History of recognition of Homoeopathy in India dates way far back to 1937 when an young and dynamic Homoeopathic graduate from Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College came out of the College to start Homoeopathic practice in Delhi. He is none other than late Padmashree Dr. K.G. Saxena who had spent his whole life struggling for the cause and development and recognition of Homoeopathy in the country. This great personality was the champion for the Homoeopathic profession, and instrumental in getting recognition for Homoeopathy by laying the road map for the success of Homoeopathy in India.
Born on 25th September 1912 to a middle class Kayastha family in Delhi, had his early education in Ambala Cantt., Karachi and Delhi, where he had completed his schooling with distinction. He passed his intermediate from Hindu College Delhi. His father was a soldier and an ardent Homoeopathic supporter. He used to prescribe Homoeopathic medicines to his entire family. At the instance of his father, Dr. K.G. Saxena took admission in the prestigious Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College Calcutta in Bengal.
Calcutta was the seat of Homoeopathic education in those days India and the system was very popular in entire Bengal. Eminent and top Homoeopathic Physician Dr. B.K. Bose who was the direct disciple of Master J.T. Kent was associated with this college in those days. Other eminent personalities associated with this college were Dr. G.N. Sinha, Dr. A.B. Malik, Dr. P. Saha, Dr. A.N. Mukherjee, Dr. S.N. Ghosh, and Dr. B.B. Mukherjee. Dr. B.K. Bose was his mentor and a role model.
Dr. Saxena got his leadership qualities during his studies in Calcutta. He fought for the quality education and good facilities when he found that the standards of Homoeopathic education were not up to the mark in the institute. He lead an agitation for three months by starting students union in the college with a charter of demands. He was successful in convincing the management and finally made them to agree to his major demands. With this development, a real leader was born for the future of Homoeopathy.
When Dr. Saxena came out from the college after completing his graduation in Homoeopathy, he could realize that the Homoeopathic system was not recognized in the country by the Government, he decided to take this onerous task of getting the recognition from Govt. on him. His experience as a student leader came to his aid. He focused his full attention towards one goal that is getting recognition to Homoeopathy by the Government, that looked a herculean task. But he had accepted the challenge in real sense inspite of limited resources and limited supporters. Dr. Saxena, after completing his Homoeopathic graduation shifted to Delhi and settled in his family life. His wife was very supportive and could understand his aim in the life.
The real struggle in his life started after his arrival in Delhi with a degree in Homoeopathy. He had set up his private practice in Delhi in real earnest. By this time, he came to know the attitude of the Govt. towards Homoeopathy as it was considered that this system of medicine was an unscientific method and needs no encouragement. He felt that convincing the govt. about the efficacy of Homoeopathy was more a difficult task than convincing the political set up. Hence he had focused his attention towards members of Central Legislative Assembly, the highest decision making political body at that time. He had studied the functioning of this political body and how an unofficial Resolution could be brought to the Legislative Assembly. For this task he was needing the support of at least 20 Legislators to sign and move the private (unofficial) resolution in the Assembly.
Being very young in the age, he found it difficult to convince the Legislators as they did not take him seriously. But the fighting spirit in him did not leave him disappointed. He contacted several Legislators and explained them about the efficacy of Homoeopathy. Some believed and some shown him the door. This did not deter him as some Legislators supported him in this crusade. With the support of some Legislators the resolution was moved in the Assembly and fortunately it was accepted for discussion. This was his first success towards his ultimate goal. The Legislative Assembly authorized Mr. Ghiasuddin the honourable Legislator from Punjab province to move the resolution in the Central Legislative Assembly. Though Mr. Ghiasuddin was not knowing much about Homeopathy he had agreed to move the resolution after being thoroughly convinced by Dr. Saxena about the merits of Homoeopathy
The Congress party at that time was not in favour of this resolution and their leaders bluntly told Dr. Saxena that they would not support the resolution. Dr. K.G. Saxena had a surprise when Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the then leader of the Independent party in the Central Assembly told him that his party would support the resolution. At the end, the resolution was passed by a narrow margin. That was the second biggest achievement for Dr. Saxena. This entire episode indicates the narrow mind of some of the political parties and their non progressive mentality towards public health.
