An era has passed for the NJH
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2004 Jul / Aug VOL VI NO 4.
23 long years have gone by, since my first association with Mr Gunavante. I took over Indian Journal of Homoeopathy in 1981 as Editor and invited him to join me. I had been working with him in the Subodh Mehta courses for some time and knew his capabilities and the die-hard interest in Homoeopathy. So I took him with me in IJHM. IJHM went on to begin a success story, till we quit en-mass in 1991.
We established the National Journal of Homeopathy in the same year and brought out its first issue in Jan 1992 with a collaboration with Business India. He was with me through all these journalistic years.
I had hardly any experience of writing. I would write rough sketches of the Editorial and he would expand and make it better. Then Dr Sonawala would put in the finishing touches. That is how the editorials took shape.
He was the only one in our team with typing skills and he would type out each article on his typewriter.
We have experienced several ups and downs in all these years, and he has been supportive throughout and appreciative of all that I have done.
My daughter used to call him Gunavante dada and was always eager to go to his house on 12th road Khar, the one with the blue gate she would say.
He always surprised me with unexpected turns.
The most alive image I have of him was when I went to meet him after his daughter Sheelu's death. I expected to see a sick, very sad man. Sheelu's 1 yr of illness was the worst period of his life. It came suddenly and went suddenly and took her with it.
His sole and only purpose of life I thought and he would now let life ebb. But Sheelu had suffered much and she was relieved. So was he, and so, he recovered and was strong after that... He looked well when I met him that morning of June. I told him, you must come to Milan to help with NJH. Every time I am in Milan, I will get you picked up. He readily and happily agreed. I waited for the customary 40 days to be over, before I would hold him to his promise. But it was never to be - he then went into hospital and suffered through another 40 days. - why? Why do good people suffer? Why would his spirit not let go even when it was hopeless. I often and will always wonder what was that unfulfilled desire in him which made him hold on for 40 days of illness.
My most enduring image of him was the time I visited him in hospital at Raheja in July 04. We were going to visit, what we were told, was a very sick man. When we reached his room, he was on the telephone trying, even though with difficulty, to prescribe for a patient in Singapore! I took the phone from him and conveyed the medicine to the patient!!
Such was his dedication and interest in Homeopathy and his patients. This is the image which will always remain with me.
After that I have visited him a number of times in hospital. How can I forget, the last time, when I called out to him? He smiled and tried to open his heavy eyes. I could see the effort he was making but to no avail.
His grand-daughter-in-law Shraddha was his support. She tried much to postpone her return to be with him in his last moment but that was not to be. Now she and I are both alone.
WE will miss him always, because he has been a part of our lives for so long. Even till today, everyday when I pass the Khar Telephone exchange building, which is where I have to turn right to go to his house, I remember him, and know that I have to take that road no more!
