H. Narayan Murthy
Dr H. N. Murthy
Dr H. Narayan Murthy, Belgium, 1954
Born
Hosur Narayan Murthy

1924
Bangalore
Died22 August 2011(2011-08-22) (aged 87)
Bangalore, India
Alma materUniversity of Mysore, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)
Known forbehavioral therapy[1]
Awards"Bhabha Memorial Gold Medal" (Best scholar in Philosophy and Psychology)[2]
Scientific career
FieldsPsychology, behavioral therapy, schizophrenia, depression
InstitutionsMysore State Mental Hospital, Ranchi European Lunatic Asylum, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS)
ThesisCausality in Experimental Psychology
Doctoral studentsDr Padma Murthy[3]
Other notable studentsDr Padma Murthy, Dr M.S. Thimmappa
WebsiteH. Narayan Murthy

Hosur Narayan Murthy (H. N. Murthy) (Kannada: ಎಚ್. ಎನ್. ಮೂರ್ತಿ; 1924–2011) was an Indian clinical psychologist, writer, philosopher, Sanskrit scholar and teacher who headed the department of clinical psychology at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) at Bangalore.[4] He was born in the city of Bangalore in 1924 to Brahmin parents Hosur Ramaswamaiah Subba Rao and smt Rajamma.[4] Murthy's father was an official at "Iron and Steel Plant" at Bhadravathi town in Karnataka.

Education

Murthy with his professor and colleagues

Murthy finished his basic schooling at Bhadravathi before coming to Mysore for his college education. While in Mysore, Murthy enrolled into the Maharaja's College, Mysore to pursue his bachelor's degree (B.A.) in psychology under the professorship of Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy.[5] His dissertation for the bachelor's degree at Maharaja's College, Mysore was "National Stereotypes" – a comparative study of how Indians perceive foreigners and how foreigners perceive Indians (the stereotyped impressions of each other). On completion in 1952, Murthy was awarded the "Bhabha Memorial Gold Medal"[2] for the best scholar in psychology and philosophy.

M.V.Gopalaswamy

Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy,[6] mentor and professor to Murthy, was among the founding fathers of Department of Psychology at University of Mysore (1924). A student of Dr Charles Spearman under whom he secured his PhD in London, M.V.Gopalaswamy returned to India with a stand-alone transponder with which he started the first amateur radio station.[7] He is credited with coining the term "Akashvani" for All India Radio.,[8][9][10][11] An avid reader and intellectual, Gopalaswamy's interests in "Tantra Philosophy" and "Modern Psychology" saw him spend hours with another distinguished historian at University of Mysore – S. Srikanta Sastri (shown together in photograph). Incidentally, Murthy happens to be S. Srikanta Sastri's nephew.

Group Photo at Maharaja's College, Mysore
bottom row (sitting) L-R: 3rd-M.V.Gopalaswamy, 4th-S. Srikanta Sastri

Murthy would secure his master's degree (M.A.) in psychology under Dr M.V.Gopalaswamy in 1954 at University of Mysore whereafter he occupied positions at "Ranchi European Lunatic Asylum" and "Mysore State Mental Hospital"[12] before pursuing a doctoral study abroad.[5]

Doctoral studies

After securing his master's degree in psychology from University of Mysore, Murthy gained admission into "Katholieke Universiteit Leuven" or the "Catholic University of Leuven", Belgium to pursue his doctoral studies in psychology for the award of a PhD.His subject chosen was "Causality in Experimental Psychology". In addition to the award of a PhD, the title of "Professor Excelsior" was conferred on Murthy. While in Europe, Murthy perfected the nuances of "Behavioural therapy" and would later work on adapting the same to Indian conditions back home. His keen interest in Manic Depressive Psychosis and Schizophrenia probably stemmed forth while at Leuven.[4]

Contributions

Murthy (at NIMHANS)

