APPRECIATIONS

Vidyanidhi Alhaj Dr M A Latiff:

His name will be engraved in gold in patients’ hearts

My late father Dr Majeed Abdul Lathiff went to Calcutta, India to study Medicine (MBBS) in 1953. During his first year at the Calcutta Medical Faculty doing his pre - medical course, he got infected with cholera. In spite of taking the best treatment from the Medical Faculty he did not recover and was getting weaker by the day.

He then happened to meet Dr Dawale who was a homoeopathic physician and a lecturer in the Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College. Dr Dawale gave my father stricken with cholera some sugar pills to be taken three times a day. Soon after taking the first dose, his loose motions reduced and with the second dose he got completely cured - which to him was a miracle!

When he inquired from Dr Dawale as to what medicine was given to him, he was told that it was homoeopathic medicine. My father was so impressed that he abandoned the idea of following the allopathic medical system and without the knowledge of his parents, he secured admission at the Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College with the help of Dr Dawale.

He completed his study in homoeopathy after following a full time course of five years at the Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College which included a one year internship training in the College Hospital, six months as a Junior house physician and six months as a senior house physician after which he returned to Sri Lanka in 1958. Thus, he was the first institutionally qualified homoeopath in Sri Lanka (DMS (Hom) (WB).

Thereafter, he started his practice in Bambalapitiya under an Indian homoeopathic doctor Dr Benerji who was at that time practicing in Colombo. He worked with him for two years and subsequently Dr Benerji left to India leaving his clinic and his patients to my father. He then established his practice in his house at 23, Amarasekera Mawatha, Colombo 5 from 1963 - 1973 and then shifted his clinic to Colpetty where he practiced up to 1978.

Subsequently, he constructed a new clinic in his residence and shifted to his residence in 1978 and practiced homoeopathy till 2005 when had to retire due to his gradual loss of memory as result of dementia.

He had a very large clientele from distant parts of Sri Lanka who came all the way from Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa for treatment. There were many eminent personalities who were treated by him.

He was the first homoeopath to be appointed to the medical panel of the Indian High Commission in Colombo by the Indian government.

Dr Latiff was one of the first seven members who was appointed to the first Homoeopathic Medical Council in Sri Lanka by the then health minister after the enactment of the Homoeopathic Act in 1979 for 10 years.

His name was the first to be entered in the Register of Homoeopathic Practitioners in the Homoeopathic Council.

Dr Latiff was the only member in the Homoeopathic Council who served continuously since the inception of the First Homoeopathic Council appointed by the minister for 10 years and subsequent two Councils which were elected by the Homoeopathic Practitioners until the recent past when he resigned due to his health condition

Dr Latiff's name was popular throughout the country so much so that when anyone talks of homoeopathy it would be Dr Latiff and vice versa. He was instrumental in obtaining a land for a Homoeopathic Hospital and College at Welisara and succeeded in establishing the first free Homoeopathic Clinic at Welisara. The Government Homoeopathic Hospital has been constructed on this land and is in operation.

Dr Latiff, during his term in the Homoeopathic Council conducted refresher courses in homoeopathy to homoeopaths who were self-taught due to the non-availability of a college in Sri Lanka. Thereafter, through the Council he conducted an examination under the supervision of leading homoeopaths from India like Dr Diwan Harish Chand and Dr Jugal Kishore, after which those who were successful were granted registration in the Homoeopathic Council.

He was an eminent teacher of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica and had a very sharp memory of homoeopathic medicine which cannot be compared with other homoeopaths in Sri Lanka and neither can his experience be compared to any fellow homoeopath in Sri Lanka - he was a master of his own and he was successful in treating many incurable diseases ....... even cases of AIDS!

He was appointed as chairman of the Presidential Task Force for Homoeopathy by late President Ranasinghe Premadasa and was also conferred the Honorary Title Vidyanidhi for the service as a homoeopath on the recommendation of many Parliamentarians. Every time Homoeopathy was discussed in Parliament, Dr Latiff's name would be mentioned and recorded in the Hansard.

He was a legend in homoeopathy in Sri Lanka and as far as homoeopaths are concerned he is considered as the father of homoeopathy in Sri Lanka. His devotion for homoeopathy can never be erased from the memories of homoeopaths in Sri Lanka.

