APPENDIX D(a)-
REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE OF
 PROFESSORS OF PSYCHOLOGY, HELD
 AT NEW DELHI IN JANUARY, 1951
 

A Conference of Professors of Psychology of Indian Universities and certain special invitees was convened in New Delhi on the 19th and 20th January, 1951, by the Government of India to consider the teaching of Psychology in Indian Universities and to make recommendations for improving it. Prof. Humayun Kabir, Secretary to the Government of India presided over the Conference and Dr. Gardner Murphy, UNESCO Consultant to the Government of India on the " Group Tensions Project was also present to assist the Conference in the task before it.

2. The Report of the Conference as well as the observations (Annexure) of some of the Universities etc. on the Report are placed before the Board for information and any comments that it may like to make.

ANNEXURE

COMMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITIES ETC., ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CON- FERENCE OF PROFESSORS OF PSYCHOLOGY HELD IN NEW DELHI ON THE 19TH AND 20TH JANUARY, 1951.

(1) Osmania University (Hyderabad Deccan).-The following are the suggestions made by the Department concerned on the proceedings of Conference of Professors of Psychology:-

P.7.-II. Fields of Applied Psychology-Under Education (No. 2), it is necessary to include the education of the Backward children also, along with the three courses or topics already given.

P.8.-Item 3.-The meeting felt that the condition (laid down by the Conference) of at least two years of apprenticeship after graduation in Applied Psychology is too long. It is suggested that, at the most, one year may be deemed sufficient in view of the fact that, even in a field like medicine, the apprenticeship extends over 6 months to one year generally. Since the first three years intended for graduation provide a sufficiently exhaustive course in practicals and field work, one year's apprenticeship course should be enough to enable one to deal with the psychological issues and cases under investigation.

* Report of the Committee has not been printed in this pamphlet but will be published separately.

+ Report not attached. Please see printed copy of Proceedings of the conference of Professors of Psychology, 19th and 20th January, 1951.

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P. 10. Item 16.-The meeting agrees with the note of dissent as to the inclusion of Mental Hygiene at Inter stage.

P. 11. Item 16.-It is felt that the course recommended for I. A. or I. Sc. in Psychology includes certain topics like various forms of Conditioning and Learning, Physiological drives, Personality, Conflicts and Personal Adjustments etc, which may be too high for this standard. So it is suggested that the course could be somewhat lightened by deleting:-

a & b under part IV. under part V.

b & c under part VI.

P. 28. The practical course suggested for M. A., part I & II, seems to include the application and administration of some of the intelligence and aptitude tests etc., standardised in other countries. This is felt to be a drawback and, therefore, it is suggested that tests standardised in our country with our own forms should be prepared first by the proposed Central Research Bureau (P. 16) and practice given in the administration of the same in these post-graduate advanced courses. Concerning the remaining items there was complete agreement with the proposals of the Conference.

(2) Utkal University, Cuttack.-The following are the comments made by some of the Professors on the proceedings of the Conference of Professors of Psychology for placing before the Central Advisory Board of Education:---

(a) Dr. D. Misra, M.A. Ph.D., Principal, Rajendra College, Bolamgir:-

" The recommendations of the Conference have been ideal and will immensely advance the study of Psychology and its applications if of course, the recommendations are being implemented in the near future ".

(b) Dr. Radhanath Rath, M.A., Ph.D., Lecturer, Revenshaw College, Cuttack :-

" From the proceedings it appears that the main purpose of the Conference of Professors of Psychology convened by the Central Government was to encourage the teaching of Psychology in the different Indian Universities and coordinate the prevalent syllabuses. Prof. Humayun Kabir the Joint Educational Adviser to the Government of India who was the Chairman of the Conference stressed the growing importance of Psychology and referred to its various applications in the Social, Medical, Educational and other fields. He stressed the need of -greater uniformity in the standard and syllabus of Psychology taught at various places.

The Conference was attended by 27 delegates from the different Universities and 37 very important problems regarding the teaching and syllabus of Psychology were discussed. Prof Gardner Murphy, a well known Psychologist of America had been invited by the Central Government to guide the deliberations. It 'has been able to frame a model syllabus and has also given valuable suggestions for setting up new Laboratories for experiments.

This sort of Conference of Psychologists is first of its kind in our country. The conclusions arrived at the conference will be of immense help to all the educationists and University authorities and for years to come the proceedings will remain as an authoritative guide in the subject. It is also very encouraging to find that Central Government convened such a conference and promised to pursuade the State Governments

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and Universities to, encourage the study of Psychology. The Conference has also urged the authorities to start separate departments of Psychology where it does not already exist and also to improve the existing departments.

A Standing Committee has also been formed under the Central Ministry of Education to give suggestions and guide the new departments which will be started at different places. It is also hoped that this Committee will guide and co-ordinate research.

Originally the intention of calling a Conference of Psychologists was to come in direct contact with Prof Gardner Murphy of America who had been deputed to India by the UNESCO to study the Social tension in this country. But the Conference did not utilise this opportunity and the Education Department also did not arrange any programme in this connection. The Conference should have made attempts to encourage research in Social tension, at different places.

Another difficulty is that the decisions arrived at the Conference may re. main as a pious wish and may never materialise without substantial material help and encouragement from the Central Government. But as it appears there is no indication of this."

