Bengaluru (aka Bangalore), India: Reflections from two Introductory 3 Day Workshops in Group Analysis, 2018 & 2019

We (Angelika Gölz and Farhad Dalal) have just returned from running the second introduction to Group Analysis event which took place in a residential setting over a two and a half day period. The setting being a secular ashram called Fireflies. Fireflies – situated just outside Bangalore – is something of a sanctuary; a tranquil oasis that contrasts sharply with the traffic jammed concrete bungle that is Bangalore. Despite the traffic and noise, Bangalore has its virtues: an extraordinary number of artisan coffee shops, many of which roast their own beans on the premises; and most surprisingly (to us) a large number of brewery/bar/restaurants, which brew their own range of (delicious) beers including pils, ales, lager and wheat beer. The city also has a vibrant music and cultural scene for all manner of tastes.

Meanwhile, Fireflies is simple; made up of a number of quirky buildings (some of them folly-like), set in the midst of a small tropical woodland. Dotted around the grounds are a number of eccentric and interesting sculptures and artefacts that speak to feminist and humanistic themes. The rooms and amenities are adequate but basic: fans but no air conditioning. Set in ‘nature’ it has its share of mosquitoes and other creatures like house lizards and so on. Right now, in April/May it is truly hot: 30+⁰ C. The food is basic (dal, rice, veg and fruit) but tasty and generous.  It is served up buffet style in an open air but covered dining area.

The participants were mainly young clinical psychologists (but also some psychotherapists) most of whom were keen to get away from the individualistic, bio-medical, mechanistic paradigm that their trainings were steeped in and thirsty to learn about group analysis.

On both occasions it has turned out to be a very special experience for us. In many ways it was no different to running such a course in the UK; but a mix of the Indian ambience and the fact that all the participants were Indian gave the experience a very particular flavour. When one of the participants used the term ‘segue’ in passing in the first session whilst describing something, I was struck (although I should not have been) by the degree of sophistication and fluency in the English language and the depth of psychological thinking that prevailed in many of the participants. But as one might expect, some struggled as they found themselves out of their depth in unknown waters; but by the end of the three days most had made landfall to some degree.

The setting for the groups last year was the open air terraces at the top of a three storey building, at the same level as the tree canopy that surrounded us. The atmosphere generated by bird song as twilight fell during the last stages of a small group session was unforgettable and quite magical. And this year (in part because of the heat) the sessions took place in a ‘meditation’ hall – which had its own charm with walls filled with modernist paintings of different kinds. Whilst the fans gave some relief from the heat, they also made it difficult for us to hear each other.

Several of the participants from the first introductory workshop have gone on to do the Introductory Year (the ICC equivalent of the Foundation Course in the UK), and many of those are keen to complete the full Qualifying Course. Further, seven of those who have just completed the 3 day introductory event have indicated that they would like to go on and do the Introductory Year.

It won’t be too many years before India has its own Institute of Group Analysis.

Angelika Gölz and Farhad Dalal
www.devonpsychotherapy.org.uk