Kolkata, April 09, 2026: Ahead of World Homeopathy Day, historical narratives around homeopathy in India continue to be revisited, bringing renewed attention to Bengal’s significant yet under acknowledged role in shaping its early adoption. While the origins of homeopathy in India are often attributed to the court of Raja Ranjit Singh in Punjab, lesser-documented accounts indicate that West Bengal played a foundational role in laying its early groundwork.
Bengal’s association with homeopathy dates back to the mid-19th century, when the system began to take root through social reform movements and community-led healthcare efforts. Despite this, the real impact of its contributions have not been fully appreciated.
One of the most notable figures in this journey was Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who, starting from 1864, integrated homeopathic treatment into his social work, providing care to thousands, particularly among underserved communities. His work represented one of the earliest structured efforts to make homeopathy accessible at scale.
This momentum contributed to the establishment of the world renownded homeopathic treatment centre in Mihijam (in present day Jharkhand) by his nephew, Maharishi Pareshnath Banerji. Historical accounts indicate that the centre treated nearly 1% of the population of undivided India—an unprecedented scale of healthcare services at the time. This work carried on with his son, the illustrious late Prof. Dr. Parimal Banerji.
Even today, West Bengal continues to have one of the highest user bases of homeopathy in India, reflecting a sustained cultural acceptance of the system across generations and in part because of the pioneering work by Pandit Ishwar Chandar Vidyasagar and his family. Four generations on, the social work of this family continues by serving free homeopathic treatment even in New Delhi at Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic for 49 years and counting.
Dr. Kalyan Banerjee, Padma Shri Recipient and Founder, Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic, said, ‘I was privileged to have been trained at the first homeopathic college in India, the P. Banerji Mihijam Institute of Homeopathy, under Prof. Dr. Parimal Banerji, the grand-nephew of Pandit Ishwar Chandar Vidyasagar.’
Dr. Kushal Banerjee, Dr. Kalyan Banerjee’s Clinic, said, “The contribution of Bengal to homeopathy in India has not received the attention it deserves. From Pandit Vidyasagar’s efforts in community healthcare to large-scale treatment initiatives, Bengal played a critical role in shaping the early adoption of homeopathy. There is a need to revisit and document these contributions more comprehensively.”
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