Throwback | Sept 2013 | Something on Superstition | Opinion

I do not believe that a bill or a law or an act can bring abt a major change. India's recent history bears testimony to this unfortunate fact. 

Can they guarantee that there will be no incidents of witch hunting and other such crimes after such a bill comes into force? Nobody can say for sure, right? Have they been able to implement in all totality all the bills that have been passed?

Superstitious beliefs are handed down generations. They are a part of our tradition. No law, no fear of punishment can guarantee that the people will stop practising superstitions. How many of us drive on without a thought even if a black cat crosses our path?

The only solution, as many would agree, is to bring about awareness. Crimes due to superstition are prevalant only among the downtrodden. The standard of living has to be raised. Instead of trying to put into force some new law, right to education must be taken seriously. Not just crimes due to superstition, most ills in the society would cease to exist once the futility of it all is explained to the unenlightened.

Such cases are almost always reported from places which can safely be categorised as backward or pathetically underdeveloped. Places where you will see wire and towers but no electricity, daylong power cuts are quite common in such places. Places which school buildings but no teachers. Places where huge, unplanned families survive on just one meal per day, sometimes two days. Places where the males have nothing better to do then vent their frustration on the weak ones in their family or neighbourhood after consuming litres of local liquor. 

How can we even expect these people to stop indulging in such anti social practices fearing the law of the land? Why would they obey the system which does absolutely nothing for them? Why will they listen to the representatives who visit them only before the elections?

Its about time the high and mighty rulers who move about in expensive SUVs and Sedans, sirens blaring, with PSOs and gun toting men in uniform, roll up their sleeves and get some work done. Instead of rushing to the capital at the drop of a hat or going to switzerland (to smile at expensive slrs n later put up pictures on social networking sites) or pattaya ( just because the missus craves an oil massage on the beach) n number of times, they should go to these areas, meet those people, should do their bit to bring about awareness and to bring these people closer to civilisation. I am hoping against hope as I say this! For we can totally understand how difficult it will be for the 'babus' to stand in the scorching sun for hours! And even if they do manage to reach those places, how will they survive without an ac, without chilled beer and hariyali kebabs?

So I guess no matter how much we scream and shout, our representatives will only debate for hours on end and cry (crocodile's tears obviously!) inside the parliament, in front of the cameras. 
Ngo's and individuals are doing their best to combat such unnecessary evils. All that the government has to do is provide them with the much needed support. 

All superstitions are not bad. Sachin Tendulkar always puts on the pad of his left leg before going out to bat. Such beliefs can never be stopped. I believe awareness is the only key to combat the crimes arising out of superstition. A bill isn't the need of the hour.

(this piece was published in a city based tabloid in Guwahati)