Kiran Kumar K. Salagame, PhD

Vice President

Bridging Transpersonal Studies and Indian Wisdom Traditions.

Kiran Kumar K. Salagame is a distinguished scholar whose career spans over three decades of groundbreaking contributions to psychology, particularly in integrating Indian knowledge systems with contemporary psychological practices. As a former Professor of Psychology at the University of Mysore, India, and a current Governing Council Member of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, his work has significantly shaped the understanding of consciousness, meditation, and the self within both Indian and global contexts.

Kiran’s academic journey is marked by a deep exploration of altered states of consciousness, which he focused on during his PhD in Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS. His dedication to this field has led to numerous publications and presentations on Indian Psychology, Meditation, Yoga, Positive Psychology, and Transpersonal Psychology. He is perhaps best known for his book, “Psychology of Meditation: A Contextual Approach,” a comprehensive work based on his post-doctoral research as a Fulbright Scholar. This book reflects his commitment to mainstreaming psychological concepts embedded in Indian traditions.

His innovative contributions include the development of the Aham Questionnaire, a tool designed to assess self-structure from an Indian psychological perspective, and a semi-projective test to evaluate social cognitive abilities in children. These tools demonstrate his dedication to creating culturally relevant psychological assessments that resonate with Indian philosophical traditions.

Kiran’s influence extends beyond academia. He has served as Vice-President of the International Transpersonal Association, and his expertise is sought after by various organizations, including the Advisory Board of “Anandam – The Center of Happiness” at IIM Jammu and the National Positive Psychology Association in New Delhi. His editorial contributions to the International Journal of Transpersonal Studies and other national and international journals further highlight his leadership in the field.

Recognized for his contributions, Kiran has been awarded numerous accolades, including the Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Fulbright Nehru Visiting Lecturer Fellowship, and Honorary Professorship by the Yoga Federation of Serbia. His work has been featured on platforms such as the New Thinking Allowed YouTube channel, where he discusses the latest trends in scientific research related to consciousness and meditation.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Kiran enjoys a rich personal life filled with interests such as reading, music, gardening, travel, and spending time with loved ones. His holistic approach to life and work continues to inspire those seeking to bridge ancient wisdom with modern psychological science, offering pathways to deeper understanding and integration of the self.