The Epistemology of “mental” Phenomena

I consider it a great privilege and pleasure to address you this morning as the next Presidentof the Indian Psychiatric Society. I am most grateful to the membership of the Society for having elected me to this highest position in the profession at the national level, and for having bestowed this high honour upon me. I feel humble when I think of all the great stalwarts who have earlier served as Presidents of the Society. Amongst this galaxy of luminaries arc my senior colleagues, mentors and friends. Since 1969, when I joined the Indian Psychiatric Society, I have been considerably involved with the organization of the Society and have had occasions to know and work with many of its Presidents. We are all aware of the enormous tasks before us in the Society, from improvement of mental health services to better training programmes and research into the various aspects of psychiatry and mental health. I look forward to your help and cooperation in trying to advance in these areas in the year of my Presidency. Many of you may have heard me in informal situations making a reference to professional brotherhood. The professional fraternity, of which I am a member , the fraternity of scientists and mental health professionals, is very important to me. Tne respect that you acquire from the professional brotherhood, ' : the Jury of the Peers" (and it includes Lady Peers also) is the ultimate arbitor of our professional VARMA 1 standing and of our very worth. Respect for the Jury of the Peers is of utmost importance to us.