Exclusive Interview with Dr. N. C.

Chatterjee

Dr. N. C. Chatterjee, a Homoeopathic physician, who was born and brought up

and had studied Homoeopathic system in West Bengal, practices in a small town
of Abohar, Punjab. Born in a remote village of Asansol, Burdwan (today
Barddhaman) district, West Bengal, in a middle class family. His first interaction
with Homoeopathy was when he himself was treated in infancy by a Dr.
Bhattacharrya, a Homoeopath, for a serious condition which could not be treated
by allopathic system.
All through his studies he was led by an inquisitive mindset and explored whys
and hows of the assignments. Teaching of his mother study well, that only will
be useful in your life, do it properly with your heart in it, guided him all through
his life.
Here are few excerpts from the interview done on 26 June 2016, Delhi.

Q 1. How did you get into the Homoeopathy?

As a Civil Volunteer trainer during 1965 war, I went to Midnapore Homoeopathic
Medical College, Midnapore where one of the training centres was. I took
admission in Midnapore Homoeopathic Medical College in 1966. I passed out
from the college in 1971. Then I started teaching in 1972 in Kharagpur
Homoeopathic Medical College. Subsequently, I became a teacher in my Alma
Mater also.
Q 2. Why you chose to practice in a small town of ABOHAR, Punjab?
My destiny. Ha ha
My wife is also a Homoeopath. We both were teaching in Kharagpur since 1972.
We got a better pay and opportunity to work in Homoeopathic Medical College of
Abohar in 1977 and we both shifted to Abohar, Punjab. She continued to teach in
college regularly where as I started my practice and continued as guest faculty.

Q 3. As a Teacher, over years,

a. You find any change in the attitude of the students?
Yes, there is a noticeable change especially after 1980. Till that time students
from all the streams were seeking admission and were eager to know and learn
this science in totality in a disciplined manner as this was altogether a new
syllabus and format.
Then from 1983, the students started coming strictly from the PCB, science
stream, to seek admission in the homoeopathic colleges. Then onwards there
appeared gross change in attitude. Students became more inclined to applied
subjects than theoretical subject like Organon. They started seeking readymade
answers and tips to practice with a clear notion to start practice from the day of
receiving degree.
This short cut approach hampered the study of Materia Medica and Organon, as
these subjects require long sitting for studies.
Snap-shot studies are being given importance over the study of Organon of
Medicine, the spirit of Homoeopathy. Hence proper selection of Homoeopathic
medicine is failing, so the results.

b. Change in attitude of the peer groups in Allopathy over years?

I was the only qualified private homoeopathic practitioner within a radius of 150
kms. from Abohar in 1978 that included parts of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Allopaths used to consider homoeopaths as quacks.
My training in my college having a good library and 50 bed hospital equipped
with pathology laboratory, functional operation theatre, well managed obstetrical
unit and a busy radiology unit helped building my confidence. With this
confidence, I could clinch some tricky diagnosis and that made the difference in
Abohar.
The attitude towards Homoeopaths changed and the successful results thereafter
changed the outlook towards Homoeopathic system. My clinical acumen helped
me to attain and retain respect of the profession.
Knowledge commands.
 c. You must have treated the generation in homoeopathy, so tell us
about change in attitude of the patients?
Earlier Homoeopaths were taken for granted and not much respect was awarded
to Homoeopaths in this region. Patients used to take Homoeopathic medicine as
an alternative. As results started becoming visible, patients are now, say since last
20 or more years, choosing Homoeopathic system as primary, the first line of
defence, irrespective of their social and economic status. Younger generation is
now a big client for homoeopaths specially the student group.

Q 4. Continuous study of Homoeopathy, how it has changed over years?

Earlier the students wanted to learn Homoeopathic system as a new subject to
shape their lives but as medical system is not absolutely new to them, they, now,
are more willing to know prescriptions.
After 1989 private seminars have geared up for their formulas and tips. Paid
seminars are on the rise.
After 1993, qualifications caused fissures. Diploma-Degree fissure, graduation-
post-graduation fissure, regular MD-external M.D. fissure continued for long and
still is an under-current.
After 2005 the number of girl-students has abruptly increased, mainly because of
opportunities offered. Their inherent capability to go for long readings has helped
them fare better in Homoeopathy.
In post graduate level, the study of Materia Medica and Repertory has improved
but not of Organon of Medicine.

