Obituary: Diwan Harish Chand

It is with great sadness that I write that our respected teacher, Dr Diwan Harish Chand (7.03.1924 – 13.12.2011) has passed away this morning (December 13th 2011). I pray to God to give the strength to bear this great loss to his family and the entire homoeopathic fraternity.

Diwan Harish Chand was born on March 7th, 1924 at Lahore (Punjab, India). He graduated in medicine (M.B.B.S.) in 1945 and spent more than 60 years in the study and practice of homoeopathy, achieving the highest qualifications in homoeopathy and in general medicine. He acquired a vast clinical experience while working in hospitals in the UK and USA and with Dr. Pierre Schmidt in Switzerland. He has been a member of every homoeopathic committee of the Indian government for the past 50 years and chairman of committees on research, education and pharmacopeias. He has represented Indian homeopathy for many years at the International Homeopathy Medical League (LMHI) and has served as vice-president of the Central Council of Homoeopathy. His years of toil and relentless perseverance have conferred upon him more than 20 awards, both national and international as well as numerous honorary diplomas and fellowships. This includes a most prestigious award - the Dhanwantari Award, having been judged "India’s most outstanding medical man of the year” - he was the first homeopath to receive it. He has been honored by the LIGA, and has been conferred the Homoeo Rattan award by the Indian government for his contribution to homeopathy. He was the honorary physician to the presidents of India from 1969 to 1997.

Dr. Chand’s painstaking efforts have given to homoeopathy priceless works like “A Compendium of Lectures on Homoeopathy; Micro-doses, Mega-results” (clinical cases) and “Homoeopathy in Geriatrics” and he co-edited Kent's Final General Repertory with Dr. Pierre Schmidt.

He was actively involved in social service avenues of the Rotary club of Delhi, in civil defense, AIDS Awareness and Family Welfare programmes. Besides all these activities he was a sportsman, a keen photographer and philatelist.

Dr. Diwan Harish Chand's passing is an irreparable loss to the homoeopathic fraternity. His writings will live with us and he will always be remembered for the great things he has done for our wonderful healing art. I, Dr. Navneet Bidani join with so many others who knew Dr. Diwan in offering our deepest sympathy and condolences to his near and dear ones on his passing.

May his soul rest in peace.

Excerpt from Navneet Bidani's obituary, published in: http://hpathy.com/biographies/obituary-dr-diwan-harish-chand-7-03-1924-to-13-12-2011/