OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF DR S. SRIKANTA SASTRI, M.A., D. Litt (1904-1974)

Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri

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Dr S. Srikanta Sastri (Courtesy - K. G. Somashekhar)

'Bharathiya Samskruthi' [English Translation by Prof S. Naganath] in Serial Instalments.

Featured: H.Narayan Murthy

Narayan Murthy gained admission to Maharaja's College, Mysore to pursue Bachelor in Arts in Psychology. His dissertation for the bachelor's degree was a comprehensive study on "National Stereotypes" - as to perceptions of Indians regarding other nationalities and foreign perception of Indians. He completed his Bachelor's Degree in the year 1952 and was awarded the prestigious "Babha Memorial Gold Medal" for the best scholar in the Psychology and Philosophy group.

H. Narayan Murthy was born in Bangalore to brahmin parents-father Hosur Ramaswamaiah Subba Rao and smt Rajamma. His father was an official in "Iron and Steel Plant" at Bhadravathi. Narayan Murthy had his schooling at Bhadravathi before continuing his education at Bangalore and Mysore.

Having finished his early schooling from the town of Bhadravathi near Shimoga,

Hosur Narayan Murthy

Hosur Narayan Murthy, (1924-2011) was a great psychologist, philosopher, sanskrit scholar and teacher who headed the department of psychology at the prestigious "National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences" (NIMHANS), Bangalore. His family hailed from Hosur near Bangalore in the south Indian state of Karnataka.

Group Photograph taken at Maharaja's College, Mysore (undated)

(Sitting row (L-R): 3rd person: Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy; 4th person: Dr S.Srikanta Sastri)

His mentor and professor Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy (pictured here in group photo), was one of the founding fathers of psychology at university of Mysore. Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy earned his PhD in London under

Dr Charles Spearman and returned to Mysore in 1924 to establish India's second department of Psychology. Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy started the first broadcasting station in princely state of Mysore using a transmitter he had brought from England. He coined the word "Akashvani" which was later adopted by Government of India for it's broadcasting stations.

Dr S.Srikanta Sastri was a colleague and friend of Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy and assisted him in amateur radio broadcasts. They often discussed the "Tantra Philosophy" in relation to "Modern Psychology". Incidentally,

Dr H. Narayan Murthy happens to be Dr S.Srikanta Sastri's nephew.

He completed his Master in Arts in Psychology from University of Mysore in 1954. He worked for a while at "Mysore State Mental Hospital" at Bangalore before relocating to "Ranchi European Lunatic Asylum" (currently renamed as "Central Institute of Psychiatry") at Ranchi, Bihar.

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

H. Narayan Murthy later embarked on his doctoral thesis on "Causality in Experimental Psychology" at "Katholieke Universiteit Leuven", Belgium on an educational scholarship. His guide there was a Roman Catholic priest who was also a professor in psychology. He was awarded a Ph.D degree for his research work and the university conferred upon him the title of "Excelsior Professor" in recognition of his erudition and commendable contribution to the field of psychology. He is credited with the introduction of "Behavioural Therapy" for the mental patients at NIMHANS, Bangalore in the late 1970s. This novel approach towards an attempted change of behaviour and mental attitudes culminated in a welcome reduction in the number of patients seeking admission to the hospital.

But his enduring legacy stems from his efforts at linking "Indian Philosophy" with "Modern Psychology" and establishing common grounds between the two.

He was an ardent devotee of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. He was in touch with various swamijis of Ramakrishna order like swami Siddeshwaranandaji and swami Ranganathanandaji (former president).