As per the rules the health was a state subject and this resolution needs the ratification from all state Governments. Hence this resolution was forwarded to all the states. Bengal was the first state to adopt this resolution and it was the first state to recognize Homoeopathy as a system of medicine in the year 1943.
In the year 1944 after the passing of the Homoeopathic resolution by Central Legislative Assembly a group of dedicated Homoeopaths consisting of stalwarts like Dr. A.N. Mukherjee, Dr. Dewan Jaichand, Dr. Dayashankar Kayastha, Dr. J.P. Srivatsava, Dr. S.P. Asthana and our Dr. K.G. Saxena formed a group to establish a Homoeopathic professional group to fight for the scientific development of Homoeopathy in India. They named this group as “All India Institute of Homoeopathy” with its central office at Delhi. Dr. K.G. Saxena was made the first General Secretary of this Institute.
The Institute under the leadership of Dr. Diwan Jaichand and Dr. K.G. Saxena submitted its first memorandum to the Coalition Govt.at the Centre in the year 1946 for recognition of Homoeopathy by the Central Govt. With India getting its independence on 15th August 1947 a new era was ushered in the country. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur became the first Health Minister of independent India. Dr. Saxena met her several times and impressed upon her the importance of Homoeopathy in the health care delivery system. In spite of immense lobbying by the Homoeopathic stalwarts the authorities at that time were indifferent towards Homoeopathy. Again Dr. Saxena took the mantle on him and started contacting the Members of Parliament to get the support for another resolution to be put up in the Parliament again. He met Shri. S.C. Samanta, Shri. Pattabi Sitaramaiah, Shri Mohan Lal Saxena and Lala Deshbandhu Gupta the Parliamentarians of independent India and sought their help in introducing a new resolution on Homoeopathy. With untiring efforts of Dr. K.G. Saxena the new resolution was put before the Parliament 0n 17th February 1948. The resolution was debated thoroughly in the House and adopted unanimously.
However a rider was attached to this resolution by the Govt. that the resolution would be implemented by the Govt. provided a Govt. appointed Enquiry Committee, to be set up at a later time confirms and guarantees that the Homoeopathic system of medicine is a Scientific System of medicine. Ultimately a Homoeopathic Enquiry Committee was appointed on 30th September 1948 with its terms of reference. With the active support and advise from Dr. Saxena the Committee members were chosen.
The Enquiry committee made the report and it was finally published in the year 1949 recommending Homoeopathy is a Scientific System of Medicine and govt. should recognize Homoeopathy as the Scientific system of treatment. The Enquiry report was very exhaustive and it has gone in to all aspects of the science and made exhaustive recommendations.
During those days the Director General of Health Services and Ministry of Health were responsible to implement the resolutions of Parliament. As the DGHS and Ministry of Health was in the hands of Allopathic doctors, the resolution encountered a stiff opposition from these quarters and started to abandon the resolution on Homoeopathy. When Dr. Saxena came to know about this plan he immediately started the fire fighting. Using his popularity and links at higher level he compelled the Health Ministr y to form Homoeopathy Adhoc Committee and later Homoeopathy Advisory Committee in the year 1952 with the support of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur the Health Minister. The Adhoc Committee was consisting of Dr. J.N. Majumdar, Dr. L.D. Dhawale, Dr. Diwan Jaichand, Dr. M. Guru Raju and Dr. K.G. Saxena and Dr. Col. Lakshmanan the DGHS as Chairman. Initially Dr. Lakshmanan the DGHS was not in favour of including a member from South India, reasons best known to him only. But with persuasion from Dr. K.G. Saxena, Dr. M. Guru Raju’s name was included.
