The Singing Bird Who Died Unsung
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1998 Mar / Apr VOL VII NO 2.
Dr K N Kasad
A Tribute to the Late Dr M D Phalnikar
Life sometimes throws up significant figures on the screen of time who influence other souls throughout the labyrinth of life in a significant manner. One such figure was late Dr M D Phalnikar, who, along with late Dr M L Dhawale, shaped my destiny in the field of Medicine and Homoeopathy, and ... in Life itself. My heart goes out in reverence and I bow down in veneration before these two stalwarts who made me what I am, and who have preceded me in this pilgrimage of Life. Today, I am the sole survivor of this 40 year-old "Homoeoeopathic Trimurti" of Bombay.
Dr Madhave Dhundiraj Phalinikar was born on 2/7/1910 in Nasik in Maharashtra. Originally his family hailed from Gwalior where his forefathers held high positions in the state administration. He was educated in NMV High School, Pune, Wilson College [Bombay] and G S Medical College and KEM Hospital [Bombay], from where he passed his MBBS in 1935.
He commenced his clinical practice in Allopathy and by virtue of his clinical expertise, jovial nature and altruistic motivation, soon acquired a large clientele, to whom he was available day and night. He ran 2 dispensaries - at Naigaon and Gokhale Road. Simultaneously, he continued his academic pursuits and acquired his DGO [Diploma in Gynecology and Obstetrics] and FCPS [Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons] both in Bombay.
15 years later he ventured for the study for MD [Gynecology and Obstetrics] at KEM Hospital and Nowroji Wadia Maternity hospital, Parel, Bombay. He worked during the day and studied at night. This became his daily routine throughout his life. He passed his MD in 1950. This shows his tremendous industry, phenomenal energy and his erudite scholarship.
His dreams was to have his own nursing home and hospital for diseases of women.But Fate willed otherwise. He landed himself onto the field of Homoeopathy, through his first contact and interview with late Dr Laxman Diwaker Dhawale, the father of late Dr Mitrachandra Laxman Dhawale, the duo of pioneers of scientific Homoeopathy in Bombay. This memorable interview with late Dr L D Dhawale took place at Sion Hospital for Homoeopathic system, where he was the Hon. Physician and late Dr M L Dhawale was the house physician. This was in 1955. This interview converted him to Homoeopathy and he never looked back.
He dived deep into the study of Homoeopathy, his nocturnal activity. In 1957, Dr L D Dhawale founded the HPGA [Homoeopathic Post Graduate Association], its objective being to educate and train graduates of modern medicine in Homoeopathy. Saturday afternoons were set aside for this purpose.
Dr Phalanikar was inducted as a lecturer in Homoeo philosophy, Materia Medica, Repertory and Therapeutics, through a regular annual course organized by late Dr M L Dhawale. He became the President of the HPGA after the demise of Dr L D Dhawale [10/12/1960] and K N Vaidya, and remained so till his resignation in 1982.
Ten years of dedicated work by the trio of Dr M L Dhawale, Dr M D Phalnikar and Dr K N Kasad, along with two other lecturers, Drs M L Phansalkar and B L Bomway, resulted in 3 papers on "Homoeopathic post graduate education" These were read at the International Homoeopathic Congress in New Delhi in Oct 1967. These were also incorporated as Appendix B in the textbook: "Principles and Practice of Homoeopathy, Vol I- Homoeopathic Philosophy and Repertorization" published on 22/10/67 by late Dr M L Dhawale. Dr Phalnikar's Paper was titled "Metamorphosis of a Physician" Dr Phalnikar also wrote a Foreword to the textbook.
This was discussed at the First ICR Symposium held in Bombay in 1978, where leading Homoeopathic luminaries from all over India were invited : Drs Kanjilal, Jugal Kishore, Sarabhai Kapadia, P Sankaran, Diwan Harish Chand and others. This work was also introduced to the leading delegates, Indian and abroad at the International Homoeopathic Congress at New Delhi in 1978.
