With a simple lifestyle and a healthy diet, Mahatma Gandhi stood as an example of healthy living. This came from the deep influence of nature cure or naturopathy in his life. Gandhi’s philosophy led to the establishment of Pune-based National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN).

Dr K Satya Lakshmi, Director of NIN, which falls under Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India said the institute was started with the efforts of Dr Dinshaw Mehta.

Dr Dinshaw Mehta was a staunch follower of nature cure. He did bodybuilding and performed at Mumbai. He earned a lot of money from that which he used for starting NIN in Pune. In 1944, Mahatma Gandhi sent a letter to Dr Mehta showing  willingness to meet him.

Later, Dr Mehta met Gandhi at Mani Bhavan in Mumbai. Gandhi kept on visiting Dr Mehta in Pune and in total he spent 156 days at the institute. 

Dr Mehta treated Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi when they were unwell in Pune. When Gandhi was in Yerwada Jail, Dr Mehta treated him. Gandhi in his entire life time did three 21-day fasts. Out of these two were supervised by Dr Mehta. So these fasts and post-fast recovery made Gandhi more healthy and robust while gaining weight. He even wrote in Young India that he will live up to 120 years, said Dr K Satya Lakshmi. 

Gandhi was doing these fasts at the age of 70 years. Also, during this time he was suffering from typhoid and malaria. So his health was not in good condition. But with the help of nature cure, Gandhi felt more lively.

Gandhi experimented a lot with respect to his diet. This helped him understand that healthy and balanced diet can be provided at lower cost. This, in turn, is helpful for village workers and city work force who are involved in a lot of physical work. The food contained vegetables, nuts, sprouts for a happy meal, said Dr K Satya Lakshmi.

She recalled that recently a man visited NIN. “He narrated that his mother would come to NIN for evening prayers which were conducted by Mahatma Gandhi. We hear many such anecdotes related to Mahatma and his stay here,” said Dr K Satya Lakshmi.

The institute was also visited by Sardar Vallabhai Patel, three prime ministers and presidents of India and many other noted individuals.

During his stay in NIN, Gandhi felt the NIN in Pune is serving the urban residents and so he thought of a naturopathy centre at Urli Kanchan for rural residents. This centre was later run by Balkoba Bhave, brother of Vinobha Bhave, said Dr K Satya Lakshmi.

‘Gandhi is now more relevant’

• Speaking about Gandhi’s relevance today, Dr Lakshmi said when Gandhi was talking about nature cure, more people died of infectious diseases.
• However, now there are increasing patients of non-communicable diseases (NCD). The basic solution to most of these is change in lifestyle. That is what Mahatma Gandhi was talking about when he started working in nature cure, said Dr Satya Lakshmi.
• She quoted Gandhi as saying that doctors have a wider role to play than just prescribing medicines.
• Gandhi wanted doctors to go to the root of the problem and help the patient realise it. This way the patient can avoid being in the same situation. Hence, the doctor here assumes the role of a teacher and philosopher, she said.