On his return to India from Belgium, Murthy joined National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore where for the next two decades, he dedicated his efforts at introducing the concept of behavioural therapy in the Indian setting.,[13][14] He was responsible for the introduction of clinical neuropsychology and behavioural medicine to India,[15] and developed a number of diagnostic scales for classifying mental disorders.[16] A novel approach, Behavioural therapy was new to India in the early 1970s and under Murthy's guidance embodied a holistic approach towards the psychiatric patient, taking into account not only the patient, but also his family members in their efforts at effective counselling. The success of such an approach saw a decline in the admissions to the mental health facility for the first time in years. Murthy also drew up various questionnaires (Multiphasic Questionnaires[17]) to better assess and quantify the psychological state of the patient and many of these are still in vogue. Some of the diagnostic scales incorporated in the "Multiphasic Personality Questionnaire" formulated by Murthy[18] are shown here:

His work on "The relation of cyclothymia-schizothymia to extroversion-introversion" is significant and finds place in the Kyoto University Psychology Department syllabus.[19] His contribution towards "Organic Brain Dysfunction" is acknowledged in an article concerning "battery of tests to detect organic brain dysfunction" which appeared in the January issue of Journal of Clinical Psychology.[20] Another, somewhat controversial yet intriguing aspect which Murthy took time to examine were the claims of reincarnation while in a psychotic state. A brief report of the same appeared in the September 1978 issue of Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology.[21][22][23] His comparative study of "suicides" with "attempted suicides" in women was published in 1983 in Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine and assumed significance in the Asian setting against the backdrop of newer economic realities.[24] Dr H.N.Murthy aided a treatise examining the etiology (Nidana) of Mental diseases in Ayurveda and was successful in bridging allopathic medicine and its integral concepts to the age old system of Indian Medicine ("Apasmara"-Epilepsy).[25] A comparison of "Yogis" and "Control subjects" with regard to their voluntary control of personality traits and psychological adjustment patterns appeared in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology in 1987 and was a turning point in the scientific analysis of yogic claims of self-control of personality and self actuation.[26]

Legacy

Murthy remained a bachelor. His legacy today stems from the scores of students who got trained under him. Murthy is best remembered for guiding a doctoral work on "Psychology in Music" by Dr Padma Murthy.[27] His other student Dr M.S.Thimmappa would later occupy the chair of Vice Chancellor of Bangalore University.[28] His personal library with a collection of books exceeding thousands was his treasured possession. Deeply spiritual and philosophical, he was an ardent devotee and follower of the "Ramakrishna Mutt". Murthy died on 22 August 2011 aged 87 years at Bangalore. In his memory, "Dr H.N.Murthy Oration" is arranged every year by the "Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology" where budding psychologists from the fraternity deliver papers in his honour in subjects concerning behavioral medicine and bio-feedback.,[29][30] On Murthy's death, his student Dr M.S.Thimmappa (ex-vice chancellor of Bangalore University) dedicated a tribute to his mentor, excerpts of which are shown here:[31]

Dr. H. N. Murthy was a man of great character with unrelenting resolve and firm determination in his pursuit. He remained a bachelor, had deep philosophical interest, ever eager to see or make fresh interpretation of our ancient scriptures in tune with modern scientific discoveries, which we had umpteen number of occasions to discuss forgetting time and space, in and outside the classroom. We were drawn so close together, hours of debate on vexing topic done with such cordial, intimate and intense manner as equal friends than teacher-student relationship would enjoin.

