Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2002 Jul / Aug VOL 4 NO 4.
Reviewed by
Dr Vishpala Parthasarathy
Sudeh-Soman Indian Homoeopathic Resource 2002
68 Civil lines, Ananthalya Marg, Bareilly 243002
Ph 0581-555534.
I really must commend Dr Sudhanshu Arya and his team for the stupendous work put in to compile this all India directory. I speak from experience. As our old NJH readers will recall, we too had in a small way, tried to compile a directory, but the response was really dismal and disheartening, just as Dr Arya found in the beginning. We dropped it as there was no commercial interest and we had the NJH Journal to think about, which was more pressing.
They persisted, spent money like water and finally a fairly reasonable and impressive directory has resulted. The effort has been tremendous and the result definitely well-worth it. Not really because of the numbers-because a mere 17,000 Homeopathic doctors are registered (in a country where we have at least 10 times that number!). But what is more to the point is that once the first Edition has come out, the rest of the Homeopathic world will wake up and automatically register in the next one. I can guarantee that the 2nd Ed will have 30,000 doctors list. Now that the format has been set, further it is a question of updating and adding, a much less Herculean task.
Also more to the point is that all those in the list are verified and true. NJH can again vouch for that: because we used part of the list ourselves and not many mails were returned to us by the post-office! But the publishers should note: 1% were returned-Why?
It has gathered under one roof ie one directory all those connected with the homeopathic world. Not only does it have a list of doctors but also a list of homoeopathic teachers, authors, editors, books, all Colleges, Institutions etc. Then again is it properly organized state and city-wise. It has a list of some 2000 Homoeopathic products, 2000 book lists and list of Homoeopathic journals. Homoeopathic software (with some relevant articles), internet sites etc.
It is definitely a very useful tool for anyone in the least way connected to Homoeopathy. Every institution, Pharmacy, College, Manufacturers can no longer do without it. I was so happy to see it when it was released in Delhi that I purchased the first 2 copies, months before it was sent to NJH for review!
The Price at Rs 295 + Rs 70 (postage), too is fairly reasonable. Of course we will try to acquire it at some discount for the NJH book club so we can benefit NJH family!! And I will also request not only the whole NJH family to send in their own personal entry and also of their friends if they find it missing in this first edition.
More importantly I also request all those with large data bases of Homoeopathic doctors who have collected the data over last so number years-Organizations, Journals, Seminar organizers- to all pool in their resources to make this a complete directory.
India does really need an upto-date and full listing. This is not any personal property to sit on. It is something to be proud of, to contribute too and help it to grow bigger.