Dr. Lakshmanan’s annoyance to Homoeopathy was exhibited when Dr. K.G. Saxena came to know that the Adhoc Committee recommendations that were submitted to DGHS were never brought to the notice of the Shri. V.K.B. Pillai Secretary Health in the Health Ministry and was kept in the cold storage, and on the contrary he had informed the Secretary that nothing need to be done for Homoeopathy. This had infuriated Dr. Saxena and he immediately approached Health Minister Rajkumai Amrit Kaur and Health Secretary and requested them to form another Committee with Secretary Health as Chairman. His request was considered and a new Committee with Secretary Health as Chairman was constituted and retained the other members. This Committee was rechristened as Homoeopathy Advisory Committee in the year 1956.
With Mr. Pillai as Chairman of the Advisory Committee and his full support to Homoeopathy, the antagonistic attitude of DGHS was subdued paving the way for the implementation of recommendations made by Advisory Committee. It was indeed another major achievement for Dr. K.G. Saxena. In the year 1962 Dr. Saxena was appointed as first Hon. Homoeopathic Advisor to Govt. of India. He was also entrusted with the responsibility of Secretary of Homoeopathic Advisory Committee. His responsibility as Secretary of Advisory Committee was to advise the Govt. on matters and issue pertaining to Homoeopathic Education, Research, Regulation of practice, Pharmacoepia, Rural Medical Aid, Drug Manufacturing and their regulations, Family Planning, Financial Aid to Homoeopathic Colleges, Homoeopathic Dispensaries and Hospitals and cooperation with International Homoeopathic Medical League.
Being Homoeopathic Advisor, Dr. Saxena used to attend all official meetings of Govt. of India including Parliament Consultative Committees and meetings called by State Govt.for the development of Homoeopathy. In 1967 Dr. Saxena requested the Central Govt. to establish a Central Council for Homoeopathy, Ayurveda and Unani on lines of Medical Council of India to regulate its Education and Practice and put up a comprehensive draft bill for all Indian Systems of Medicine. This bill was piloted in Rajya Sabha and later discussed in Lok Sabha. After a thorough discussion in both houses of Parliament it was decided to appoint a joint Parliament Committee to consider and report on the establishment of a separate Indian System of Medicine and Homoeopathic Councils. This Parliament Committee had recommended the establishment of these Councils. Later the Health Ministry had constituted another Parliamentary Committee in the year 1973 for the establishing a separate Council for Homoeopathy. The Homoeopathic Central Council bill was passed in the Parliament and the President of India gave his assent on 19th December 1973. The Health Minister Dr. Karan Singh finally gave a nod to establish Central Council for Homoeopathy in December 1974 and put the proposal before Union Cabinet for final approval. The Cabinet was presided over by Smt. Indira Gandhi the Prime Minister of India gave the approval. With the establishment of CCH the Govt. had abolished the Homoeopathic Advisory Committee.
The Mission that has been embarked in the year 1937, passing through various obstacle, up and downs ultimately reached to a semifinal stage in the year 1974 when Govt. of India has established the Central Council for Homoeopathy. Walking through this unhospitable terrain Dr. Saxena encountered many obstacles, faced humiliation at the hands of some Legislators and was ridiculed by our Allopathic brothers, but never gave up his passion for developing Homoeopathy in the country. During his entire journey, he could understand the power of politicians and thought that only political power could counter the onslaught by Allopathic minded bureaucrats. To achieve this he thought that through Homoeopathic treatment he could reach Political power. Having an advantage of staying in Delhi he frequented Political VIP’S when ever and where ever possible by providing them Homoeopathic treatment. He became family physician to some of the top politician. His accurate prescriptions made the politicans his admirers and supporters.
During his journey on the path to Homoeopathy Dr. K.G. Saxena came across closely with various powerful political leader before and after Independence. The notable among them are Dr. Rajendra Prasad the first President of Independent India, Shri. Lal Bahadur Sastry the Second Prime Minister of India, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur the Health Minister, Dr. Sushila Nayar, Dr. Chandrasekhar, Dr. Satya Narayana Sinha, Dr. S. Radha Krishnan the President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain the President of India, Shri. V.V. Giri the President of India, Shri. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed the President of India, Shri. Sanjiva Reddy the President of India and Shri. Jaiprakash Naryan the great socialist and many more. He was a close family associate of Dr. Rajendra Prasad and family Physician to many VVIP,s in those day. He proved his mettle with Homoeopathic treatment to common man to VVIP’s. He used his Homoeopathic Knowledge to get the recognition for Homoeopathy in the country in spite of stiff opposition from Allopathic brothers, Bureaucrats and some vested interest politicians. You will know his style of getting the works done for the cause of Homoeopathy when you go through his Auto Biography.