Several doctors benefited immensely through personal contact with Dr Phalinkar the clinic, clinical meetings, and lectures at the HPGA and above all, through his experiences in Life.
He was also associated with the late Dr K A Hamid, the founder of the well-known pharmacetuical giant CIPLA, where he was the Medical Officer, and where he introduced Homoeopathy to all.
He worked in CIPLA from 1939 till his retirement in 1976,continued his Homoeopathic practice till 1987, and retired only due to old age. He had excellent bedside manners and was well respected, revered and admired by all his students, colleagues and patients.
Apart from excelling in medicine, he had other versatile facets to his personality. In his college days, he was a good tennis and badminton player His bulky body and huge figure concealed a soft, delicate voice, which is what first impressed me. He was an enthusiastic participant in college dramas as well as dramas of Indian Medical Association. Due to his interest in music and dramas, he came in contact with well known personalities form film and drama troupes like Devaki Bose, Master Vinayak Bal Gandharva, Ram Marathe, Manik Verma, Jitendra Abhisheki, among others. He was equally fascinated by Indian Classical Music and did regular riyaz under the guidance of Prof B R Deodhar and Pt. Jagannathabua Purohit, and was associated with noted personalities like the late Surashree Kesharbai Kerkaer, Pt. Neelkanth Abhyankar and others. He had an array of musical instruments in his house. He was one of the pillars of Samarth Vyayam Mandir at Shivaji Park,and the medical advisor to Vanita Samaj, Dadar, for many years.
Along with his artistic talents and also the religious bent of mind, he had a soft heart, compassionate and altruistic. He also had the statue of Ganesh permanently installed, the emblem of all round integrated wisdom "That knowledge through which the soul is both the known and the knower, and which to me, is wisdom, in the hearts of all it ever presideth "[Geeta]
He was a prolific, voracious reader and student of medicine, Homeopathy, religion and philosophy, delivered lectures in chaste "Queen's English". He was well versed with Urdu, often quoting often from the writings of the Sufi poets/saints. A few of his students and colleagues were drawn closer to him after his resignation from the HPGA in 1982, especially Dr Kishore Mehta, Dr M N Sahukar and myself. Our families were closely associated To his wife, Mrs. Phalnikar, who served him to the last, our hearts go out to her in her bereavement.
He moved from Bombay to Sangli and Nasik, finally settling in Pune, where he breathed his last on 2/3/98 at 4/30 p.m.
He had many domestic and property problems, with prolonged litigation in Courts, necessitating his periodical visits to Bombay. On one such visit, he was operated upon for Mixed Parotid Tumor, which turned to be non-malignant. All his former colleagues met him then.
In the last 6-8 months, his health gradually failed him; he had recurrent respiratory infections and went into depression with a feeling of loneliness and abandonment. He succumbed finally to respiratory infection at the ripe old age of 88 years. We shall miss that 'father -figure' in him; and shall always regret that we were not there by his bedside in the last hours of his life.
Such was the "Man" behind the "Doctor" with his innate humanity that suffused through his being. Rare is the combination of the "head" and "heart" in balanced proportion. To his wife, son and 4 daughters we send our sincere condolences on their bereavement.
In Death, we lose no one, when we perceive it as a state of transition. For, "life is perpetual; death only an incident in eternity". Death ever comes as delivered and a Friend to the inner ego" Krishna: "Thou grievest for those that may not be lamented, whilst thy sentiments are those of the expounders of the letter of the law. Those who are wise in spiritual things grieve neither for dead nor for the living. I myself never was not, nor thou, nor all the princes of the earth; nor shall we hereafter ever cease to be. There is no existence for that which does not exist, nor is there any non-existence for what exists. By those who see the truth and look into the principles of things, the ultimate characteristic of these both is seen. "Geeta, chap II Verses 11, 12, 16]
Dr M D Phalnikar will always live on in the hearts of his close students, disciples , colleagues as an inspirational force, a beacon of light in the encircling gloom, guiding their faltering footsteps in the arduous walk of life.
May his soul find peace in God? Amen!!!
