Remembrance of an unremembered: Dr. Sakharam Arjun (1839-1885) - The physician, leprosy researcher, botanist and a social reformer of Colonial India

In the last one and half century the research about cause and management of leprosy has witnessed a sea change. The emergence of new drugs has made medical community to think about elimination of the once dreaded disease. This happened in the course of many long years and with the contribution of many well known and unknown warriors. Dr Sakharam Arjun, a great physician and botanist with a profound knowledge on medical use of the indigenous bazaar medicines did research on the effect of Chaulmoogra oil, Gurjon oil, Bauchi oil etc. on leprosy. His findings were noted by the Leprosy Commission in India during 1890-91 and were quoted the same in their report. He played active role in making people aware about public health and wrote in number of books in Marathi. He had played an active role in supporting the education of his step daughter Dr Rukhmabai. A legal suit filed by Dr Rukhmabai regarding the child marriage and age of consent led to a land mark amendment in the law about the age of consent and abolished the age old practice of child marriage. This whole battle was possible because of the dynamic support of Dr Sakharam. Sadly we have forgotten this great physician and Social reformist. This article is a brief remembrance of this presently unremembered great man.