Who was Sudhir Kakar? Pioneer of Indian psychoanalysis who passed away at 85

Sudhir Kakar, often called the "father of Indian psycoanalysis," passed away on Monday at 85. He was a famous author and cultural critic.

Sudhir Kakar was born in Nainital, Uttarakhand, in 1938. His life and work bridged the gap between Western and Eastern thought. He left an unforgettable mark on the field of psychoanalysis in India.

"I knew Sudhir for 20 years… he has done a lot of important work and I have curated many of his shows," Dr Alka Pande told The Indian Express. She added, "He had throat cancer and was suffering for some time. He will be cremated at Lodhi Crematorium. Chautha will be at the Arya Samaj temple on Thursday 4 pm."

Kakar wrote several books and articles on the confluence of psychoanalysis with Indian culture, mythology and religion. His works likeThe Inner World: A Psychoanalytic Study of Childhood and Society in Indiaquestioned traditional Western psychoanalytic perspectives, offering unique insights into the Indian psyche.

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Kakar'sIntimate Relations: Exploring Indian Sexualitywas a groundbreaking work as he delved into the history and cultural attitudes towards sexuality in Indian society. He tackled the rarely discussed subject in India, exploring the influence of religion, social norms, and colonial legacies on intimate relationships and sexual expression.

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Sudhir Kakar obtained his doctorate in economics from the University of Vienna and later trained in psychoanalysis at the Sigmund Freud Institute in Frankfurt.

He received many awards for his work, including the Kardiner Award of Columbia University, the Boyer Prize for Psychological Anthropology of the American Anthropological Association, Germany's Goethe Medal and its highest federal award, the Order of Merit.

He was a lecturer in General Education at Harvard University, a research associate at Harvard Business School and a professor of organisational behaviour at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Kakar has also written fictional books, including The Seeker and A Book of Memory. He is survived by his wife, Katharina, and children.

(With inputs from agencies)