Monday, March 19, 2012

011 Gandhiji disbelieved homoeopathy in his later years

Gandhiji wrote in his notes on 9th Feb. 1922. Collected Works vol. 26.

Non-co--operation is not allopathic treatment, it is homoeopathic. The patient does not taste the drops given to him. He is sometimes even incredulous, but if the homoeopathy are to be trusted, the tasteless drops or the tiny pills of homoeopathy are far more potent than ounce doses or choking pills of allopathy.



Gandhiji wrote to Jamnalal Bajaj on 16th April 1933. Source: Collected Works Vo. 60.


I have your letter. I do not have much faith in Homoeopathy. But for that you should not postpone your going to a hill-station. I like your idea of going to Almora. There is a good Homoeopath even there. For your ailment, other than the mountain air, milk, butter, fruit, wheat roti and vegetables, you will hardly need any medicine.


Gandhiji wrote to one Mr. Titus on 28th April 1933.


You have missed my point about ‘Allopathic’ and ‘Homoeo- pathic’. Personally I would prefer Homoeopathy any day to Allo- pathy. Only I have no personal experience of its efficacy and I have told you so. Perhaps if you have confidence in yourself, and if you can really spare time from the daily work for attending to Homoeopathic remedies, so far as I am concerned I do not mind your trying them. You may discuss this thing with Narandas and if you are interested in the simple treatment of diseases I would like you to understand Dr. Sharma’s system. He has great confidence in his own method and if his experiments in the Ashram succeed it will be a great gain.



Gandhiji wrote to Gangabehn Vaidya on 5th June 1936. Source: Collected Works Vol. 69.

Tell Jugatram[2] to consult a homoeopath. Homoeopathy has not won my faith, but it helped Devdas and a medical specialist[3] whom we met here is all praise for it. In any case it will do no harm, and may do some good.



Gandhiji wrote to Sardar Vallabhai Patel on :14.9.1941.
Source: Collected Works Volume 81.


Do not worry about anything just now. Your health must mend completely. If homoeopathy helps you, I will begin to have some faith in it. I have never been able to put any faith in it. I entrusted a case to a homoeopath but there was no result. It was Tari’s[2]. But this is only by the way. I do wish homeopathy benefits you. I have heard much about it. Das[3] believed in it, and so did Motilalji and Gurudev. Does not our Lakshmidas also believe in it? But finally everybody takes refuge in allopathy. All this is beside the point, but let it be. We are concerned only with the result.



ybrems
This view was somewhat neutral about homoeopathy. But it is clear that Gandhiji was res ult-conscious.


Gandhiji wrote to Guljarilal Nanda, former Home Minister of India. Date: 27.5.1944. This seems to be Gandhiji's last letter on homoeopathy.

CHI. GULZARILAL,
I read your letter to Pyarelal. Dr. Das visits me from time to time. Dr. Chugh has not impressed me, Dr. Das has. He does not propose to administer any medicine to me. By all means bring over anyone you like from among the names that you suggest. I wish I could have faith in homoeopathy and biochemic medicines, but I don’t. Now I am thinking of taking allopathic drugs to get rid of the hook-worms and the amoebae. Your work seems to be going on well. Can one say that you have completely recovered?



ybrems
summary of all the above: Gandhiji didn't have full confidence in homoeopathy. He was not averse to OTHERS trying homoeopathy, but he himself wanted to take allopathic treatment to get rid of his hook-worms and amoebae.

If these are the facts, how is it that homoeopathic Companies are advertising that Gandhiji approved homoeopathy?

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