Who is Dr Anand Nadkarni? Famous Maharashtra psychiatrist who died at 67

For thousands of people across Maharashtra, Dr Anand Nadkarni was not just a psychiatrist. He was the person who made conversations around mental health feel less frightening, less clinical and far more human. He had reportedly been admitted to a Mumbai hospital before his death. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over his passing, calling Nadkarni a “multifaceted personality” who dedicated his life to mental health awareness and social welfare. But for many people, Nadkarni’s legacy goes far beyond titles. Because long before mental health became a mainstream conversation online, he was already taking it into classrooms, homes, corporate offices, rehabilitation centres and even art and music. Who is Dr Anand Nadkarni? Born in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, in 1958, Dr Anand Madhusudan Nadkarni came from an academically inclined family. His father was a professor who later became a college principal in Thane.As a child, Nadkarni battled polio, an experience that reportedly shaped his resilience and understanding of emotional struggle early in life. He later completed his MBBS, MD in Psychological Medicine and Diploma in Psychological Medicine from Mumbai’s Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital. He topped the University of Mumbai in his MD examination before beginning psychiatric practice in 1986. Over the next four decades, he became one of Maharashtra’s most recognised voices in mental healthcare. What is the Institute for Psychological Health (IPH)? In 1990, Dr Nadkarni co-founded the Institute for Psychological Health (IPH) in Thane alongside colleagues with a mission centred around “destigmatisation” — reducing fear, shame and misinformation surrounding mental illness.Today, the institute houses more than 70 mental health professionals and is regarded as one of Maharashtra’s important mental healthcare organisations. His work focused not just on treatment, but on making mental health conversations accessible to ordinary people. That meant speaking in simple language, connecting psychology with everyday life and breaking the idea that mental healthcare belonged only inside hospitals. Why was Dr Anand Nadkarni popular beyond psychiatry? One reason Dr Nadkarni stood out was because he never limited himself to one field.He wrote extensively in Marathi, authoring more than 25 books covering mental health, philosophy, personal growth and social themes. Some of his writings were later translated into English and Braille, while excerpts also found place in Maharashtra state textbooks. But he was not only a doctor and writer. He was also deeply involved in theatre, music, cinema and public speaking. He worked as a creative consultant on acclaimed Marathi films like Devrai and Kadachit, both known for exploring psychological and emotional themes. He also composed music albums, wrote plays and mentored artists, athletes, students and corporate leaders. Colleagues often described his work as a rare mix of psychology, philosophy, literature and art. What was Dr Anand Nadkarni’s role in Muktangan? Dr Nadkarni was also among the key figures behind Muktangan, the Pune-based de-addiction and rehabilitation centre established in the 1980s.At a time when substance addiction was rarely discussed openly, he actively worked in rehabilitation and awareness programmes for young people affected by drug dependency. Over the years, Muktangan went on to become one of Maharashtra’s most recognised rehabilitation initiatives. Deputy CM Shinde noted that the institution later became a model for voluntary organisations working in the social sector. How did Dr Anand Nadkarni help people during Covid-19? During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Nadkarni became a source of emotional support for many families struggling with fear, uncertainty and isolation.According to IPH, he conducted more than 450 online webinars during the pandemic period while continuing mental health services both online and offline. He also began publishing poems regularly during that phase, with many readers saying his words helped them emotionally navigate difficult times. His outreach extended not just across India, but internationally as well. What did Eknath Shinde say on Dr Anand Nadkarni’s death? Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called the news of Dr Nadkarni’s death “extremely shocking”.In a post on X, Shinde described him as a person full of “boundless energy” and remembered his contribution to psychiatry over the last three-and-a-half decades. “With Dr Nadkarni’s passing, we have lost an exceptional psychiatrist, litterateur, poet, playwright, actor, musician, tabla player, painter, social worker and practitioner of philosophy,” he said. Dr Nadkarni is survived by his wife, son and other family members. His funeral will be held in Thane later in the day. (With PTI inputs)