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Psychiatrists and psychiatry in late colonial India

Author

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  • Shilpi Rajpal

    (Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali)

Abstract

The history of professionalisation of psychiatry in India is an array of parallel histories. The article describes the variegated processes of professionalisation, modernisation and Indianisation and the impediments that colonialism created in their path. It charts the reification of the professional identity of a psychiatrist which was uniquely different from the Western counterpart. The process that began at the turn of the twentieth century was far from complete even on the eve of independence. It argues that psychiatry remained at the margins of medicine and the colonial state maintained an indifferent attitude towards development of the mental sciences. Highlighting contributions of individual psychiatrists and juxtaposing them with those of the state, this article situates psychiatrists as historical actors and how the emergence of psychiatry was enmeshed with political histories of the period.

Suggested Citation

  • Shilpi Rajpal, 2018. "Psychiatrists and psychiatry in late colonial India," The Indian Economic & Social History Review, , vol. 55(4), pages 515-548, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indeco:v:55:y:2018:i:4:p:515-548
    DOI: 10.1177/0019464618796901
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dreyer, B.A., 1976. "Adolf Meyer and mental hygiene: An ideal for public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 66(10), pages 998-1003.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sergey Sinelnikov-Murylev & Alexandr Radygin (ed.), 2018. "Russian Economy in 2017. Trends and Outlooks. In Russian," Books, Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, edition 1, volume 39, number re39-2017-ru, November.

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