Hakim Abdul Aziz

Hakim
Abdul Aziz

a rare photograph of Hakim Abdul Aziz
Born 1855
Lucknow, India
Died 1911
Lucknow, India
Cause of death Paralytic attack
Resting place Jhanwaitola, Lucknow
Residence Jhanwaitola, Lucknow
Nationality Indian
Occupation Unani physician
Years active 1877–1911
Known for Philosophy of Unani medicine, Free treatment, anti-adulteration
Style Puritan Unani system
Board member of Committee for Regulation of Medical Formulations
Religion Islam
Relatives grandfather of Mohammad Shakeel

Hakim Abdul Aziz (also Hakim Muhammad 'Abd al 'Aziz) (1855–1911) was a prominent Unani physician from colonial India. He energetically tried to systematise and resurrect the edifice of Unani medicine in British India, and was globally renowned as the pre-eminent practitioner of his time.[1]

Contents

Biography

Hakim Abdul Aziz started practising medicine in 1877. In 1902, he founded the Takmil al Tibb School at Lucknow for research and excellence in Unani Medicine[2][3]. He was born into a family of Kashmiri migrants, and is regarded as the founder of the Lucknow tradition in Unani medicine.[4] Unani medicine was practised as a family trade passed on from one generation to another and the Azizi family was no exception – they treated patients in the old quarters of the city, and became synonymous with the Jhanwaitola locality in Old Lucknow.

The earliest biographical work on Hakim Abdul Aziz and his philosophical approach in Unani medicine along with the legacy of ‘Azizi Family’ was first extensively explored by Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman. He wrote memoirs and life history of ‘Azizi Family’[5], prescriptions and formulations of Hakim Abdul Waheed[6], Unani Formularies used by Azizi Family of Lucknow[7][8].

Epistemology

Abdul Aziz’s approach with regards to Unani medicine was that of a puritan and hence, significantly different from other notable practitioners like Hakim Ajmal Khan who advocated incorporation of concepts from alternative medical systems.[9] Consequently, the Delhi and Lucknow schools of Unani medicine evolved in different directions.[10] Hakim Abdul Aziz wished to systematise unani instruction at the Lucknow Madrasa around the texts of Ibn Sìnà, supplemented by practical instruction in surgery and anatomy[11].

Impact

In his heyday, it is reported that the Hakim's fame was so widespread that students and practitioners of Unani medicine used to come to study from him, from as far and wide as the Punjab, Afghanistan, Balochistan, Bukhara and the Hejaz. The Takmil al Tibb School established by him at Lucknow, was instrumental in combating the widespread plague of 1902–03.

In 1910, coming to terms with the singular promotion of colonialism to allopathic medicine, Hakim Abdul Aziz, along with Hakim Ajmal Khan and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya formed the All India Ayurvedic and Unani Tibb Conference to defend traditional forms of healing. In 1904, recognizing the Hakim's stringent attitude towards adulteration in medicine, British India invited him to serve on the board of the Committee for Regulation of Medical Formulations.

Hakim Abdul Aziz did not charge from visiting patients. Though, it is recorded that he solicited fees of Rupees 16 for visits within the city, Rupees 500 for visits outside the city and Rupees 1000 for visits outside the state. Among his royal patients were Shahjahan Begum of Bhopal and the son of Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda

Legacy

In 1910, shortly after returning from Hajj, the Hakim fell ill and died. His death was widely mourned by poets, journalists and commoners. After his death, his two eldest sons took over the maintenance of Takmil al Tibb. A road in Lucknow is named after him (Abdul Aziz Road), and the college is now maintained by the government. The Azizi family is still involved in practice of Unani medicine[12]. The Azizi Family also played a significant role in the Indian independence movement[13].

Books and articles on the Azizi Family

Books

Articles

See also

References

  1. ^ Alavi, Seema (2008). Islam and Healing: Loss and Recovery of an Indo-Muslim Medical Tradition, 1600–1900. Palgrave Macmillan. 
  2. ^ http://www.unani.com/timeline.htm
  3. ^ http://www.chowk.com/Views/Science/Science-in-India-During-The-Muslim-Rule
  4. ^ van Alphen, Jan; Anthony Aris (1995). Oriental medicine: an illustrated guide to the Asian arts of healing. Serindia Publications. 
  5. ^ Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman (1978). Tazkerah Khandan Azizi (2009 revised 2nd ed.). Aligarh/India: Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences. pp. 228–229. ISBN 978-81-906070-6-3. 
  6. ^ Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman (1974). Bayaz Waheedi (First edition 1974, Second edition 1991 ed.). Aligarh/India: Shifaul Mulk Memorial Committee and Tibbi Academy. pp. 228–229. 
  7. ^ Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman (1976). Matab Murtaish (2009 revised 2nd ed.). Aligarh/India: Shifaul Mulk Memorial Committee. pp. 230pp. 
  8. ^ http://unani.com
  9. ^ Alavi, Seema (2008). Islam and Healing: Loss and Recovery of an Indo-Muslim Medical Tradition, 1600–1900. Palgrave Macmillan. 
  10. ^ Rahman, Hakim Syed Zillur (July–December 2002). "Khandane Azizi ki Tibbi Infradiyat". Jahan-e Tibb (Takmilul Tibb College Special Number) 4 (1&2): 7–14. 
  11. ^ Attewell, Guy (2005). "The end of the Line? The Fracturing Of Authoritative Tibbi Knowledge in Twentieth-Century India". Asian Medicine 1 (2): 387–419. 
  12. ^ Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman (2002). Maqalat Shifaul Mulk Hakim Abdul Latif. Aligarh/India: Publication Division, Aligarh Muslim University. pp. pp 324. 
  13. ^ Rahman, Hakim Syed Zillur (August 1978). "Tahreek Azadi Main khandan Azizi Ka Hissa". Naya Daur 35 (5): 28–32. 
  14. ^ Daryabadi, Abdul Majid (9 March 1979). "Tazkira Khandan Azizi" (in Urdu). Sidq-i Jadid.  – the author is a renowned theologian
  15. ^ "Tazkira Khandan Azizi" (in Urdu). Nida-i-Millat. 11 March 1979. 
  16. ^ Akbarabadi, Maulana Saeed Ahmad (November 1979). "Tazkira Khandan Azizi" (in Urdu). Burhan (Delhi). 
  17. ^ "Tazkira Khandan Azizi" (in Urdu). Al-Jamiat (Delhi). 23 December 1979. 
  18. ^ Chandpuri, Kausar (28 May 1980). "Tazkira Khandan Azizi" (in Urdu). Muharriq (Kolkata). 
  19. ^ Matab Murtaish, Shahzad Ahmad, Blitz, Bombay, 20 Nov. 1976
  20. ^ Matab Murtaish, Kausar Chandpuri, Hamdard, 1 December 1976
  21. ^ Matab Murtaish, Editor, Qaumi Awaz, Lucknow, 12 December 1976
  22. ^ Matab Murtaish, Editor, AI Jamiat, Delhi, 13 February 1977
  23. ^ Bayaz Wahidi, Kausar Chandpuri, Hamdard, 1 May 1976
  24. ^ Bayaz Wahidi, Editor, Nida-i Millat Lucknow, 11 July 1976
  25. ^ Bayaz Wahidi, Editor, Siyasat, Kanpur, 25 July 1976