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References

  1. ↑ All India Institute of Speech & Hearing (1968). Behaviour Therapy and Speech Disorders. U.S.A: United States Dept of Health, Education and Welfare. p. 23.
  2. 1 2 Mysore, University. "List of Medals by Department of Philosophy". Departmental Webpage. University of Mysore. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Murthy, Padma. "Reference to Dr Padma Murthy as a Musician". Articles on Music. Yogasangeeta.org. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Sastri, S.Srikanta. "Featured: H.Narayan Murthy". Biographical Sketch. www.srikanta-sastri.org. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  5. 1 2 Sastri, S.Srikanta (21 June 2013). "H.N.Murthy: psychologist and philosopher". Biographical sketch. Srikanta Sastri Official Website. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Mysore, University of. "Department of Psychology". Profile of Eminent Psychologists. University of Mysore. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  7. ↑ Potpourri, Kamat. "My Days in All India Radio IV". Diary. Kamat. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  8. ↑ book, face. "Radio Pioneer". Facebook Page. facebook. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  9. ↑ Mysorewalks, Royal. "Birth of AIR (All India Radio)". Diary. Vinay Nagaraju. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  10. ↑ Wordpress, Churmuri. "M.V.Gopalaswamy". Wordpress Diary. Churmuri. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Hindu, The (21 September 2010). "Making 75 years of AIR wave". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  12. ↑ Hindu, The (23 March 2013). "A Healing Space". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  13. ↑ India, ABA. "Association of India for Behaviour Analysis" (PDF). Newsletter. www.aba-india.org. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  14. ↑ Psychology department, NIMHANS. "Behavioural Medicine". Website. www.nimhans.kar.nic.in. Archived from the original on 17 September 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Michael J. Stevens; Danny Wedding (30 July 2004). Handbook of International Psychology. Taylor & Francis. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-415-94612-4. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  16. ↑ Udai Pareek; T. Venkateswara Rao (1 January 1992). First Handbook of Psychological And Social Instruments. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-81-7022-422-8. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  17. ↑ Anthikad (2008). Psychology for Graduate Nurses. India: Jaypee Brothers. ISBN 978-8184481402.
  18. ↑ Murthy, H.N. "Scales for Psychological Assessment – UNODC". List. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  19. ↑ Kyoto, University of. "Cyclothymia-Schizothymia". University Syllabus. Kytoto University. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Clinical Psychology, Journal of; Malavika Kapur, R.L.Kapur (January 1978). "A short screening battery of tests to detect organic brain dysfunction". Journal of Clinical Psychology. 34 (1): 104–111. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(197801)34:1<104::AID-JCLP2270340124>3.0.CO;2-T. PMID 641159.
  21. ↑ Examined, Reincarnation Claims; Satwant K Pasricha; Vinoda N Murthy (September 1978). "Examination of the claims of reincarnation in a psychotic condition". Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology. 5 (2): 197–202. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  22. ↑ Murthy, H.N. "Examination of Claims of Reincarnation in a Psychotic State". Citation. National Sun Yat Sen University, Taiwan. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  23. ↑ Murthy, H.N.; Ian Stevenson; Satwant Parischa (July 1980). "Examination of Claims of Reincarnation in a Psychotic State" (PDF). Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. 74: 330–348. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  24. ↑ Murthy, H.N.; Sathyavathi.K, Kodandaraman.P (1983). A Comparative Study of Suicides and attempted suicides in women. Vol. 6. pp. 44–49. doi:10.1177/0975156419830204. ISBN 9781552500187. S2CID 220536504. Retrieved 23 June 2013. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  25. ↑ Murthy, Chaturvedi, H.N., D.D. "Etiology (Nidana) of Mental Diseases in Ayurveda". Treatise. cscs.res.in. Retrieved 23 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ↑ Murthy, H.N.; T.Desiraju; A.Shankar Ram; Joseph.C (1987). "Comparison of senior yogis with control subjects on personality traits, levels of self-actualisation and adjustment" (PDF). Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 31 (5). Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  27. ↑ Mysore, Star of (30 December 1999). "An Eventful Music Journey". Star of Mysore. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  28. ↑ Bangalore, University. "Visual Arts Page of Bangalore University". University Website. Bangalore University. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  29. ↑ Clinical Psychologists, Indian Association of. "IACP Activities List". Activities of Society. www.iacp.in. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  30. ↑ NIMHANS, H.N.Murthy Oration award. "NIMHANS workshop" (PDF). Brochure Document. NIMHANS. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  31. ↑ M.S, Thimmappa (24 August 2011). "Thimmappa'swriteup". Diary. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
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