Introductory Note by Prof. Mr. Tariq Yasin
(Head of History Department, Aitchison College)

Dr. Bashir A. Malik – an eminent and illustrious Homoeopathic practitioner who has acquainted this diminishing medical field with new lengths in Pakistan; enjoys an astounding reputation internationally and locally. He is an enthusiastic experienced and seasoned doctor whose love with his profession for humanity is inimitable.

Dr. Malik is a full-time homoeopathic practitioner for the last 36+ years in Lahore, Pakistan. Apparently, a very firm disciplinarian with a copious white moustache, adding to his presence. It is generally very difficult to get a consultation appointment with him due to his busy schedule. He aims to maintain strict disciplinary appointment timing, and tries to persuade the patients for compliance with appointment to minimize the disturbance to the next patient, as all bookings are scheduled at least a couple of weeks in advance. Therefore he does not entertain delays and/or random walk-ins. However, once the patient gets inside his clinic, it is pretty stirring to see the same strict soul in the guise of an angel, who is keen to embrace all medical worries and trepidations of his patients. His approach on taking patients’ history is very thorough. Depending on the case, he can spend hours and hours in compiling patients’ history and discussing symptoms. This is part of his diagnosis procedure, in order to trace the root cause of the illness. Sometimes the patient can get impatient, but Dr. Malik does not. He often assists his patients in different dialects of languages for effective and precise understanding. He is a linguist and can speak fluent Arabic, English, Urdu, Pashto and Punjabi with proficiency.

Based on the collected notes from the relevant patient, Dr. Malik identifies the diagnosis and administers the remedy accordingly. He prefers giving initial dose(s) in the form of drops directly on the tongue of the patient, while sitting in the clinic; to observe the action initiated by the homoeopathic medicine – because he firmly believes that homoeopathic medicine activates the functioning of the body system, in one millionth of a second. After noting down the response of the patient on initial medicine doses, he finalizes and prepares the medicine course in an envelope and gets it stapled before handing it over to the patient. He then schedules a follow-up appointment/discussion before the patient leaves. He is always led by his diary that keeps the appointment record of every patient.

Only a few know that this apparently austere man is down-to-earth, humble, God-fearing and a great philanthropist. In this world of hurriedness, where the society and people from all walks of life are running to win a race; the presence of such a dedicated doctor, who is there to solely spend time on your medical concerns and offer treatment, is not less than a blessing.

We all have generally noticed a very strange fact in contemporary allopathic medicines, while abetting the recovery of the impaired tissues of human body; these medicines can negatively influence the sound ones. In medicine, this phenomenon is entitled a side-effect, which basically cures one part of the body, but can create glitches in another. This happens because the allopathic medicine generally cures the apparent symptoms (seen on the surface) as opposed to getting rid of the root-cause. Therefore the symptoms can arise in another part of the body, in a different form because they were never removed/treated completely but were only suppressed. Whereas homoeopathic treatment cures the root-cause of any disease, which can subsequently also enhance/boost the overall functioning of any body/system, leading to a fuller and healthier life.

I have also observed (sadly more so in Pakistan) that a large number of so called homoeopaths and quacks secretly use steroids for the immediate relief to the patients. I can say this with full confidence that Dr. Bashir Malik never uses any such unethical methods to cure his patients.

Officially, Dr. Malik’s clinic is not functional on Saturdays but his room is usually crowded with his friends cum patients. He also uses his day-offs and after clinic hours, to compile the manuscript of a series of books on homoeopathy he is working on, which are discussed in detail later in this article.

He resolutely believes in charity and serving the less privileged. I would see a long queue of these non-paying patients who had nothing but praise for him. He not only caters to the corporate clients, but his clinic is crowded with patients from all walks of life and are dealt with and treated in the same manner. His son Dr. Sameer A. Malik contributes equally in this noble mission of his father and this young man is successfully carrying the flag of his father’s ideology and legacy. In Dr. Malik’s consulting room, there are three pictures hanging on the wall – Top of all, a very attractive picture of Mr. Mohammad Ali Jinnah; then a portrait of Dr. James Taylor Kent, sketched by his daughter; and third a portrait of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. He uses the word of GURUS for all of them but grades Jinnah with distinction by using one word extra WADDA GURU. His love with his Wadda Guru is unparalleled.

Dr. Bashir Malik currently resides with his family in Lahore, Pakistan where he practices full-time and is at present also working on his upcoming book(s). He is a Fellow of BFS, an ex-member of LIGA, Vienna, Austria. He was originally a registered homoeopathic practitioner with the National Council for Homoeopathy, Pakistan – and is now registered and licensed by the Punjab Health Care Commission, Pakistan. He also holds diplomas in Homoeopathy and Biochemistry from Brantridge Forest School, UK. He was affiliated with Cryogenics, British Oxygen, UK; and is an ex-member of ASHRAE, USA (1977-78). He is also an alumnus of Government Degree College, Jhelum, Pakistan with further qualifications in HVAC from NTS, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Prof. Mr. Tariq Yasin (Head of History Department, Aitchison College, Lahore)