One More Stalwart lost to the Profession
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2003 Jul / Aug VOL V NO 4.
A Tribute by
Dr Sucheta H Desai

On 20th Sept., 03, we lost Dr Ashok Punwani - one of the pillars of Homoeopathic world, without any warning. He left this worldly abode, with what we call, his shoes on. He finished his morning clinic at Versova and went to the Bank across the road and collapsed. While it may be the best way for a person to go, it leaves the grieving populace behind really shell shocked.

Dr Sucheta Desai gives us a short life sketch:
A Short Life Sketch: Dr Ashok Purswani, passed out form the then Bombay Homoeoapthic Medical College at Irla - Mumbai in 1972. He soon joined the famous Dr Pralhad who had set up various Homoeopathic Charitable clinics all over the city. He later set up his own practise at Khar and Versova where he practised for over 25 yrs.

His other Qualities: He was a stickler for time and a very methodical, meticulous person. These attributes made him a very good organizer. He headed HMAI for many years and conducted regular clinical meetings. In 1994, this was merged with IIHP Dr Purswani continued to be in the official capacity as sergeant-at-arms in the committee.
His other Interests:
He was also a very good Carrom player, a good Singer and loved travelling.
Editor Adds:
He lived a good life, fully enjoying every minute of it. We have never seen him grumpy or angry. He was always cheerful and ever - ready to help. I personally have the very pleasant memory of spending a hilarious evening with him and others at Dr Sucheta’s daughters wedding recently.
He leaves behind his young wife Payal and son’s Sachin & Sumit.May God give them the strength to bear the loss and carry forward his dreams to fruition.

And yet One More:

Homeopathic Fraternity has lost a great master "Dr. K. G. Saxena", Former, Advisor (Homoeopathy), Govt. of India and Former, Chairman, Homoeopathic Advisory Committee, Govt. of Delhi in the evening of 23/10/03.
His funeral ceremony was completed in the morning 24/10/02 among the family members and homoeopathic fraternity.
The shanti sabha shall was also be held which shall be intimated after being decided by the family members.

May GOD bless his soul.

Editor:
I am sorry, that I am not acquainted with Dr Saxena personally and am unable to add much to the above.

The last 10 years have seen a number of prominent Homoeopaths leave us. And the going rate is getting younger and younger. I remember, when my mother Dr Sarla Sonawala left me orphaned in Jan of 1995, she was only 68- too young and active to go, I thought. But then Dr Anil Bhatia left us at 61 just last year and now Dr Purswani at 50y!!
My very first recollection of a death is When Dr Maganbhai Desai, the promoter of Serious Homoeopathy, high potency and repetition, left in 1969 at the age of 67, even before I entered the Homoeopathic college, I remember crying my eyes out at losing the opportunity to work with him.
Then my Guru Dr M L Dhawale left in 1987 at age of 67y, of course from a physical ailment- a chill and pneumonia in the Himalayas. So many others followed- all, I think before their time- Dr Sankaran, Dr Sarabhai Kapadia from uncontrolled Diabetes and his loyal assistant Dr Usha Maniar at 60 in 2001, Dr Kanjilal and Dr S R Wadia of course went at ripe old ages. But not so the others. Why is this?

Where is homoeopathy taking us, I often wonder? Is this not a question all of us should be thinking about and attending. I would please invite views or thoughts on this.

Homoeopathy
As the Chairman of Homoeopathic Committee for Drugs and Technical Advisory Board Ministry of Health Govt of India and Chairman Homoeopathic Pharmacoepia Committee Govt of India, he strived to bring quality control and standardization in Homoeopathic Therapeutics.

A part of Dr Bhatia’s vision was to bring recognition and acclaim to the discipline of Homoeopathy around the world. He was selected as the official delegate by the Govt of India for the International Homoeopathic Congress at Washington D.C, U.S.A. He attended the conference of Organization of Homeopathic Medical International in Mexico where he received International Award of Merit- for his contributions to Homoeopathy.
He was a speaker at the conference of "Liga International Homoeopathic League" at Seattle. He was also invited as a Guest Lecturer at Dr George Vithoulkas International School of Homoeopathy Athens, Greece in 1998 and to School of Homoeopathy, Krakow, Poland in 1999.

Dr Anil Bhatia had a very successful private practice, and his clinical experience stretched over 40 yrs. His ability to listen and understand his patients, his razor sharp clinical acumen, his knowledge of Homoeopathic Philosophy and therapeutics and his transparent honesty in his limitations, won him the trust of hundreds of patients and doctors (both homoeopathic and allopathic) alike. In spite of busy practice, he opted to serve as Honorary Homoeopathic Physician at B N Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai where he would see patients of all strata of society.

As a token of all his achievements, he received the Homeo Dynasty Great Masters award in 1995, and was the recipient of Dr Hahnemann Memorial National Award in 1999.

The complete list of his awards and achievements is too exhaustive to list here, but for Dr Anil Bhatia-the most satisfying and rewarding thing in life was to have been able to give a large part of himself to others- to Homoeopathic education, research, and most of all, to his patients.

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