The name Dr Latiff has been engraved in the minds of every homoeopath in Sri Lanka. He was renowned internationally as well.

It was his will that his devotion to homoeopathy in Sri Lanka should be carried forward in his family. Thus, he sent his only son and one of his daughters to Pakistan to follow a four and half year course in homoeopathy.

He guided them in his clinic for over a decade. Today, his son Dr M Imthiaz Latiff (writer of this article) has followed his footpath to devote himself for homoeopathy and to fulfill the dreams of his father by being appointed to the last Homoeopathic Council and served as the acting president.

Dr Latiff was free from any illness except for his impairment of memory which made him immobile until the April 1, 2011 when he passed away peacefully in his residence at the age of 80. His first death anniversary is remembered by his family members and colleagues and fellow homoeopaths.

His name will be engraved in gold in the hearts of many patients who were cured by him and of fellow homoeopaths who learnt from him as well as his colleagues.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Dr M I Latiff

Sushila Wijayaratna:

Memories of a darling grandmother

To many who did not know her personally, our grandmother Sushila Wijayaratna was a beautiful woman with impeccable taste in fashion and the wife of Donald Wijayaratna, the founder of Donalds Studios.

But to those who had the good fortune of associating with her, she was someone worth aspiring to be. Not only was she physically beautiful but her personality radiated that same beauty. Her children loved her equally, sometimes vying for her affection and it is not a coincidence that almost all our names begin with the letter ‘S’ as an appreciation by her children to the mother they doted.

As her grandchildren, we grew up romanticising her love story, of how our grandfather had seen her on her way to school and fallen in love with her.

It is not surprising that he had been drawn to this beauty with a Mona Lisa smile. Even though our amamma, as we fondly called her, had reciprocated that affection, his proposals had been turned down several times by her parents who thought she was too young to marry.

Our grandparents’ love is another testament of how love conquers all, as seeing how unrelenting our grandfather's pursuit of her was, our great grandparents finally caved in and consented. This role o wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker, amamma took seriously.

She gave priority to her husband above all other things, which was evident whenever we were around them and it was not uncommon to witness her moving around their home looking into our grandfather's meals, laying out his clothes if he had an engagement or taking care of him. Through this, she exhibited to us that marriages were something you worked hard at. This devotion was always appreciated by our grandfather in return.

She may have been occupied with her responsibilities as wife and mother but nothing escaped the eyes of grandma. If you ever had something troubling you on your mind, amamma was quick to detect it, even if our own mothers were not. Be it issues faced during our adolescence when we visited her after school on those sticky and sunny afternoons or matters later on in life, she would question us with her assuring and trustworthy smile. “What's the matter putha?” she would ask.

This question sometimes accompanied by a side plate of her homemade love cake, at which the deepest darkest secrets were out. She was a patient and understanding listener and her advice was brief and worldly, conveyed in a voice as calm as the evening waves.

It baffled us how someone who did not pursue higher education could be so wise in her advice on many topics, especially on matters relating to career. In retrospect, it could have been that she understood through life experience that it was those same skills and qualities which made one a good homemaker that were required to make one successful in any other field. Qualities such as patience, understanding, hard work, good communication and tact, which were all in abundance in our amamma.

Her generosity was without boundaries. From the time we were children, we witnessed that having friends or family stay over for periods of time was the norm at our grandparents’ home.

If you were known to them and were visiting or just wanted to get away from the stresses of life, their doors were always open. There was good food on the table, a room to yourself and if you wanted a good listener or some genuine advice and comforting words, amamma was there.

There were many a tale fondly reminisced of adventures and trips taken with friends from times gone by as well as when we were young, which our grandfather had organized and our grandmother had readily supported. When they hosted a party all were welcome. All this was evidence to us that the company of good friendships was important and that people meant more than anything else.

Through dealing with your passing we have realised many things about us as a family. Our love for each other is unconditional and a bond that cannot be broken.

We take comfort in seeing little reminders of you in every one of us, even in your great grandchildren, be they facial resemblance or your kind and generous hospitality and caring nature.

In times of despair it was you who comforted us, but this time it is you who we have lost and mourn. Gandchildren, Shameena, Sushani, Prishan, Sudharshi, Sheahara, Sheahana, Sushmita, Suhashana and Sayarah and great grandchildren, Sebastian and Shanella.