During his tenure as Advisor Homoeopathy to Govt. of India, from May 1962, Dr. Saxena initiated many Govt. Committees for the development of Homoeopathy in the country. Notable among them were the Pharmacoepia Committee, Education Committee, Research Committee, Rural Homoeopathic Medical Aid Committee, Drugs and Technical Advisory Board, Family Planning Committee, primary Health Centres and CGHS Homoeopathic Dispensaries. His major initiative to provide Homoeopathic treatment to Central Govt. Employees and other beneficiaries through CGHS encountered stiff resistance from Secretary Health, DGHS and Director CGHS. The proposal was pending with Health Ministry for over 3 years with out any decision. Fortunately for him when he had successfully treated Dr. Sushila Nayar the Health Minister in the year 1965 She ordered the DGHS to open a CGHS Homoeopathic Dispensary in Delhi. The first ever CGHS Homoeopathic Dispensary was inaugurated by Dr. Chandrasekhar who succeeded Dr. Sushila Nayar in the Health Ministry. So the first CGHS Homoeopathic Dispensary was started in Gole Market in New Delhi. During his tenure as Advisor to Govt. 3 more CGHS Dispensaries were opened in Delhi and as on day every major city is having a CGHS Homoeopathic Dispensaries in the country.
Homoeopathic Doctors working in CGHS and enjoying the status at par with their Allopathic counterparts should be grateful to this noble soul. National Institute of Homoeopathy is another brain child of Dr. K.G. Saxena. He persuaded Govt. to establish a higher Educational Institute on lines with All India Institute of Medical Sciences. With his efforts the NIH under Ministry of Health Family Welfare was established in Calcutta in the year 1975.
When Planning Commission was established after India Independence Dr. Saxena met Shri. Gulzarilal Nanda the then Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission in the year 1952 for several times for inclusion of Homoeopathy in their planning of Medical relief. Though there was no allocation of funds for Homoeopathy in first five year plan, the second five year Plan Homoeopathy could get some allocation. Subsequently regular grants were allocated in various Plans. Dr. Saxena found a great support in Shri. Shriman Narain an influential member of Planning Commission in getting recognition for Homoeopathy by the Planning Commission.
Dr. K.G. Saxena was the Hon. Homoeopathic Physicians to several Presidents of India and he was also a personal Physician to their family members before and after their tenure in Rashtrapathi Bhawan. Even after relinquishing from various Govt. Committees he was rendering his services and advise to various Autonomous of Govt. for the development of Homoeopathy. He served as Hon. Homoeopathic Advisor to Govt. of India from 1962 to 1971 and performed yeomen service to uplift the Homoeopathic system of Medicine in India. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to Homoeopathy Govt. of India had honoured him with its highest civilian Award Padmashre on 26th January 1969. He was the first Homoeopathic doctor to receive this civilian award.
Dr. K.G. Saxena was a born leader and a great achiever. He had not left a single stone unturned to get the recognition for Homoeopathy. He had cornered the Govt. from all angles. To achieve his goal he started an Association named All India Institute of Homoeopathy in the year 1944 with Dr. J.N. Majumdar, Dr. B.K. Sarkar, Dr. L.D. Dhawale, Dr. M. Gururaju, Dr. Diwan Jaichand, Dr. J.N. Hazra, Dr. A.N. Mukherjee and others. The Institute was aimed at maintaining high standards in Homoeopathic education and research. Later the All India Institute was converted in to Indian Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians (IIHP) and got it registered under Society’s registration act 1860. This Institute was formed keeping the interest of institutionally qualified Homoeopathic graduates, as there were number of Homoeopathic doctors practicing the system without any valid qualifications and they had become contenders for Govt. appointments. In the mean while some Homoeopathic Doctors consisting of qualified and unqualified people have started another organization at all India level and gave membership to all qualified and unqualified people. But IIHP stuck to its commitment for Institutionally qualified doctors. IIHP had established its branches all over India and institutionally qualified doctors from different states became the members of this Institute.
