjhi Has Met PM Modi, Has Been Treating Him With Ayurveda Method |url=https://ndtv.in/videos/this-padmashree-vaidya-hemchand-manjhi-has-met-pm-modi-has-been-treating-him-with-ayurveda-method-fo-774857 |website=NDTV |date=27 January 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=पद्मश्री से सम्मानित हेमचंद मांझी से मिले CM साय, अमेरिका से इलाज कराने आते हैं लोग |url=https://www.patrika.com/narayanpur-news/padmashree-award-vidyaraj-hemchand-america-people-come-for-treatment-8699347 |website=Patrika |date=24 April 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=पद्मश्री: नक्सलियों के डर से छोड़ा गांव, 15 साल की उम्र से कर रहे हैं फ्री इलाज, जानें कौन हैं वैद्य हेमचंद मांझी |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/chhattisgarh/raipur/padma-shree-who-is-vaidya-hemchand-manjhi-is-providing-free-treatment-since-the-age-of-15/articleshow/107174305.cms |website=Navbharat Times |date=26 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=पद्म पुरस्कार 2024: जड़ी-बूटियों वाले वैद्यराज को पद्म श्री, जानिए कौन हैं हेमचंद मांझी |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/madhya-pradesh-chhattisgarh/chhattisgarh/padma-awards-2024-who-is-padma-shri-hemchand-manjhi-for-ayush-chikitsa-traditional-medicine-from-naryanpur/2078739 |website=Zee News Hindi |date=25 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chhattisgarh: पद्मश्री मिलने से पहले वैद्यराज हेमचंद मांझी ने मांगे बॉडीगार्ड्स, भतीजे की नक्सली कर चुके हैं हत्या |url=https://www.aajtak.in/india/chhattisgarh/story/chhattisgarh-abujhmad-padma-shri-recieved-vaidyaraj-hemchand-manjhi-asked-for-two-bodyguards-lcls-1867419-2024-01-26 |website=Aaj Tak |date=26 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

==Recognition==
In 2024, the Government of India awarded him the [[Padma Shri]], the country’s fourth-highest civilian honour, for his contribution to traditional medicine and tribal healthcare.<ref name="padma" /><ref name="BhaskarAward">{{cite news |title=बस्तर के वैद्यराज हेमचंद मांझी को मिला पद्मश्री सम्मान |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/chhattisgarh/raipur/news/bastars-famous-vaidyaraj-hemchand-manjhi-awarded-padma-shri-132918132.html |work=Dainik Bhaskar |date=26 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="PIB2024">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2024 announced |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096285 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

==Threats and security==
In 2024, Manjhi received threats from [[Naxalite]] insurgents in the Bastar region. A "death warrant" was issued against him and others, prompting him to announce his intent to return the Padma Shri award and temporarily halt medical services for safety.<ref name="HinduThreat">{{cite news |title=Will return Padma award, says Hemchand Manjhi after threats from Naxalites |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/will-return-padma-award-says-traditional-medicine-practitioner-hemchand-manjhi-after-threats-from-naxalites/article68221140.ece |work=The Hindu |date=27 May 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="TOIThreat">{{cite news |title=Will return Padma award: Hemchand Manjhi after Naxal threats |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/will-return-padma-award-says-traditional-medicine-practitioner-manjhi-after-threats-from-naxalites/articleshow/110467172.cms |work=Times of India |date=27 May 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="NBTThreat">{{cite news |title=नक्सलियों की धमकी के बाद पद्मश्री लौटाने की तैयारी |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/chhattisgarh/raipur/chhattisagrh-vaidyaraj-hemchand-manjhi-return-padma-shri-and-discontinue-medical-practice-after-threat-of-naxalites/articleshow/110483914.cms |work=Navbharat Times |date=27 May 2024 |language=hi |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

Following public concern and national media coverage, the government provided Y-category security for his protection.<ref name="HindustanSecurity">{{cite news |title=सरकार ने दिया Y सुरक्षा, जान से मारने की धमकी के बाद |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/chhattisgarh/story-the-government-gave-y-security-to-padma-shri-vaidyaraj-hemchand-manjhi-the-naxalites-had-threatened-to-kill-him-10094773.html |work=Hindustan |language=hi |date=30 May 2024 |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Padma Shri]]
* [[AYUSH]]

==References==
<references />

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Medicine|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manjhi, Hemchand}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in medicine]]
[[Category:People from Chhattisgarh]]

Hemchand Manjhi - Revision history

UgsPoXanB at 14:00, 15 September 2025