February 2025 saw us embark on a fascinating five-day Kerala adventure with a vibrant group of 14 psychology students and two knowledgeable faculty from Royal College Mumbai. The tour, sparked by a brilliant faculty idea, transformed into a deep dive into Kerala's offering for psychology students. We're excited to share our journey, the places we visited, and the valuable insights gained, hoping to guide others who wish to explore Kerala with a psychological focus.
This is no normal tour, it has a theme, it is a group of students, and it is a tour program that has specific goals and targets to achieve in terms of visiting places. It is an educational tour, at the same time should have elements of fun and leisure to make sure that it does not become boring stuffing in too much of educative stuff. The tour spanned five days and four nights, with stays divided between Thiruvananthapuram (two nights) and Kochi (two nights). In Thiruvananthapuram, our key visits were the Different Art Centre within Kinfra Park and the Psycho Park, situated in the more rural Vellanad region. And for Kochi we had a factory visit, a blind school and a developmental paediatrics department of the MOSC medical college.
At the Different Art Centre, children with diverse needs flourish through various art forms, notably magic. While daily performances are available, our student group prioritized an educational visit. We witnessed the children's talents and then explored Prism, a cutting-edge therapy facility. The integrated approach to intervention was profoundly moving. The centre, spearheaded by magician Gopinath Muthukad, demonstrates the transformative impact of passionate leadership. A visit, even during leisure travel, offers invaluable support and insight.
The Psycho Park, created by Dr. Madhujan in 2021, offers a dedicated space for exploring psychology. The park provides an accessible introduction to the scientific study of mind and behavior. A curated half-day tour showcases the history and development of psychology, making it a valuable experience for enthusiasts.
We organised guided visits to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple (exterior) and the historic Kuthira Malika (Horse Palace) in Thiruvananthapuram. The palace, built by Maharaja Swati Thirunal Rama Varma in the 19th century, offers a glimpse into royal life with its collection of rare and priceless artifacts. The students were stunned seeing the kind of opulence the Travancore Kings once enjoyed and for their interest in art and architecture.
Leaving Trivandrum, we embarked on a road trip to Kochi, pausing for a delightful houseboat day cruise in Alleppey. Despite the scorching sun, our group enjoyed a relaxing four-hour cruise through the backwaters aboard a fully air-conditioned houseboat, where we were served lunch. We then continued our journey to Kochi for an overnight stay.
Our time in Kochi revealed the diverse applications of psychology. We began with a visit to KAMCO, a Kerala government tiller manufacturing unit. This sparked a fascinating discussion on industrial psychology, highlighting its relevance in areas like man-machine interaction, safety, and workplace dynamics. It was a powerful demonstration of psychology's broad reach.
Next, we visited a blind school in Aluva, where students engaged in a 1.5-hour interactive session with faculty. We learned about different forms of blindness, the psychological resilience of the students, and the specialised tools they use. The session culminated in a meaningful "dine with the blind" program.
Our final educational stop was the Child Development Centre at MOSC Medical College, Kolengery. Founded by Dr. M.C. Mathew, a pioneer in developmental paediatrics in India, this centre seamlessly blends art and science. The welcoming staff gave us an insightful tour, followed by a presentation by Ms. Susan. The centre's dedication to child development was truly inspiring. That evening, a psychologist specialising in developmental paediatrics shared her career journey with the students.
On our last day, we enjoyed a two-hour sightseeing tour of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, concluding with a scenic ride on the Kochi Water Metro back to the train station for our return to Mumbai.
This psychology themed Kerala tour, co-designed with Ms. Rita Dandapani, Head of the Psychology Department at Royal College Mumbai, revealed Kerala's strong commitment to psychology. Despite some initial rejections, the program was a resounding success, offering students a wealth of information and a broadened perspective. The combination of academic exploration and Kerala's natural beauty created a truly enriching experience. We discovered that Kerala has a lot of facilities, institutions and centres who take psychology very seriously, and that is a great thing for the students to see.
Comments