Provincial Pioneers of Homeopathy

DR. KESHAV LAXMAN DAFTARI

BIRTH: Keshav Laxman Daftari alias Bhausabheb Daftari was born on 22^nd November 1880.

EDUCATION: He pursued his education in Mathematics and astronomy from S. K. Barlingy.  He graduated in Arts and Law in 1905.

In the year 1905, he discarded legal practice and joined the national non-cooperation movement.  He also studied Ayurveda.  He was deeply impressed by the logic of Dr. Hahnemann and took Homoeopathy as a profession.

CONTRIBUTIONS:

1. He pursued his research in “Hindu Astronomy” and “Ancient History” which gave him acclaim all over.  He was awarded the honorary degree of D.Litt by Nagpur University.
2. He was a member of the Calendar Committee appointed by the Government of India.
3. He is known to be the pioneer of the Vidarbha region in the field of Homoeopathy.
4. In 1950 he became the 1^st chairman of the Board of Homoeopathic and Biochemic System of Medicine in Madhya Pradesh.
5. He had written several books on Homoeopathy.

DEMISE:

Dr. Keshav Laxman Daftari died on 19^th February 1956.

PROVINTIAL PIONEER 

DR. LAXMAN DINCHURA DHAWALE

BIRTH: Laxman Dinchura Dhawale was born in Bhandara on 21^st July 1884.

EDUCATION: He completed a B.A. Degree from Allahabad University from Morris College in 1908.  He then became a tutor in Pathology and later on an honorary physician at the K.E.M Hospital, Mumbai.  He was a very thoroughgoing and hard taskmaster.

CONVERSION: Once his father became seriously ill with a carbuncle on the back.  He obtained a copy of “Allen’s Handbook of Materia Medica” and managed to find the right remedy.  It was cured with Homoeopathic medicine.  He then was converted to Homoeopathy.  His Homoeopathic learning brought him into conflict with his superiors.

CONTRIBUTIONS: He was a self-made Homoeopathic Physician and knew well the difficulties that beset the path of self-made Homoeopaths.  He therefore established the Homoeopathic Post Graduate Association in 1931.  He also wrote two booklets, “The Difficulties in Homoeopathic Practice and Homoeopathy-it’s Principles and tenets”

He was the master in the clinical use of the Card Repertory and his introduction to the 6^th edition of Boger’s “General Analysis” helped to popularize the work.  He was appointed by the Government of India in 1948 to the Homoeopathic Enquiry Committee.  He was the first Honorary physician and superintendent of the Government Homoeopathic Hospital, Bombay.

He conducted the first Homoeopathic Seminar for the Ceylon Homoeopathic Society in Colombo.

DEMISE: He passed away on 10 December 1960.

PROVINCIAL PIONEER-

DR. BAPURAO DHAKULKAR

BIRTH:

He was born on March 16, 1929, in the small village of Zada in Amravati district of Maharashtra.  

EDUCATION:

To get a primary education Bapurao had to work as a domestic servant, a Hotel boy and as a peon.  He completed his primary education at Rasulabad in Wardha district. He completed his Matriculation from Pulgaon.

He bagged the degree of D.H.B from Nagpur College of Homoeopathy and Biochemistry with the highest honour, he was the first merit from the entire Maharashtra.

CONTRIBUTIONS:

1. From 1963 to 1969, he worked as a professor at Nagpur College of Homoeopathy and Biochemistry.
2. In 1975, as Homoeopathic materia medica teacher, he rendered his services to Antarbharti Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital at Dabha, Nagpur.
3. He began his own Charitable Hospital at Reshimbagh, Nagpur-Maharashtra.
4. He served as a Vice Principal At Antarbharti Homoeopathic Medical College-Dabha-Nagpur.
5. He had run several Free medical camps in Flood-Hit areas.
6. He wrote a drama, “Dr. Hahnemann ki Atmagatha” and staged it in conferences at Jaipur, Hyderabad and the Theaters of Nagpur.

AWARDS:

1. He was awarded “Homoeo Mirror Mitra Puraskar” by the Homoeo Mirror Society.
2. “Dr.Madhubala Rastogi Award” is dedicated to the Indian Homoeopathic Seminar and Silver Jubilee.
3. “Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Awards’ ‘ Instituted by Maniklalji Gandhi Charitable Trust.

PROVINTIAL PIONEER –

DR RADHESYAM SHIVRAM GUNJAL.

BIRTH: He was born on 1 June 1959 in Khandgaon village in Sangamner District.  His father’s name is Mr Shivram P Gunjal and his Mother’s name is Mrs Lahanbai S Gunjal.  He was born into a family with meagre subsistence. His father was pursuing a job with Bidi Manufacturer.  He was married on 6 May 1982 to Mrs Usahtai, bearing one son Mr Rahul MBA, three daughters namely Dr. Dipali MD [Hom], Dr Poonam MD [Hom] and a younger daughter Mrs Seema pursued her MBA.

EDUCATION: His primary education was in Zilla Parishad Primary School, Khandgaon and Rayatwadi.  He was intelligent and always sought the first position in the class.  He was the favourite of his teachers.  Apart from education, he used to help his parents after school.  Only Education can pull us out of poverty was his dictum.  

He joined “Dnyanmata education sankul” an educational institute with a missionary blend.  Under disciplined and experienced teachers he took his education during his college years. 

Since his early life, his inclination was towards Medical education.  He thought being a Physician could boost the smile on the ill patients’ faces.  He was admitted to Homoeopathic College, Achalpur, Amravati District.  Living hostel life he completed his D.H.M.S in First Division.   Holding a rural background and determined hope, hard work and firm self-confidence he appeased his desire for the medical fraternity and completed his MD [Homo]

PRACTICE:  After completing his medical education, in 1980 he started his practice at Devigalli, Sangamner.  It was a small rented Homoeopathic clinic, here created awareness regarding the system in royal and impoverished patients.

SOCIAL ACUMEN: In 1983 he collected all the Alumni of the Dnyanmata Education Society and started a Charitable dispensary under societal guidance. He had invited many notable physicians to medical camps.  Which helped many underprivileged people with their treatment, brushing the knowledge of all physicians. The work is continued still with humbleness and humanity.  In 1988 he registered the Maharashtra Homoeopathic Foundation Trust in Sangamner and started the Homoeopathic Hospital and Cancer Research Center, which was inaugurated by Mahasul Mantri Mr Balasaheb Thorat and Sahakar Mantri- Mr Shankarrao Kolhe.  Hard efforts, organizational work and a pledge of devotion to the ill people lead him to complete his dream of serving needy people. In 1990 under the foundation of Maharashtra Homoeopathic Foundation, he laid the —– Homoeopathic Medical College, naming the place as Hahnemann Hills after the name of the founder of Homoeopathy.  He also laid the foundation stone for the College of Agriculture Business Management, nursing school, Vrindavan English Medium School, Vrindavan Girls Hostel, Savitribai Hostel and Vrindavan General Hospital.

The central Govt of India had given him the task to undertake a skill development programme in Silvasa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, for over 2000 students as Janashikshan sanstha, to upgrade in the skills of Beauty parlour, Tailoring, Plumber.

He is running his Homoeopathic and Agriculture institution at Gunjalwadi, Hahnemann Hill.