94 chapter
this chapter, Kavitha was beginning work on her M.Phil. in psychology while
she assisted me in my research. At fi rst, she struck me as a polite, earnest listener
who did not off er much information about herself, but this deference at the
outset of our relationship was undoubtedly partly related to gender expecta-
tions. Women are often expected to be initially deferential in conversa tion with
men, especially in a work relationship, which is not to say that everyone follows
this model. I gradually got to know Kavitha well and felt very rewarded by the
experience. Behind her quiet, genial manner is a tough, strongly mo tivated
woman who stands up for her convictions. As very few graduate students in
India take on jobs during their studies, I was impressed that Kavitha took
up the opportunity to work with me when she heard through a psychologist
I know that I was looking for an assistant.
Kavitha also had a reassuring and empathetic manner in interviews with
people who were suff ering distress. Patients we spoke with appeared at ease
and often opened up to her. She knew exactly how and how long to listen
and when and what to ask—although I also, probably less tactfully, interjected
questions and suggested which way the interview should go in many of our
discussions with patients. Ultimately, I think people we spoke with sensed that
she was sincere in wanting to know their story, and, as with Biju, they appeared
to fi nd talking to Kavitha to be therapeutic. I suspect that some patients at
psychiatric facilities found our interviews therapeutic simply because psychia-
trists were always quite busy and were unable to spend much time talking with
patients, while we were able to converse with them for an extended period,
listening to the history of their troubles and frustrations.
As I was leaving Kerala in early 1998, Kavitha was beginning her M.Phil.
research on suicide, a topic she developed interest in while we were doing
our interviews. Th is is a compelling topic as Kerala has the highest suicide
rate in India, and Kavitha is one of the few researchers, in addition to myself
(Halliburton 1998), to examine this topic in detail.
Since fi nishing her M.Phil., Kavitha has worked as a therapist at a drug
and alcohol deaddiction and family counseling center and at other institutions.
While many psychology graduates in Kerala decide to pursue more lucrative
positions outside their fi eld of specialization, Kavitha remains committed to a
career as a counselor and a healer.
I met Benny when he was a graduate student in psychology at the University
of Calicut in northern Kerala and a part-time counselor at an allopathic hos-
pital near the university. Benny assisted me in interviewing patients at the
Government Ayurveda Mental Hospital in Kottakkal. Like Biju and Kavitha,
Benny was sympathetic and engaging in interviews, but he was more outgoing
and assertive and proceeded at a quicker pace. He had a personality that would