Hail the healthy

Family, friends and patients of Dr Keki R. Sidhwa met at a village hall in Newark on September 29, 2012 to celebrate the UK based octogenarian’s 60 years of practice as a naturopath and osteopath. After his daughter Yasmin and close friends Margaret Burningham, Malcolm Yates and Glen Gibbs commended his work, three of his grandchildren read some of the poems he had authored. Later Sidhwa recounted amusing anecdotes from his interesting life.
Co-founder and former president of the British Natural Hygiene Society, even at the age of 86 he continues with his naturopathic consultancy and daily does his yoga exercises which he learnt from the famous B. K. S. Iyengar of India, notes a write-up from his daughters detailing his accomplishments. Besides his magnum opus, The Quintessence of Natural Living, for Health and Happiness, the other works authored by Sidhwa include, The Problem of Ill-health, What does health mean to you? Fit for Anything, First Aid to Health, Words Music and All Alone (a book of poetry).
On the menu for the vegan’s celebration party was vegetable pies, mushroom vol au vents,
tofu Spanokopita, hummus, falafel and wholemeal pitta bread, grated carrot and beetroot salad, Romaine or little gem lettuce, cucumber and cherry tomatoes salad with separate salad dressing, carrot cake with Swedish glace soya icecream, catered by Veggies based in Nottinghamshire.
Encouraged to pursue nature cure by a family friend, Jamshed Mehta, the legendary mayor of Karachi, Sidhwa studied the science from Dr J. C. Thomson, Dr Stanley Leif and Dr Herbert Shelton. After his marriage to Christine he started his first health home called Shalimar in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. Later they moved to Bedford, then to Frinton-on Sea, Essex and finally to Newark, Nottinghamshire. They have four daughters, Yasmin, Zena, Rookshana and Gill. Over the years he has lectured in 28 countries publicizing the message of healthy living, and publishing and editing the magazine, Hygienist for 53 years. Five years ago he was invited to inaugurate the Mahatma Gandhi Nature Cure Centre in Kerala and was then conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the health minister.
His faith in naturopathy had its roots in his childhood experience in Bombay when at the age of 14 after a severe bout of typhoid fever he was reportedly declared dead. His mother is said to have refused to accept that pronouncement and would not allow his body to be carried to the Towers of Silence. His grandfather Dhunjishah Sidhwa, co-founder of Bharat Tiles and Marble Limited, sought the opinion of Dr Minoo Modi, physician to the then governor of Bombay, and Dr Jal Patel, to the then viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten who confirmed that he was not dead but in a deep coma. Nursed by his mother and aunt who would squeeze some drops of water every few minutes in his mouth to keep him hydrated, after 16 days he recovered and asked for food. He was then a student at St Teresa’s High School after which he studied at the Wilson College and St Xavier’s College before graduating from the Edinburgh College of Natural Therapeutics and the British College of Naturopathy and Osteopathy. In his younger days he was a regular at Mr Sarkari’s Gymnasium where he got an opportunity to interact with the famous bodybuilder of that time, Nariman Hathidaroo. At the age of 21 he contracted typhoid fever again and was once again able to recover after 12 days of fasting. (Fasts can be harmful and should be done under medical advice/supervision — editors)
His interest in primitive cultures, anthropology and comparative religion has helped him to formulate his views on natural living. After settling in the UK he has continued to wear his sudreh-kusti and takes great pride in the khadi cap that he inherited from Mehta and wears on special occasions like the diamond jubilee celebration. Among his accomplishments is the marathon run he undertook at the age of 50 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to raise $ 3,000 for the American Natural Hygiene Society.