Epilepsy is one of the most serious chronic disorders of the brain characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures or fits. As per studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), epilepsy accounts for approximately 1% of the global burden of disease. Epilepsy is one of the four most important causes of economic and personal loss among the primary disorders of the brain. Most developed countries have recognized this fact and are concentrating their efforts aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

The International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) are the two international organizations that look after various aspects of epilepsy at the global level. The ILAE is an international organization of medical professionals working in the field of epilepsy while the IBE is the international lay organization concerned mainly with a large number of social problems that tragically add to the disabilities encountered by individuals with epilepsy.

The Indian Epilepsy Society (IES) was constituted and registered With the Registrar of Societies, Govt. of India, Delhi on May 13, 1997. The main objectives of the IES are to:

• Maintain the highest standard in the ethics and practice for the promoting of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of all persons with epilepsy.
• Promote and encourage research concerning the epilepsies.
• Improve education, and dissemination of knowledge concerning epilepsy.
• Maintain a good liaison with the organization of lay people - Indian Epilepsy Association (IEA).

The 18th International Epilepsy Congress was by organized at New Delhi in 1989 and was attended by about 1200 delegates. The 18th IEC was a land mark event contributing to the development of interest in Epilepsy in not only in India but also in the neighbouring countries. The 3rd Asian-Oceanian Epilepsy Congress was organized successfully by the IES in New Delhi in 2000 provided further impetus in this direction.

The IES has started organizing EEG Workshops with an aim to train young doctors, nurses and technicians interested in care of epilepsy patients. Two such workshops have already been organized in 2008 and 2009 at the AIIMS, New Delhi. It is proposed to organize more such workshops at other centres in India and neighbouring countries.

The 18th International Epilepsy Congress was by organized at New Delhi in 1989 and was attended by about 1200 delegates. The 18th IEC was a land mark event contributing to the development of interest in Epilepsy in not only in India but also in the neighbouring countries. The 3rd Asian-Oceanian Epilepsy Congress was organized successfully by the IES in New Delhi in 2000 provided further impetus in this direction.

The IES has started organizing EEG Workshops with an aim to train young doctors, nurses and technicians interested in care of epilepsy patients. Two such workshops have already been organized in 2008 and 2009 at the AIIMS, New Delhi. It is proposed to organize more such workshops at other centres in India and neighbouring countries.

The 'Guidelines for Epilepsy Management in India' (GEMIND) were released in October, 2008 during the Annual Conference of the IES and IEA. The GEMIND are a milestone in the true sense and perhaps the first example of a national professional body formulating guidelines for a common disorder in India.

The GEMIND are expected to help in improving medical decision making for the millions of people with epilepsy in India, mainly at a general physician level. The IES will continue to make efforts to organize more educational activities for the benefit of the healthcare professionals and people with epilepsy.

The IES has 246 life members. It is administered by the Executive Committee on behalf of the General Body. The Executive Committee consists of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary-General and 5 Executive Members. The IES is affiliated to International League against Epilepsy (ILAE).

The current Executive Committee of the IES consists of the following:

Dr Rakesh Shukla : President
Dr B Vengamma : Vice-President
Dr Satish Jain: Secretary General
Dr MM Mehndiratta: Treasurer
Dr Manjari Tripathi: Executive Committee Member
Dr P Sarat Chandra: Executive Committee Member
Dr Sanjeev Thomas: Executive Committee Member
Dr Sita Jayalakshmi: Executive Committee Member
Dr Parampreet S Kharbanda: Executive Committee Member
Dr M Gourie-Devi: Past-President
Dr VS Saxena: Editor - Epilepsy India
President of the IEA: Ex-Officio Member
Secretary General if the IEA: Ex-Officio Member

In the IES, we are still young and small in numbers as compared to the ILAE chapters of other countries. We still have a long way to go. I hope that the membership list of the IES will not only grow in the near future but all the members will actively contribute their share towards achieving the common goal and soon we will be able to "bring epilepsy out of the shadows".

Annual Joint Conferences of IEA & IES

IES Orations