My dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I consider it a great privilege and pleasure to address you this morning as the next President of Indian Psychiatric Society. I am most grateful to the fellowship of the society for bestowing their trust and confidence in me and having elected me to the highest position in the profession at the national level, which had been a cherished dream for me. I feel humble when I think of the great stalwarts who have been the past Presidents of this great society. Amongst this galaxy of luminaries are my mentors, senior colleagues and friends who had contributed in a big way to the development of psychiatry and moulded the mental health services in our country. I shall endeavour to hold the great traditions led by them for the furtherance of the aims and objectives of our society. I have been participating in the affairs of the society for more than twenty years now, and was actively involved in different capacities as a fellow, member of the executive council, the honorary treasurer, as Vice President and now as the President. With your good wishes and kind co-operation I shall try, to the best of my capacity, to carry out the onerous duties and responsibilities that you have entrusted to me. Each of my honorable predecessors had delivered their presidential address on a specific theme; I too will like to do the same. The theme of my today's address is, "SPIRITUALITY, SCIENCE & MENTAL HEALTH".