In the history of its 60 years existence, IIHP conducted 24 National Conferences as on 2016. These conferences are held in every two years in different states. IIHP is known for organizing quality seminars by inviting best resource persons from India and abroad. For IIHP Dr. Saxena is its vital force.
After achieving his goal for recognition and development of Homoeopathy in India, Dr. K.G. Saxena focused his attention on WHO and International arena as he found that the status of Homoeopathy in America and Europe was declining gradually due to jealous Allopathic Practitioners that down played Homoeopathy. Dr. Saxena always felt that a united fight for the recognition of Homoeopathy from all the countries would definitely help in achieving the goal. He had seen number of International Homoeopathic conferences taking place in various countries. He decided to attend the same and extend what ever help he could render. In the year 1965 he participated in an International Homoeopathic League Conference in London as a representative of Govt. of India. In 1969 again had attended another Conference abroad. In these two Conferences he told the delegates about the efforts he made to get Govt. recognition to Homoeopathy in India. His success stories inspired many delegates from other countries.
In the year 1967 an International Homoeopathic Congress was held under the banner of LMHI at New Delhi. Dr. K.G. Saxena personally requested Dr. Zakir Hussain the President of India to inaugurate this Convention. The International Congress awarded “President of Honour” to Dr. Saxena. Dr. Zakir Hussain invited all the delegates to Rashtrapathi Bhawan. Such was the influence of Dr. Saxena in those days. In 1987 Dr. Saxena was specially invited to Washington DC USA to attend the LMHI Congress. Again in the year 1989 the International Congress held in Calcutta, presented him with “President of Honour”Award.
After relinquishing from various positions in Government due to his age, Dr. Saxena continued his ambition to develop Homoeopathy through Indian Institute of Homoeopathic Physicians (IIHP) for which he was the founder and mentor. In 1994 Dr. Harsh Vardhan the then Health Minister of Delhi State had made him the Advisor of Homoeopathy for Delhi administration to oversee the over all development of Homoeopathy in the capital city . Though he was reluctant to take up another assignment, yet he took up the assignment due to sheer love for Homoeopathy and his association with Dr. Harsh Vardhan.
Dr. K.G. Saxena was responsible in unveiling the statue of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann in the posh Defence Colony in South Delhi. Shri L.K. Advani ji the then Home Minister of India had unveiled the statue in the presence of Late Dr. K.G. Saxena whose name was also inscribed on the plaque of the statue. Dr. Saxena was a true philanthropist. He donated generously from his limited resources to set up a Homoeopathic Research unit in the Amarjyoti Research and Rehabilitation centre a NGO based in East Delhi to help children suffering from post-polio paralysis and neurological defects in the year 1994. He guided IIHP till his last breath and made the organization a powerful institute for graduate Homoeopathic Physicians.
Dr. K.G. Saxena passed away in New Delhi on 23rd October 2003 after a remarkable journey of 91 years. His extraordinary efforts in laying foundation of Homoeopathy in this country and helping the science to achieve its present status here and abroad constitute his magnificent legacy. He was a great nationalist and always stood by honest and truth.
The vision of this great missionary has yet to be completely seen through. It is now our responsibility to take forward his legacy and establish Homoeopathy as first line of treatment in the primary health care delivery system in the country and also make sustained efforts to unfold the full potential of Homoeopathy including secondary and tertiary health care. His prediction that one day India would be the nucleus and citadel for Homoeopathy had come true.
One day before he departed to for his heavenly abode he sent a message to his Homoeopathic fraternity through one of his close associate by pointing out the last sentences of the preface of his biography ‘Struggle for Homoeopathy in India’ where he mentioned – “ I wish and pray Homoeopathy will serve suffering millions of India and the world”.