Slow death of excellence: Eulogy of central institute of psychiatry, Ranchi.

The Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi, has been a cornerstone of Indian psychiatry since its founding in 1918, pioneering therapies, psychopharmacology, child and community mental health services, and training generations of psychiatrists. It was central to establishing the Indian Psychiatric Society and shaping psychiatric departments nationwide. Despite its historic legacy, CIP now faces a slow decline marked by chronic underfunding, unfulfilled infrastructure promises, vacant faculty positions, bureaucratic interference, and disrupted clinical services, including irregular ECT, limited radiology, and overburdened OPDs. Bureaucratic interference and side-lining of senior faculty have further weakened leadership and morale. Patients, especially from Bihar, Jharkhand, and Bengal, bear the burden of inadequate services. Immediate actions and reforms are essential, including granting autonomy, upgrading infrastructure, filling faculty vacancies, safeguarding core therapies, and establishing super-specialty programs. Preserving CIP is crucial to sustain the legacy and future of Indian psychiatry.