
Late Dr. K. N. Kasad, Beacon of true Homoeopathy
Introduction
Dr Kershasp Nasserwanji Kasad was born on 15th January 1927, in Navsari, Gujarat. He had his preliminary education in Gujarati and later schooling from St. Xaviers’ School. He completed his college from Elphinstone college of Mumbai and passed MBBS from KEM College and Hospital in 1951. He later got his M.F. Hom.( London) in 1970 and thereafter went to Switzerland from 1973-75 , to study about Mistletoe Therapy of Cancer. That later on was published as a book ‘ Iscador Therapy Of Cancer ‘. He had his clinical practice for more than 60 yrs at Byculla, Mumbai.
He had been conferred the degree, D.Sc. ( Calcutta ). He had his homoeopathic understanding under Late Dr L. D. Dhawale. And along with Late Dr M. L. Dhawale and Late Dr Phalnikar, he taught for many years at the Institute of Clinical Research I.C.R. He has also written chapters in the symposium volumes of ICR, apart from numerous articles in various magazines. The “Indian Journal of Homoeopathic Medicine” was formerly edited by Dr. Kasad. He was also a Lecturer in subject of Materia Medica and Organon of Medicine at Mumbadevi college and hospital, Irla.
As a person, he was the most noble and humble gentleman that one could come across. A person who believed in ‘Simple Living and High Thinking ‘, and practiced it till the very end. He was well loved by all his pupils and his patients, and is remembered even today for his lessons on miasms, the concept of travel of disease, pathogenesis, structure and function. His beloved pupils recollect of him as an ever-smiling teacher, who was eager-to-learn, easily approachable and someone who connected well with everyone. His cancer OPD were always crowded with patients and students. He made Homoeopathic Philosophy concepts easy for classroom lectures, which have remained ingrained in many for several years until it reflected in their clinical practice. He is best known for his pioneering work with cancer patients. He made the patients comfortable, used to go up to the reception room to call the patient and get them along the corridor, all by himself. Even Grade III and IV cancer patients, who received chemotherapy, who were operated on, disfigured and disheartened, all connected wonderfully with him. His compassion toward them always reached across, through his expressive eyes, sweet smile, soft words, and warm handshake with them. The assurance he gave, always struck the right chord! His gesture of holding patients’ hand must have been so curative and soothing!
He was like a perfect friend, philosopher and guide to his patients. He lived by the mission, specified by Dr. Hahnemann in the Organon of Medicine. He tried his best to cure the sick and restore the imbalance. His unique way of case taking, recording the case directly on an A3 size paper with essential evolutionary totality (EET). Something remarkable if we go to ponder. That EET, he used to create himself perfectly and neatly, with the help of 2–3 colour pens and a scale. He enjoyed reading and remained a voracious reader till the very end, in which he would devour books, not only on medicine and homoeopathy, but also of Theosophy, of which he was a student of till his last breath, and beyond…
Dr. Kasad developed a systematic understanding of Boger’s concept and technique. He highlighted the time dimension, tissue affinity and pathological generals as key aspects of Boger’s approach that is to be used when dealing with his repertory. The time dimension is appreciated in the time modality chapter in the repertory; at a broader level, the evolution of disease with time is studied considering causation, concomitant and pace.
He was never the kind to show off the vast computer like knowledge that he had stored, but always gently ready to guide and to study, happy to understand, to analyse, and synthesize for oneself, and then put into practice what he had learnt. He would often quote, “Knowledge is proud, that it knows so much, But wisdom is humble, it knows no more”. He was gifted with a sharp intellect and had brilliant recall of rubrics and remedies in them. In his interleaved copy of Kent Repertory, he would note down his extra references of various rubrics. He had added many more remedies in almost all rubrics, across all the chapters in Kent’s Repertory, which he had found in other reference books and in his clinical practice. He used to write them in that rubric, with respective marking and the name of the source in the bracket. He never hesitated to allow his colleagues and friends to copy all his extra references in to their copy of Kent’s repertory. His enthusiasm and learning spirit and zeal to act were unparalleled.
He was selected for the prestigious Dhanvantri Award, but he humbly declined, saying he doesn’t deserve it. When asked why, he simply said, these awards do not determine who we are, our work in silence does. These are man-made, the highest award is in selfless service to the whole of mankind and to learn how to live in peace and quietude with every being of creation.
Dr Kasad has devoted his life in the service of mankind. His wife, Jaloo, kept pace with him on his journey, till she passed on 14th August 2021, at the age of 87years. Their bondage was so strong, that 7 months later, he crossed the threshold on 17th March 2022, at the ripe old age of 95 yrs. His daughter Dr. Firooza is blessed to walk in his footsteps as well as to continue his mission and she was very kind enough to share vital information about Dr. Kasad’s illustrious life with us all.
Author: Dr. Rajiv Rui Viegas Peres M.D(Hom)
Associate Professor, Department of Organon
Aarihant Homoeopathic Medical College & Research Institute Swarrnim University