Hpathy.com is now running in its 3rd year. The website started as a personal effort to provide free information about homeopathy to everyone. In its initial one and a half years, Hpathy was a closed project. Everyone was able to access its content and services for free, but very few were there to develop it further. I wanted this website to be a people’s website but its approach restricted its growth.
In 2002, I became a DMoz editor. DMoz is the world’s largest human edited web directory which supplies data to even Google. Working with it, I soon realized the power of an open project. The logo of DMoz says – Humans do it Better!. It soon dawned upon me that a large number of humans working together for a cause can bring about revolutionary changes.
I decided to make Hpathy.com an open project. A project becomes open when its end-user is not just able to use the end-product but also participates in its development. The end-user decides the direction of the whole project. Making Hpathy an open project meant giving its development into the hands of its users. The underlying philosophy was ‘everyone works, everyone benefits’.
But why would anyone give his/her time for an open project? People work primarily for two reasons – for money or for a cause/ belief. Most open projects have a firm belief or a cause at their core with which people are able to identify themselves. I knew I was not alone with my wish to make homeopathy the medicine of masses. There are millions of people who love homeopathy and thousands who are willing to give their time and energy in this crusade to take homeopathy to every household on this earth.
The open philosophy has proved its superiority many times with projects like LINUX and DMoz. It did not disappoint me either. Since we made Hpathy open to its users, it has grown in leaps and bounds. In last 12 months we have grown by more than 1200% !! That is phenomenal growth by any standards. Thanks to its users, Hpathy.com is now widely recognized as the leading homeopathy portal. Hpathy has truly become a site – of the people, for the people, and by the people!
To continue our work in spirit and substance and also to celebrate the first birthday of the Open Hpathy, we are launching a new e-journal on homeopathy – Homeopathy for Everyone. This monthly journal (ezine) is also an open endeavor by the ever-growing Hpathy team.
Internet has now become the major source of information. While there are hundreds of homeopathy journals on paper, there is no comparable electronic journal that can be accessed through Internet. To fill this void, we present to you Homeopathy for Everyone. This journal, consistent with the Hpathy philosophy, is Open and FREE. We will deliver an issue every month in your inbox at no cost.
The title of the ezine itself suggests its approach and its audience – Homeopathy for Everyone. Each issue will contain quality information for homeopaths, students, patients, and … everyone! The best part is that you can participate in the future issues of the ezine by submitting your articles or by joining the ezine team formally.
The Hpathy team has worked hard to bring out this journal. Members of our core-team viz., Sigi, Snoopy, Lou, Barb, Swamy, Dr. Kannan, Nancy and Muskan, all deserve a very special applause for their wonderful efforts, creativity and hard-work. With great expectations we deliver the first issue of Homeopathy for Everyone to you. I hope you will like it and participate in its future development. We also look forward to your feedback, ideas and suggestions.
Lastly, let me extend our very warm wishes for the new year to all our readers. May this year bring to you health, happiness, harmony and homeopathy!
Working for Homeopathy,
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Manish Bhatia
— Editor —
Thank you! that’s people like your team that lift the human spirit