(c) Shri R. N. Bhattacharya, M.A., Lecturer in Logic, S. K. C. G. College, Parlakimedi :-

"I am to inform you that I have carefully gone through the proceedings of the Professors of Psychology and have found that the recommendations given by them may be accepted."

(d) Sri Sisir Kumar Gupta, M.A., Lecturer in Philosophy, G. M. College Sambalpur :

"I have gone through the proceedings of the Conference of Professors of Psychology, held at New Delhi on the 19th and 20th January, 1951. I would like to make the following comments:-

I very much appreciate the idea of opening Psychological Laboratories in every College. Psychology is as much as Science as Physics or Chemistry. There is no reason why there should not be Laboratories for Psychology, if such Laboratories are deemed-necessary for study of above mentioned Sciences. Experiments in Psychology, will not only make the theories all the more interesting, but also make students realise all the implications of such theories. The price for establishing such Laboratory is also very moderate being estimated to be only Rs. 1,500 by the Conference.

The recommendations of the Conference on applied Psychology are very apt.-No doubt, in the present transitional stage in India studies and projects of Practical usefulness to national life, should be taken up. I would like to suggest in this connection, that after the Matriculation Stage, students should be Psychologically tested to determine their aptitudes, so that we may get the right students for every subject.

Regarding introducing Mental Hygiene at the Intermediate stage (Item-6) there was some disagreement among the members of the Conference. It appears some members did not think it advisable to teach Mental Hygiene to adolescents. But it is- during the period of adolscence that the foundation of One's character is

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laid. It is therefore, desirable that one should know at this stage, what is mental health, and how to attain it. Though the knowledge of what is derogatory to mental health may tempt certain individuals to be d linquents, yet that is no reason why such useful knowledge should be hidden from them. If the subject be taught in the right spirit the liklihood of building one's character in the right way will be more than otherwise.

Inclusion of Experimental Psychology in the B. A. Course as has been recommended by the Conference, will be very fruitful. It will help students to undertake some research at M. A. degree stage. This in its turn will facilitate more substantial research leading to doctorate degree.

On the whole I very much appreciate the recommendations of the Conference. Due emphasis has been given to applied Psychology. The recommendations, if fully implemented will undoubtedly be of great service to the nation

(e) Sri K. V. K. Rao, M.A., Lecturer in Philosophy, G. M.-College, Sambalpur:-

"This is a very commendable report. The sooner the recommendations are implemented the better for the subject, the teacher and the taught".

(3) Jammu and Kashmir University.- " The recommendations of the Conference are very much in keeping with the programme that our University has in view. Our University is yet in infancy and that factor together with insufficiency of funds may put a break on the pace at which we would like to see psychology receiving due attention in Kashmir. There is nothing that might be urged against, the scheme given at the end."

(4) Agra University.-Following are the comments of the Agra University on the various items of the proceedings of the Conference of Professors of Psychology.

Item 1.- Agra University is an affiliating University. Psychology is recognised as an independent subject by the University for the B. A. and M. A. examinations. One College is teaching Psychology as an independent subject for the B A. Examination. Two Colleges are seeking affiliation in Psychology for the the M. A. Examination. Lack of finance stands in way of many affiliated colleges to start Experimental Psychology, the need of which is very keenly felt.

Item 7.- Facilities are offered by the Universities to those who propose to study Psychology at the B. A. stage without studying it for the Intermediate Examination.

Item 8.- The University has recognised Psychology as an independent subject for the B. A. and M. A. Examinations. But the University has one Board of Studies in Philosophy and Psychology.

Item 9.- The University agrees with the principle. But lack of finance is the main reason why it cannot be carried out in practice.

Item 10.- The B. A. and M. A. courses in Psychology include Psychological Psychology and Social Psychology.

Item 11.- The different schools of Psychology are included in the M. A. Course.

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Item 12.- Due place has been given to the unconscious in the B. A. and M. A courses in Psychology.

Item 14.-- There are two papers in Psychology in the M. A. Course in Philosophy, one paper in social Psychology in the M. A. Course ill Sociology, one paper in Educational Psychology in the B. T. Course, and one paper in General Psychology and social Psychology or Child Psychology in the B. A. Course in Philosophy. Some knowledge of Abnormal Psychology is required of the candidates for the M. B. Examination.

Item 15.- See item No. 14. Home Science is not recognised by the University as a subject for the B. A. or M. A. Examination.

Item 16.- The University agrees with the Principles underlying the Syllabuses framed, but feels that the M. A. course is much too ambitious to be practicable. It can be carried out only if the Central Government or the State Government help the affiliated colleges with sufficient funds. In their present financial condition the scheme is impracticable. The University has no B. A. Honours Course.

Item 24.- There is one paper in Psychology in B. A. Philosophy, which is common to B. A. Psychology also in the University. There are two papers in Psychology in the M. A. Philosophy course, one compulsory and one optional in the University.

Item 37.- Indian Psychology is included in the M. A. Course in Psychology of the University.

Item 6, 8, 9-12 and 16 will be referred to various University Bodies for their opinions or necessary action .

The University itself may start a post-graduate Department in Experimental Psychology or some old good colleges may start post- graduate departments with well equipped laboratories, if they are provided with sufficient funds for the purpose.