Deepak Chopra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deepak Chopra
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Chopra in 2019
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| Born | October 22, 1946 New Delhi, British India
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| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi |
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| Spouse(s) |
Rita Chopra
(m. 1970) |
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| Relatives | Sanjiv Chopra (brother) |
Deepak Chopra (born October 22, 1946) is an Indian-American author and speaker. He is well-known for his ideas on alternative medicine and a way of thinking called the New Age movement. Chopra believes in a holistic approach to health. This means looking at the whole person, including their mind, body, and spirit. His ideas often involve yoga, meditation, and healthy eating.
Chopra first studied medicine in India. In 1970, he moved to the United States. There, he became a licensed doctor. In 1985, he met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This meeting led him to join the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement. He later started a health center focused on Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system. In 1993, he became very popular after being interviewed on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He then left the TM movement and helped start the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.
Chopra teaches that people can reach "perfect health." He believes this state is free from sickness and pain. He also thinks that aging can slow down or even reverse. He says our bodies are made of energy and information, not just matter. He claims that our state of mind can affect our health and aging. He also suggests his methods can help with long-term illnesses.
Many medical and science experts have criticized Chopra's ideas. They often call his claims pseudoscience. This means his ideas sound scientific but are not proven by real science. For example, Chopra talks about "quantum healing." He says this can cure illnesses like cancer. He claims it works using the same rules as quantum mechanics, which is a part of physics. However, physicists say he uses the term "quantum" incorrectly. They describe his explanations as "technobabble." This means it's confusing talk filled with scientific words that don't make sense together. Critics worry that his unproven claims might give people "false hope." They also worry that sick people might choose his methods instead of proven medical treatments.
Contents
Deepak Chopra's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Deepak Chopra was born in New Delhi, British India. His father, Krishan Lal Chopra, was a famous heart doctor. He was also a lieutenant in the British army. His father served as a medical adviser to Lord Mountbatten, who was the viceroy of India. Deepak's younger brother, Sanjiv Chopra, is also a doctor. He teaches medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Deepak went to St. Columba's School in New Delhi. He then graduated from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1969. After medical school, he worked as a doctor in rural India. He spent six months in a village where the lights often went out when it rained. During this time, he became interested in how thoughts and feelings affect the body. He wanted to find a biological reason for this connection.
In 1970, he married in India. Soon after, he and his wife moved to the United States. He had to travel to Sri Lanka to take the exam needed to practice medicine in the US. After passing, he started his medical training in New Jersey. Doctors from other countries were needed in the US at that time. This was because many American doctors were serving in the Vietnam War.
From 1971 to 1977, he continued his medical training. He specialized in internal medicine and endocrinology. Endocrinology is the study of hormones and glands. In 1973, he received his license to practice medicine in Massachusetts.
Years on the East Coast
Chopra taught at several medical schools. These included Tufts University and Harvard University. He also became the Chief of Staff at the New England Memorial Hospital (NEMH). Later, he started his own private practice in Boston.
In 1981, he visited New Delhi. There, he met an Ayurvedic doctor named Brihaspati Dev Triguna. This meeting made Chopra want to learn more about Ayurvedic practices.
Chopra's interest in TM led him to meet Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1985. The Maharishi was the leader of the TM movement. He asked Chopra to open an Ayurvedic health center. Chopra then left his job at NEMH.
He became the first president of the American Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. He also helped start Maharishi Ayur-Veda Products International. He was the medical director of the Maharishi Ayur-Veda Health Center. This center offered Ayurvedic cleansing rituals. These included massages and oil baths. They also taught TM lessons. Famous people like Elizabeth Taylor visited the center. Chopra also became a spokesperson for the TM movement. In 1989, the Maharishi gave him a special title. It was "Dhanvantari of Heaven and Earth." That same year, Chopra's book Quantum Healing was published. His book Perfect Health followed in 1990.
Moving to the West Coast
In June 1993, Chopra moved to California. He became a director at Sharp HealthCare's Center for Mind/Body Medicine. This clinic was in a fancy resort. It also offered special programs. Michael Jackson's family was among its clients. Chopra and Jackson became friends in 1988. They stayed friends for 20 years.
Chopra left the Transcendental Meditation movement around 1993. Some say he wanted to be a guru himself. But Chopra said this was not true. He felt that being too close to the TM movement might stop Ayurveda from being accepted. He also felt uncomfortable with what seemed like a "cultish atmosphere" around Maharishi.
In 1995, Chopra did not have a medical license in California. However, he did not see patients "as a doctor" at his clinic then. In 2004, he got his California medical license. He is now connected with Scripps Memorial Hospital. Chopra owns and supervises the Mind-Body Medical Group. This group offers regular medical care. It also gives advice on nutrition, sleep, and stress management. This advice is based on both modern medicine and Ayurveda. He is a member of important medical groups.
His Work in Alternative Medicine
Chopra's book Ageless Body, Timeless Mind came out in 1993. This book, and his friendship with Michael Jackson, led to an interview. He was on Oprah on July 12, 1993. After this interview, his book sold many copies very quickly.
In 1996, Chopra left Sharp HealthCare. He then started the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. He co-founded it with neurologist David Simon. The center is now located in Carlsbad, California. The Chopra Center sells many alternative medicine products. These include herbal supplements, massage oils, books, and videos. It also offers courses. Chopra is a very successful businessman.
Teaching and Other Roles
Chopra teaches at several business schools. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia Business School. He also teaches at the Kellogg School of Management. He gives lectures each year at an event for doctors. This event is sponsored by Harvard Medical School.
In 2015, Chopra helped start JUST Capital. This is a non-profit group. It ranks companies based on fair business practices. In 2014, he founded ISHAR. This group studies and archives information about integrative health. Chopra also joined the board of advisors for a tech company called State.com. In 2009, he started the Chopra Foundation. This foundation raises money to promote and research alternative health. He is also on the board of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association. Chopra has also been a senior scientist at The Gallup Organization. He has been a board member of Men's Wearhouse, a clothing company. In 2006, he started Virgin Comics with his son Gotham Chopra and Richard Branson. In 2016, he became a full clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego.
Personal Life
Deepak Chopra and his wife have two adult children. Their names are Gotham Chopra and Mallika Chopra. They also have three grandchildren. As of 2019, Chopra lives in a health-focused apartment in Manhattan. He was recognized as a "Great Immigrant" by the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Deepak Chopra para niños
- Celebrity doctor
- Indian Americans
- List of people in alternative medicine
- New Age spiritual leaders
- Transcendental Meditation exponents
