Anand Nadkarni is a legend. An accomplished writer, a fascinating speaker, and a people’s psychiatrist, he was one of the many who laid the foundations of community psychiatry in India. We started our careers together at KEM Hospital in Mumbai. Right from day one, he had different plans, and they were always offbeat. His gurus included Shubha Thatte, a psychologist of great repute; Baba Amte; Dr Ajgaonkar; Kumar Ketkar; and many more.
In our first posting, one day, while we were having misal at a restaurant opposite the hospital, he remarked, looking at the ordinary people having tea, “We have to cater to this group in our work as we start our practice.”
Affordable psychiatry was his life’s mantra, and the Institute of Psychological Health (IPH Thane) is the institution that continues to thrive even today with the same philosophy.
A great listener
Anand was a soul that was always alive and listening to the distress around him. The devastating mill strike occurred during those years, and our OPD was filled with mill workers suffering from depression and thoughts of self-harm. I vividly remember his pain. He would spend hours listening to their stories and suffering.
A staunch socialist whose ideology never changed throughout his life, his needs were small and frugal, and he never chased wealth. His purpose in life was very clear — to focus on the well-being of people at large, especially the marginalised. At the KEM hostel, we spent hours chatting, while Dr Avinash Joshi would regale us with music played on the santoor.
Resident doctors were paid very little in those days, and all of us, along with Anand, would visit different eateries, including Bademiya. During lunch hours, Shubha Thatte would generously open her tiffin box and feed us many a time.
Once, Dr Prakash Pradhan, our teacher, asked both of us to attend his talk at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. We were deeply impressed by his heartfelt sharing. Anand immediately took an interest in the philosophy of AA and its 12-step philosophy.
His antennas were always open, and he believed in mining gold from every conversation.
He had no enemies
He was affable and had no enemies. Dressed in the traditional pyjama-kurta that became his lifelong attire, he would gently share his insights at every event. He adapted psychiatry for the masses in India and developed a strong inclination towards Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, conducting hundreds of workshops on the same.
He must have addressed countless audiences on subjects ranging from social issues to healthy living habits and mental health.
Years ago, the illustrious Prof Srinivas Murthy and Prof NN Wig visited Mumbai and expressed a desire to meet Anand. When they returned, they remarked, “He has answers to a million issues in mental health, and he interacts with people directly.” Prof Wig also observed, “If the science is clear, the vocabulary becomes simple, and Anand is a shining example of that.”
Anand mentored hundreds of mental health professionals, authors, artists, and social activists.
Helped addicts
He also mentored Muktangan, one of the country’s pioneering de-addiction centres. Founded by Dr Anil and Anita Awachat, Anand visited the centre every week for years. He would also regularly travel to Anandwan to meet Baba Amte and learn from the initiative.
The career fairs he organised in Thane benefited thousands, and several distinguished personalities were invited.
Once, Aamir Khan also graced the occasion. His focus on youth became one of the most important areas of his work.
At a time when pharmaceutical giants inundated psychiatrists with endless meetings, the IPH workshops, seminars, and conversations stood apart.
Columnist, author, playwright
A regular columnist, he authored 17 books and several plays.
His prolific writings, largely in Marathi, educated the common man across every section of society. I would often refer to them as journals of science for the aam aadmi.
Dr Sanjay Kumavat, our batchmate, who met him on April 27, shared: “Anand was the epitome of care and compassion. He was a great teacher who not only focused on medicine but also on counselling and psychotherapy. He taught us the importance of caring for the caregiver.”
He passed away after a brief illness.
His spirit inspired millions and will live in our hearts and souls forever.
