Professor of Psychology at the University of Delhi (North Campus) Dr. Ashok Nagpal with his mentor Dr. Sudhir Kakar made pioneering efforts in developing psychology into a culturally sensitive and socially relevant discipline. Using psychoanalysis as a model they sought to understand the rich and diverse tradition of healing in India, and revealed how that knowledge could be integrated with the mainstream psychotherapies to bring about a synthesis: a synthesis which would enhance the scope of mystical cults and broaden the reach of psychology. In this short interview Dr. Nagpal addresses three core issues: manic self interest, passive indifference and fear of labeling, and using the concept of evil offers invaluable insights into the nature of urban living and why it’s failing humanity.
