Tragedy of Superstition

Dr Jyotsna Bhattacharjee
It is something horrifying and shameful as well that even in this modern scientific age, when man has almost conquered nature, some people are still indulging in killing innocent people on the assumption that they practise witchcraft. Only recently it was reported in the newspapers that three people from the same family were hacked to death because of the wrong assumption that they were evil people who practised witchcraft on the people from the area. That was not a lone incident — such incidents have become common all over the country in different parts and this callous killing process has been going on unabated. Many women have been tortured or burnt alive on the belief that they were witches. It seems that in spite of our scientific progress, we have not really achieved any mental development and are still dwelling in the Stone Age.

Superstition of course does play a very important role in human life — even enlightened and educated people are not above superstition. We have always believed in certain things which are not supported by reason. Hence we often behave out of character. Many do say vehemently that they are not superstitious, yet their activities tell a different story. These activities demonstrate the weakness in human character. Whatever science claims, human beings are still conscious of their limitations, and so they think that without supernatural aid they would not be able to fight the evil forces of nature.
People have great faith on certain things which are supposed to bring good fortune to those who use them. For example, rhino horns are in great demand and it is believed that these horns bring good luck to the wearers — so you see rings, lockets etc made of rhino horns to be worn by some people. Hence possibly all this poaching and killing of rhinos by poachers. Apparently they are sold for a huge sum. In the same way ivory is also considered to be lucky by some people. Maybe parts of other animals are also taken as auspicious by many, of which I have definite knowledge.

There are some people (including myself) who believe number 13 to be an evil number. This superstition is not the speciality of only India, it is present in advanced Western countries as well. While I was studying in London, I noticed that the Westerners were too much prejudiced against number 13. They did not want to take room numbered 13 even if it was a very good and convenient one. Hence many hotels and lodging houses totally eliminated number 13 from their list of rooms.
Then broken mirror spells doom — as is believed both in the East and the West. If a mirror is accidentally broken in somebody’s house, it is taken as a bad omen.

Then some people are afraid of going under the ladder. Thursdays are often regarded by some people unfavourable for embarking on a journey or a new project.

I have no idea if these beliefs have any rational foundation or not. But most of the people I have met stick to the point that one should never go out to start some new work or a journey after 12 noon on a Thursday — since the time period after twelve is known as ‘barbela’, which is totally unfavourable.
None possibly has any idea about the unfavourable nature of Thursdays. But there are many who claim to have experienced the difficulties faced on a Thursday. Then there are particular days when one is not supposed to shampoo hair or cut nails or hair. None knows what will happen if we violate the unofficial but socially recognized rules.

It is not that only in rural areas such irrational beliefs are held. Even enlightened educated urban ladies believe these things. Sometime back an acquaintance grumbled about the evil eye of another lady. The acquaintance is a skilled gardener and her garden boasts of varieties of flowers. She also grows vegetables in her back garden. Apparently a lady came to her residence and gushed over her bunch of bananas, which were very attractive. That very night the banana tree fell down without any apparent reason. There could be several reasons for that I could have supplied. But my friend stuck to her view that the banana tree fell down due to the malevolent look of the other lady.

Palmists and astrologers successfully build up their profession on the weakness of the people concerned. They are amassing huge wealth at the cost of the hapless people. I have seen that even the most educated people do throng the chambers of renowned astrologers.

Superstitions are common and they are present possibly everywhere. To have irrational faith is not a crime as long as it does not harm others. But doing injury to others or killing people for believing that they practised witchcraft, is not only morally wrong but also a horrible crime. It is time that proper action was taken up to stop these evil practices.

(The writer is a former HoD, Philosophy, Cotton College, Guwahati) source: the sentinel assam