Moonlight Over the History of Psychiatry In Kerala

Abstract

This is a review of a fascinating and eminently readable book by Dr. K.A. Kumar, one of my teachers in psychiatry, who is well-known to the psychiatric fraternity in India. The book is titled “Novum Nilavum, which I am translating as Sufferings and Moonshine.

Dr. Kumar has dedicated this book to his parents: his mother, who taught him the basics of kindness and caring, and his father, who instilled in him a sense of justice and duty. After this, there is a brief preface by him and a concise introduction by the famous Malayalam writer, Paul Zacharia. The book has twelve chapters and ends with an afterword by the author himself.

Dr. Kumar offers a firsthand account of the mental health care scenario in the most literate state of the country. It is a gratifying experience for the reader to go through this well-written book.  This book is a welcome addition to the very sparse list of books on the history of Psychiatry and mental health in Kerala. Reading it will be a delight to mental health professionals, and lay readers will also find the book engaging.

Book: Novum Nilavum (Sufferings and Moonshines); Memoirs of a Psychiatrist

Language: Malayalam

Author: Professor K A Kumar

Publisher: Chintha Publishers, Thiruvananthapuram, February 2025

Distributed by: Deshabhimani Book House, Thiruvananthapuram

The book is available on Amazon.com [Link]