Rooh Afza: Rejuvenating a Century-old Brand

In 1906, Hakeem, a ‘Unani’ physician, started a small Unani clinic (also known as Dawakhana) in the capital of undivided India – Delhi – and named it ‘Hamdard.’ Hamdard was a compound word derived from Persian, which combined the words ‘ham’ (meaning companion) and ‘dard’ (meaning ‘pain’). ‘Hamdard’ thus referred to ‘a companion in pain’ or a ‘sympathizer in suffering’. The clinic began as a shop selling herbs and soon gained a reputation as the finest supplier of herbs.

Initially, Hakeem made his own medicines using his closely guarded formulations and sold them to his patients. Hamdard soon gained popularity and its name became synonymous with integrity and excellent quality.