THE ESSENTIAL SUDHIR KAKAR

Sudhir Kakar is both Indias most celebrated psychoanalyst and a distinguished cultural psychologist. That he is a seasoned observer and brilliant analyst of the human mind is reflected in all his writings. Kakars corpus of academic work is widely recognized for its nuanced study of the post-Independence renaissance of the Indian mind. The fifteen essays included in this volume celebrate three streams of knowledge—psychoanalysis, culture, and religion—and their confluence in Kakars work. From the role of empathy in psychoanalysis, male–female relationships, and Indian sexuality to modern mysticism, religious conflict, Hindu childhood, and the significance of imagination—these writings represent a breakthrough in Indian social consciousness and indigenous knowledge systems. In the Preface, Ramin Jahanbegloo looks at the depth and influence of Kakars ideas, while the Introduction by Manasi Kumar critically comments on how Kakars ideas fit the larger context of psychoanalytic theory and culture. An interesting inclusion is a conversation between Sudhir Kakar and Madhu Sarin which explores the evolution of Kakars relationship with psychoanalysis—from being influenced by psychoanalysis to playing a formative role in the psychoanalytic culture in India.