Gunamudian David Boaz

G. D. Boaz
Boaz as a young man in London
Born	31 March 1908 Palliyadi, Nagercoil, Tamil nadu
Died	8 July 1965 (aged 57) Madras, India

Gunamudian David Boaz (31 March 1908 – 8 July 1965)^[1] was the first Indian psychologist. He received his PhD from The University of Oxford in 1943, and graduated from Scott Christian College.^[2] The department of Psychology was instituted at the University of Madras in 1943 by him under the influence of Nobel laureate, Sir C. V. Raman and G.N. Ramachandran.^[3] The "Journal of The Madras University" states that Boaz joined the department on 27 September 1943 and on 27 October 1943, he became the Senior Lecturer in Psychology.^[4] In 1948, a full-fledged Psychology department was organized under the headship of Boaz.^[5] The department concentrated exclusively on children and their education first. He was credited for making India an major contributor in the field on Psychology.^[6] Later on in 1976, the department turned its attention to Criminology, Applied Psychology, Organizational Psychology and Counseling, etc. The Indian Government has instituted an award in remembrance of his Work, and more over the Tamil Nadu Government Psychiatric rehabilitation is named after him, The Dr. G.D. Boaz Memorial Hospital^[7]

Publications

• New Statesman and Nation, a speech written 19 September 1942^[8]
• Know Your Mind, a collection of articles published in The Hindu from 1948 to 1965
• Reactions of Socially Backward Groups to Various Ameliorative Measures (1956, University of Madras)^[9]
• Elements of Psychology (1956, S. Vishwanathan, Chetpet, Madras)^[10]
• General Psychology (1957, Boaz Institute of Psychological Service)^[11]
• The Step-child — Step-mother Relationship — A Clinical Study from Journal of Psychological Researches (January 1958 v.2 no.1, Madras Psychology Society)^[12]
• Educational Psychology (1958, Arooran Printers, Chennai)
• Some Fundamentals of Psychology (1958)
• Papers on Industrial Psychology: A Symposium (1962, University Publishers)]^[13]
• Indian Journal of Applied Psychology (editor) (1964, University of Madras Psychology Department)^[14]
• The Concept of Mind By G. D. Boaz, C. Burt, Hans J. Eysenck, Hebb, G. D. Boring (1972, Lawrence Verry Incorporated)^[15]
• Principles of Psychology (date needed)

Personal life

Gunamudian married Daisy Navaratnamalar Tucker. He has 5 children: 4 sons and 1 daughter. His daughter, Bharati Paul, record with His Master's Voice.

References

1. "An pioneer in the field of Madras"
2. See the section entitled "Scientists of National and International Eminence" on the alumni webpage for Scott Christian College.
3. "Department of Psychology"
4. Google Book Search link to "Journal of The Madras University"
5. See the fourth paragraph on the webpage for the School of Social Sciences at the University of Madras.
6. "Mental illness, creativity link discovered"
7. "Boaz centre 40th anniversary"
8. Google Book Search link to Representative American Speeches
9. Google Book Search link to Reactions of Socially Backward Groups to Various Ameliorative Measures
10. Google Book Search link to Elements of Psychology
11. Google Book Search link to General Psychology
12. Google Book Search link to The Step-child - Step-mother Relationship - A Clinical Study from Journal of Psychological Researches
13. Google Book Search link to Papers on Industrial Psychology: A Symposium
14. Google Book Search link to Indian Journal of Applied Psychology
15. Google Book Search link to The Concept of Mind