Good morning [%first_name |Dear Reader%],

Before I say anything else, here’s a big thank you to everyone who shared comments, concerns, and stories about homeopathy in response to my last edition. 

And I agree, forming an opinion on this stream of medicine is tricky. 

Narratives on homeopathy span a wide spectrum. I bet almost everyone has heard some story or the other about homeopathy working wonders for someone; there are even stories that say it works on pets. And then, of course, there’s that mountain of scientific literature disproving its effects that I referred to last week.  

But what might be true in the world of facts may not be true in the world of stories. And vice versa. I mean, reality can be boring and straightforward, but it can also be stranger than fiction. 

Which brings us to our edition today—part two of our two-part series on homeopathy. Last week, we covered how homeopathy as a business has thrived globally, despite the lack of any serious science to support it, by selling stories of hope and magic to eager audiences. Today, we look at how it fares in India, where, unlike the west, both the government and the homeopathy industry have doubled down to build a positive narrative. 

One that reminds me of Christopher Vogler’s advice for storytellers in his screenwriting guide, The Writer’s Journey.

In India, both the government and the homeopathy industry are trying to heal people with stories, but that’s probably because they can’t rely on those homeopathic medicines to always work.

What makes homeopathy tick in India?

Last year, Mukesh Batra, founder and chairman emeritus of Dr Batra’s Group of Companies, published his memoir: The Nation’s Homeopath. 

Dr Batra’s is India’s largest chain of homeopathy clinics. His memoir gives you a glimpse at how he went from starting one clinic in 1982 to now having over 200 clinics across seven countries. The chain also makes haircare, skincare, and personal care products. 

At the heart of all this success is a narrative, woven from many strands. 

The memoir tells the tale of a charismatic hero, full of conviction, faith, and entrepreneurial rigour—one that beat tall odds to build a growing business, based on a stream of medicine that has steadily lost reputation globally.