In the mid-1990s, India stood at the threshold of a digital revolution that promised to transform the way professionals—especially in specialized fields like homeopathy—connected with the world. The internet, a technological marvel rapidly expanding in the West, made its official debut in India in 1995. This was a momentous shift.
Until then, exchanging ideas or collaborating internationally was a slow, costly affair. Letters took weeks to arrive, faxes were unreliable, and international phone calls were prohibitively expensive. These barriers often delayed the flow of knowledge, limiting the exchange of ideas, particularly for professionals in niche areas like homeopathy.
In December 1995, I attended a seminar organized by VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited) at the YMCA in Delhi, where they showcased email services for the first time in India. It was a watershed moment. I was fascinated by the potential of this new technology, which promised to replace the sluggish and costly methods of communication with something faster, more reliable, and global.
Shortly after the seminar, I signed up for VSNL’s dial-up internet service and secured my very first email ID: “spirit@vsnl.net”. As fate would have it, I later learned that Dr. Rajan Sankaran, one of the most prominent figures in homeopathy, had also adopted the email ID “spirit@vsnl.com” around the same time. It felt like a small but meaningful connection in a rapidly growing digital world.
The internet in India was still in its infancy, with access restricted to a select few professionals and institutions. Yet, for those of us who embraced it, it was a game-changer. Email, in particular, became a vital tool. It allowed for instantaneous communication, replacing the slow, cumbersome methods we had been using. The cost-effectiveness of email enabled me to connect with homeopathic stalwarts around the globe, something that would have been prohibitively difficult before.
During this period, I was working closely with Dr. JPS Bakshi, a senior colleague and friend, on a repertory project named “Phoenix.” The internet allowed us to collaborate seamlessly and efficiently, sharing ideas and data in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years earlier.
I began forging relationships with several prominent figures in the homeopathic community worldwide, including Will Taylor, David Kent Warkentin, Julian Winston, Klaus Scheiman-Burkhardt, Norbert Winter, David Little, Hans Weitbrecht, Roger van Zandvoort and many others. The ability to communicate in real-time with such renowned individuals revolutionized my understanding of homeopathy.
We exchanged ideas, discussed cases, and shared research, all without the delays that had previously plagued international correspondence. It was an exhilarating period of growth, both professionally and personally.
Despite the limitations of dial-up internet—slow speeds and often unreliable connections—the technology transformed my practice. I recall the thrill of sending an email and knowing that it would reach its recipient across the world in mere minutes. It felt like a kind of magic, a gateway to a global community of like-minded professionals. The internet enabled me to stay updated with the latest international journals, research, and discussions, all of which enriched my understanding and practice of homeopathy.
I also became involved in homeopathic email groups and forums, engaging in meaningful discussions with peers and mentors from across the globe. These groups played a crucial role in my postgraduate research from 2002 to 2004. Many of the experts I connected with through email were later acknowledged in my thesis work in 2003, and I further honoured their contributions in my 2023 publication, “Boger’s Legacy.” The relationships I built during this period have had a lasting impact on my career and continue to shape my work today.
A particularly touching reminder of this came recently when Dr. Solaiyappan of Jabalpur congratulated me on the success of “Boger’s Legacy” on Amazon’s bestseller list.
In his message, he shared an interesting piece of history—Julian Winston’s book, “The Faces of Homeopathy” (published in 1999), mentioned my name, along with Dr. N. Kamalam, in the acknowledgment page.
This revelation sent me down memory lane, bringing back memories of my early connections with homeopathic stalwarts through email.
Dr. Solaiyappan also shared images of the acknowledgment page, and this moment, filled with nostalgia, reminded me of how far we had come as a global community.
In this series or thread, I would also like to share an image from “The American Homeopath” published in 2000, where Will Taylor kindly acknowledged my contribution to his work, “Hahnemann’s Provings”, on page 74.
Reflecting on those early days, I am amazed at how much technology has advanced since then. What started with slow, dial-up connections has evolved into high-speed, global networks like 5G. Yet, I hold dear the memories of that era—a time when email was new but transformative, forever changing the way I practiced and learned homeopathy.
In this journey, the internet has been more than just a tool for communication—it has been a gateway to a global community of homeopaths, enriching my knowledge and publications over the years. The seeds planted during those early years have flourished, and today, the global connections I forged continue to bear fruit in my work and life.
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Solaiyappan for sharing this part of history from his vast archive. His rare collection of homeopathic literature is truly impressive, and his clinic in Jabalpur near Bargi Dam with a picturesque view is like a living museum of homeopathy. His contribution to preserving and sharing these invaluable pieces of history is something I deeply appreciate, and I thank him for his kindness and dedication.
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