India ( ns ) on the Psychoanalytic Couch : An Introduction to the Work of Sudhir Kakar
India remains one of the few non-western countries to have a vibrant psychoanalytic movement – and it was by far the �rst to start .
Psychoanalysis in India began in the year 1922 with the establishment of Indian Psychoanalytical Society by Girindrashekhar Bose in Kolkata ( then Calcutta ). Ernest Jones was appointed by Sigmund Freud to look after the society . This society later spread to the cities of Mumbai ( then Bombay ), Delhi and Ahmedabad .
In 1945 , after Bose retired , psychoanalysis saw a decline in Kolkata . In the year 1955 , B . M . Institute of Mental Health was established in Ahmedabad by the Sarabhais , which was later handed over to governmental control in 1985 . During the time period of 1945-1985 , the Indian Psychoanalytical Society at Mumbai saw many splits and scandals . Sudhir Kakad started practising as a psychoanalyst in Delhi in 1975 .
Kakad believes that there are 4 overlapping lenses which are to be used when practising psychoanalysis in India : Hindu i d e a s , S o c i o l o g i c a l & Anthropological Studies , Pop culture and mass media and clinical work . Out of these , clinical work is the most important , and not all of them are weighed equally .
Kakad also talks about the concept of “ Maternal Enthrallment ”, which is a very deep bond that exists between a mother and her child . Since birth , a child is surrounded by women , who nurse him , bathe and clean him and minister to his every need . Men are not involved in the growth of the child in the �rst 3-5 years . The child is allowed to mature at his / her own rate , with practically no disciplining , which creates a very seductive and enthralling environment . This leads to the mother becoming a central character in the child ' s life . This sets the stage for
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