Biography of Dr. L. D. Dhawale (1884-1960)

Dr. Laxman Diwakar Dhawale is an Indian homeopath. He was born on 21st July 1884 at Bandra, Bombay. In his early days, he lived in Katol, a place near Nagpur where his father worked as a headmaster in a school. In the year 1908, he got his B.A degree from Allahabad University. His father wanted him to be a graduate of law. But Dhawale wanted to be a physician.

It is said that his father used to prescribe homeopathic medicines to the poor people of his place. This might have left an impression on the mind of young Dhawale. During his study for B.A, his father suffered from a carbuncle on the back. His father himself was practicing homeopathy out of self-interest. In those days there was no answer to carbuncle in allopathic medication. Hence with the help of one of his friends, Dhawale obtained one copy of “Allen’s keynotes” and treated his father successfully.

Against his father’s decision, he entered Grant Medical College with the financial support of his father-in-law. During his study of medicine, he was attacked by severe articular rheumatism which refused to heal by allopathic medicine. This time, his father treated him successfully with homeopathic medicine. These incidences attracted Dhawale toward homeopathic medicine.

All such incidents impressed Dhawale and he developed faith in homeopathy, though he was an allopath by education. After his graduation in the year 1914, because of his bright academic career, he got the post of tutor in pathology. In the year 1921, he obtained his M.D. degree. For some years he worked in the Jerbai Wadia Hospital for children.

He started prescribing homeopathic medicines with great success, to those patients who did not improve by allopathic medicine. His bent of mind toward philosophy helped him in understanding the teachings of Kent and Boenninghausen. Hence, there was no need for special training in homeopathy required for this genius. It is said that he had good contact with Roberts and Boger and clarified many doubts about the practical aspect of homeopathy from them.

In the year 1931, he established the homeopathic post-graduate association. This created concern in the management of that hospital and they proposed the retirement of Dhawale. He developed ill health in the year 1959 and later he died on the 10th day of December 1960.

Contributions of Dr. Dhawale

1. He contributed to the homeopathic world with works like “Difficulties in homeopathic practice” “An introduction to homeopathy” and “Homeopathy; its principles and tenets” etc.
2. He was the first honorary physician and the superintendent of the Government Homeopathic Hospital in Bombay.
3. In the year 1948, he was appointed as a member of the homeopathic inquiry committee by the government of India.
4. In the year 1955, he was invited by the Ceylon homeopathic society to conduct the first seminar on homeopathy.