In Memoriam: Dr Shiv Dua

Sometimes, when you least expect it, you get news that makes you stop and think about someone you care about, who taught you something important. Recently I learned of the death of one of the great homoeopaths in the last decades, Dr. Shiv Dua. He passed away from a cardiac arrest in the morning of 1st August 2016, at the age of 76 years. I pray to God to give the strength to bear this massive loss to his wife Smt. Uma Dua, daughter Mrs. Neelima Rawal, his son Mr. Dharmesh Dua, his family and the entire Homoeopathic fraternity.

Dr. Shiv Dua was born on 25th June 1940 at Amritsar, Punjab. He did his schooling from B. K. High School, Amritsar, and graduation from Hindu College, Amritsar and M.A. in English honors from ICCI, Mysore University. After post-graduation, he joined the department of Geological Survey of India as a driller (related to earth-science).

Homoeopathy was his passion because his father had a charitable dispensary at home and he worked with him right from childhood. He later on did D.I. Hom. (London) and HMD (UK) through correspondence courses studying in lonely tents pitched in deep jungles. He spent more than three decades in forests of many states of India and Bhutan. He served poor villagers of jungles where no medical facilities existed.

He was a registered practitioner of Haryana (Regn. No. 4084-B) and since his retirement in 1997 till his last days, he was practicing in Faridabad, Haryana. He even worked in many charitable hospitals of Jaipur and Faridabad including Lions Club and Arya Samaj. He was an active member of Faridabad Doctor’s Association and South Delhi Homoeopathic Association (SDHA), New Delhi. He was a recipient of many appreciation awards from various homoeopathic associations and Lions Club Green Faridabad (1999).

Creative writing was in his blood. At the age of twelve, his first story was published in Hindi Milap, Jullundher. Many of his English/Hindi stories were published in Rajasthan Patrika (English), Alive, Heritage and Mukta etc. He wrote 303 articles on various subjects of homoeopathy, that got published in homoeopathic journals, magazines, and newspapers like ‘Rajasthan Patrika’, ‘Navjyoti’ and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’.

Dr. Dua gave lectures in various seminars and CME’s and written extensively on the subject and was prominent in introducing the homoeopathiy to the general public. The intent of his books is to assist health providers to practice with confidence, integrity, and skill the science and art of homoeopathy. In an interview when asked for an advice to young homoeopaths, he said: “Learning how to observe the patient is the prime tenet in homoeopathic education. Keep working on developing the observational skills. Go back to the classics. Choose only a few books that are congenial to you and learn them thoroughly. Don’t try to know everything. That will leave you freer to make your own associations. Every important point has been said by the masters but you have to know how to read them.” And we all know how much truth this statement beholds.

It was his burning desire to learn something new, reading habit and a keen interest in homoeopathy that took Dr. Dua to such heights. Dr. Dua’s literary accomplishments are well known, and he provided many of us with inspiration and information during our homoeopathic careers. Many of his books have been translated to Spanish, French, Russian and Arabic. His painstaking efforts, have given to Homoeopathy priceless works like:

• Practitioner’s Guide to Gallbladder and Kidney Stones
• Oral Diseases
• Know and Solve your Thyroid Problems
• Cervical Spondylosis – Neck Pain
• Constitutional Remedies through interesting Short Stories
• Homoeopathic Self-healing guide for Beginners
• Hair Care
• Nails Care
• King Gland, Prostate
• Defeat Inguinal Hernia
• See the Best in You
• A to Z of Back Pains
• Jungle Alone (Novel)
• Easy Practical Homoeopathy

Dr. Shiv Dua’s demise is an irreparable loss to the Homoeopathic Fraternity. He was recognized as an inspiration to many – for his rich contributions to the field of homoeopathy, his training of many homoeopaths, and his high quality writing. His writings will live with us and he will always be remembered for all the great things he has done for our wonderful healing art. I, Dr. Navneet Bidani join with so many others who knew Dr. Dua in offering our deepest sympathy and condolences to his near and dear ones on his passing. He was good for homoeopathy, and homoeopathy will miss him.

Dr. Navneet Bidani
Dr. Bidani’s Centre for Homoeopathy
Mob: +91 9416336371
Website: www.drbidani.com
E-mail: drbidani@gmail.com