Space - Time - Motion: An Untrodden Path to Health (Physics, Medicine, Ayurveda and Yoga: A Symbiosis) An Old and Rare Book

This book is a personal account of evolution of Prof. Bhavsar's thought that has its base in creative interpretation of ancient Indian knowledge as well as some bold experimentation.

It is easy to dismiss his writings as providing less than adequate scientific proof of efficacy of his methods. But, to me, it would be missing the point altogether. The point, at the moment, is that he has a new way of looking at health matters. And it is no mean feat to be able to say something original and creative in any field today, leave aside a field as complex as human health. In the process, he also touches upon some of the basic mysteries of complex life forms e.g. bilaterality, symmetry and asymmetry of structure and function, about maintenance of differentials and gradients, etc. Prof. Bhavsar is a keen observer of nature who is able to observe independently such subtle phenomena known to modern physiology as periodic shift of autonomic tone from one body half to the other or about the temperature differential and creation of gradient from the core to the periphery and subtle diurnal variations of bodily functions.

While making a strong case to tailor-make the treatment to suit individual needs, he lays heavy emphasis on general measures to restore the balance in diseased state. These general measures are meant to improve the fitness and functionality: aspects also known to contemporary mainstream medicine but often relegated to secondary position or neglected altogether in day to day practice. He uses the paradigm of space-time and motion (as an analogy) to approach the problem of restoration of balance or fitness. He has devised innovative measures over and above traditional methods of yoga, ayurveda and naturopathy. He has been practising this art of fitness since times much before the present media hype about fitness started. Some of his cases, like the one on antenatal jaundice, sound almost like a miracle.

It gives me great pleasure to write this brief introduction to the book entitled "Space-Time Motion: An untrodden path to health". The title, as you would agree, is both exciting and sufficiently interesting that having caught an eye on, one would be tempted to read on to seek more details. Exactly that is what happened when I lay my hands on this book. To be honest, I must put a disclaimer that I have not understood it in its entirety. Yet, at the end I came out with the feelings that at least some one has made an attempt to paint a grand, at times abstract, more holistic and encompassing background to define health. We understand in modern science the importance of space, time and motion. We also agree that all animate and inanimate objects are subject to these laws. Health is, however, a qualitative attribute, a state of well being, that is difficult to quantify. Establishing the inter-relationship or balance between Space Time Motion and health on one hand, and beyond it, the participation of a third agent either physical (exercise, yoga, massage etc.) or chemical (medicine) in building the necessary resilience in this relationship is indeed very thought provoking. Whether the present book accomplishes this task or not is for the readers to judge, but I felt that the perspective is interesting, worthy of pursuit and perhaps further be improved upon.

Part I of the book provides a philosophical setting preparing one for the holistic attitude which is then vividly listed in part-ll by illustrating several cases. Certainly it is an unconventional way to look at health and is thought provoking.

The author describes a number of experiments. His subtle observations are at present somewhat qualitative. Clearly a modern instrumental tool can be used to rigorously quantify them. This would not only lend a precision but also would provide legitimacy to the thesis. Equally more important is the connection that would help to establish the bilateral notion.