Q 5. Change is the nature of life, how Homoeopathy is changing globally?

Globally it has changed a lot.
By 1970, National seminars were to be held once in two years and Intentional
seminars once in four years. Eminent homoeopaths like Dr. B. K. Sarkar, Dr. J. N.
Kanjilal, Dr. P. Sankaran, Dr. M. Kutumba Rao, Dr. Wadia, Dr. A. K. Bhatia, Dr. Jugol
Kishore and like those who have really worked in the field of homoeopathy, have
been heading those seminars.
After 1979, some group of doctors started study groups and study circles, but the
matter in the presentations were nearly the same and critical discussions have
consistently reduced. Merely the presentations have increased in number.
Frequency of seminars increased after 1990, number of speakers increased but
not the genuine work in homoeopathy. Speakers are now busy forming loyal
followers group, a form of enslaving young homoeopaths.
The source of the knowledge of the disease symptoms is crunching because the
text books on Practice of Medicine are mentioning clinical features/symptoms
less and investigations more as this suits them (allopaths) better because their
treatment is based on investigations and lab diagnosis. Homoeopaths need
clinical features/symptoms more and investigations least.
Known and diagnosed cases have narrowed the vision of homoeopaths and this
has created a market which is totally unwanted. FMCG market of the homeopathy
is increasing rapidly that is gradually crippling the system.
Now homoeopaths need to write reliable text books on Practice of Medicine if
they want to hold reins of National health.

Q 6. What is your vision for Homoeopathy in INDIA and INTERNATIONALLY?

Today there are hundreds of practitioners but teachers are not there. If sincere
teachers are available and if 10 beds are allotted in each hospital IPD with full
facility, in ten years it will change the output of cures through homoeopathy thus
the outlook of homoeopathy.
Internationally India can lead the World as knowledge bank and as a moral leader.

Q 7.Five years from now, how a Homoeopath should be equipped to handle the
load of diseases in the society at that time period?
After 1962, no new diseases have been described but the syndromes only. AIDS is
syndrome. A homoeopath should be equipped with the knowledge of materia
medica, community medicine and environmental changes under the light of
Organon of Medicine.

Q 8. You practice in a city of farm lands, do you see the role of Homoeopathy in
farming, improving manure and reducing dependence on urea and pesticides?
During 1969-73, I worked with floriculturists. I observed positive results from
homoeopathic medicines in low potency (, 3CH, 6CH, 12 CH). The homeopathic
intervention led to a better flowering, improvement in fragrance, color and size.
In Punjab, the Agriculture University at Ludhiana is extensively working on
therapeutic effects of Homoeopathic medicines on crop diseases like blots and
repellant effect on pests and insects.
Q 9 . How homoeopathy can be useful in veterinary medicine, and to what
extent?
A lot of my veterinary friends have become homoeopathic veterinary doctors and
treating domestic animals, pets and birds. And the society has readily approved
use of Homoeopathic medicine in veterinary conditions especially in cases of
retained placenta, milking problems, problems after death of young calf and like
these. So, homoeopathic system can brighten its future as greatly promising
veterinary medicine.

Q 10. Why a Homoeopath should fail?

A Homoeopath will fail. Then only he will know, the way he has behaved with the
patient and managed a particular case. Even if the record keeping is not proper, a
homoeopath will fail.
Q11. Are you satisfied with the literature in Homoeopathy, do you find better
papers in publications other than from the pioneers of Homoeopathy?
No. Other than those of the pioneers, the literature is not up to the mark. Neither
the language is good nor the informative value. In olden days, there were many
journals in publication. I used to subscribe 20 journals including overseas. Now I
subscribe 6 including overseas. Then there came 1977, many vernacular journals
died of anaemia. In 1983, one of the best Indian Homoeopathic Journals,
Hanemannian Gleannings, was taken off publication citing paucity of quality
articles as reason. British Homoeopathic Journal was sold, Australian and
American journals died, many Indian and overseas journals are gasping. This is the
present scenario.

Q 12.Have you subscribed for the Homoeopathic pulse? Your kind message for
the team of Homoeopathy E journal, Delhi Government?
Yes, now I have.
Quality articles and the whole truth to be published, irrespective of success or
failure.

*I was helped by my intern Dr. Tripti Goel, in typing this interview.