This book A Handbook of Vitiligo and Color Atlas was presented by the author to Dr APJ Kalam, Former President of India. It is wonder and historical fact that the Dr APJ Kalam was impressed and inspired after reading the book. He requested DRDO to work on the Indian plants for the treatment of vitiligo and I heard that some herbal medicine tried in vitiligo. Dr APJ Kalam many times visited to BK Headquarters at Mount Abu, Rajasthan. He was also inspired by the method of meditation and collaborated with the doctors of global hospital in Mount Abu. And the doctors they advocated the meditation, change of life style and diet in coronary heart patients. This meditation with they call as Rajyoga meditation, bring rays of cosmic energy which enters into the coronary arteries and opens the blocks. This work was presented at the world cardiologist conference Gyan Mansarovar, Mount Abu. This is admiration of the scientific mind of Late Dr. APJ Kalam. Hence I dedicate this book to the great son of soil Dr APJ Kalam.

Dr Punshi introduces this book with the sagacious comment of Stephen Rothman that “Some diseases do not take life, but they just ruin it”. What better thought might introduce a book on vitiligo or any pigmentary disorder for that matter. The personal pain and sorrow suffered by those afflicted by vitiligo is great. Who could not be disappointed to see themselves disfigured by leukoderma? And society imposes additional, almost greater burdens on those who have vitiligo. Successful marriages and employment can be difficult to achieve because of vitiligo. The impact of vitiligo was highlighted by Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1962, when he noted that vitiligo imposed a heavy burden on the development of India. For these and other reasons, many workers throughout the world studied vitiligo and other forms of leukoderma but the cases and optimal treatment for these disorders have been defied their very best attempts.

I am very much delighted and pleased to write preface of my book, A Handbook of Vitiligo and Color Atlas which is going for the second edition. That gives me inner happiness. Vitiligo is not only a cosmetic problem, but also a social and psychological problems in dark-skinned people throughout the globe. It is a real disease as Prof Aaaron B. Lerners, authority on vitiligo says and advocates that vitiligo is a disorder important to both patients and dermatologists. It is still interesting/fascinating disorder to the pigment cell biologists, immunologists, and dermatologists.

Vitiligo is not only a cosmetic problem, but also a social and psychological problems in dark-skinned people throughout the globe. It is a real disease as Prof Aaaron B. Lerners, authority on vitiligo says and advocates that vitiligo is a disorder important to both patients and dermatologists. It is still an interesting/fascinating disorder to the pigment cell biologists, immunologists, and dermatologists.

It is my pleasure and privilege to acknowledge great indebtedness to the following; Dr James J Nordlund for graciously consenting to write Foreword. Dr Porter, Dr SJ Yawalkar, Dr Behl, Dr Saraf, Dr AK Bajaj, Dr Agrawal, Prof. Hachiro Tagami, Dr RG Valia, Dr AK Dutta, Dr Bhanu Iyengar, Dr Taywade, Dr Marfatia, Dr Bose, Dr Pranav Sheth and so many for sending clinical photographs and sending quite good pieces of advice and best wishes for the publication of this book.

About 40 years ago, I came in contact with Dr SK Punshi for the first time. He had been my postgraduate student in the skin department of GT hospital, Grant Medical College, Mumbai. I was impressed by his keen interest in the skin diseases in general and especially in vitiligo and leprosy. He used to be very kind to patients and treated them as his near and dear relatives. After successfully completing his training in Mumbai, he has dedicated his whole life for the welfare of his patients in Vidarbha.