Hakim Abdul Aziz Explained

Honorific Prefix:Hakim
Abdul Aziz
Birth Date:1855
Birth Place:Lucknow, India
Death Date:1911
Death Place:Lucknow, India
Resting Place:Jhawai tola, Lucknow
Nationality:Indian
Occupation:Unani physician
Years Active:1877–1911
Known For:Philosophy of Unani medicine, Free treatment, anti-adulteration
Style:Puritan Unani system
Boards:Committee for Regulation of Medical Formulations

Abdul Aziz (Muhammad 'Abd al 'Aziz; 1855–1911) was a prominent Unani physician in British India.[1]

Biography

Hakim Abdul Aziz was born into a family of Kashmiri migrants, and is regarded as the founder of the Lucknow tradition in Unani medicine.[2] He started practising medicine in 1877. In 1902, he founded the Takmil al Tibb School at Lucknow for research and excellence in Unani Medicine.

The earliest biographical work on Hakim Abdul Aziz and his philosophical approach in Unani medicine was written by Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman. He wrote memoirs and life history of 'Azizi Family', prescriptions and formulations of Hakim Abdul Waheed,[3] Unani formularies used by Azizi Family of Lucknow.[4]

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.[5] Consequently, the Delhi and Lucknow schools of Unani medicine evolved in different directions.[6] 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.[7]

Impact

Hakim's fame was so widespread that students and practitioners of Unani medicine from as far and wide as the Punjab, Afghanistan, Balochistan, Bukhara and the Hejaz came to study with him. The Takmil al Tibb School (established by him at Lucknow) was instrumental in combating the widespread plague of 1902–03.

Coming to terms with the singular promotion of colonialism to allopathic medicine, in 1910 Hakim Abdul Aziz and 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 visiting patients, though it is recorded that he solicited fees of 16 rupees for visits within the city, 500 rupees for visits outside the city, and 1000 rupees 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.[8] The Azizi Family also played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.[9]

Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman published his Tazkirah Khandan Azizi in 1978. The work was widely received and reviewed.[10] Similarly, his earlier Bayaz Wahidi (1974) and Matab Murtaish (1976) were also reviewed in many Urdu journals.[11]

See also

Literature

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Alavi, Seema. Islam and Healing: Loss and Recovery of an Indo-Muslim Medical Tradition, 1600–1900. 2008. Palgrave Macmillan.
  2. Book: van Alphen, Jan. Oriental medicine: an illustrated guide to the Asian arts of healing. 1995. Serindia Publications. Anthony Aris.
  3. Book: Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman . 1974 . Bayaz Waheedi. First edition 1974, Second edition 1991. 228–229. Shifaul Mulk Memorial Committee and Tibbi Academy. Aligarh/India .
  4. Book: Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman . 1976 . Matab Murtaish . 2009 revised 2nd. 230ff. Shifaul Mulk Memorial Committee . Aligarh/India .
  5. Book: Alavi, Seema. Islam and Healing: Loss and Recovery of an Indo-Muslim Medical Tradition, 1600–1900. 2008. Palgrave Macmillan.
  6. Rahman. Hakim Syed Zillur. Khandane Azizi ki Tibbi Infradiyat . Jahan-e Tibb (Takmilul Tibb College Special Number) . July–December 2002 . 4 . 1&2 . 7–14.
  7. Attewell. Guy. The end of the Line? The Fracturing of Authoritative Tibbi Knowledge in Twentieth-Century India. Asian Medicine. 2005. 1. 2. 387–419. 10.1163/157342105777996548.
  8. Book: Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman . 2002 . Maqalat Shifaul Mulk Hakim Abdul Latif . 324. . Aligarh/India .
  9. Rahman . Hakim Syed Zillur . Tahreek Azadi Main khandan Azizi Ka Hissa . . August 1978 . 35 . 5 . 28–32.
  10. Daryabadi. Abdul Majid. Tazkira Khandan Azizi. Sidq-i Jadid. 9 March 1979. Abdul Majid Daryabadi. Urdu. Tazkira Khandan Azizi. Nida-i-Millat. 11 March 1979. Urdu. Akbarabadi. Maulana Saeed Ahmad. Tazkira Khandan Azizi. Burhan. November 1979. Delhi. Urdu. Tazkira Khandan Azizi. Al-Jamiat. 23 December 1979. Delhi. Urdu. Chandpuri. Kausar. Tazkira Khandan Azizi. Muharriq. 28 May 1980. Kolkata. Urdu.
  11. Matab Murtaish, Shahzad Ahmad, Blitz, Bombay, 20 November 1976.Matab Murtaish, Kausar Chandpuri, Hamdard, 1 December 1976.Matab Murtaish, Editor, Qaumi Awaz, Lucknow, 12 December 1976.Matab Murtaish, Editor, AI Jamiat, Delhi, 13 February 1977.Bayaz Wahidi, Kausar Chandpuri, Hamdard, 1 May 1976.Bayaz Wahidi, Editor, Nida-i Millat Lucknow, 11 July 1976.Bayaz Wahidi, Editor, Siyasat, Kanpur, 25 July 1976.

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