Karnataka Anti-Superstition Bill-Tackling the Evil Within

India is a land riddled with superstition. Be it the simple act of “touch wood” or people being exploited in the name of worship, superstition has a strong hold over the Indian community. Even if you do not truly believe in it, there are a very few who deem it necessary to speak against it. As per the Constitution of India, it is the fundamental duty of every citizen “to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.” But these superstitions persist and are passed on in the name of tradition. Each of these beliefs is a sign of regress. What is the Anti-Superstition Bill? In the month of November, the Karnataka State assembly passed the anti-superstition Bill or the Karnataka Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices and Black Magic Bill, 2017. Under the much-awaited bill, up to 23 inhuman practices undertaken in the name of “supernatural” or black magic are banned. According to it, such exploitative activities have no place in a civilised society governed by the rule of law. The original bill had provisions for banning astrology and animal sacrifices. If passed, the impact would have been huge, albeit radical. However, after a lot of backlashes and with the upcoming state elections, the provisions were removed and the bill modified. Other acts like the piercing of ears and nose of children as part of rituals, speeches and distribution of literature about “miracles” done by saints etc. are also exempted from the Bill. This Bill was formed when an anti-superstition bill was passed in Maharashtra called the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. What the Bill covers? The Bill bans the following activities, The made snana ritual is a practice under which devotees roll over plantain leaves containing food leftover by the Brahmins. The 500-year-old ritual is believed to rid one of one’s sins and cure diseases. In recent years, it has been accused of being degrading and 'casteist'. Human sacrifices, coercing a person to perform fire-walk at religious festivals; piercing jaw with rods, etc; pelting stones in the name of banamathi, etc; creating panic in the minds of people by invoking ghosts or mantras; claiming to perform surgery with fingers, or claiming to change the sex of the foetus in the womb. (The Hindu) Advertisements that offer miracle cures for diseases or promoting and propagating rituals that involve self-inflicted wounds. Physically harming individuals under the pretext of expelling ghosts. Preventing individuals from seeking medical care in cases of a dog bite, snake bite, etc and instead offering treatments by mantra etc. Practices that violate a woman’s dignity like forcing them to stay in isolation; subjecting them to inhuman and humiliating practices such as parading them naked in the name of worship (battle seve); and sexual exploitation by invoking supernatural powers. (The Hindu) Are laws enough? Superstition is an evil that widely plagues our country. For years, many superstitious beliefs have been debunked and tackled by rationalists across the nation. Organisations like The Science and Rationalists' Association of India, The Federation of Indian Rationalist Association (FIRA), are committed to eradicating superstition and promoting rationality among the people of the nation. Many rationalists and activists like Narendra Dabholkar, M.M. Kalburgi and Govind Pansare have even lost their lives in this fight against superstition. “They were not powerful in the usual sense of the word, but their ability to understand what passed off as tradition, decide what it does to a society, especially to those who could be browbeaten, and then question it sharply and loudly made false prophets run for cover.” (The Indian Express) Lack of education also makes people prone to superstitious beliefs. In turn, they become easy targets of conmen and godmen. This doesn't mean that literate individuals do not hold such beliefs. But awareness and education is an effective way to rid people of such superstitious beliefs. As per the Karnataka anti-superstition Bill, 2017, officers need to be appointed to ensure the implementation and check the violation of the bill. Those who form a hindrance in the discharge of the officer’s duties will be fined and jailed or both. The Bill has been criticised and accused of only tackling superstitious beliefs of the Hindu religion. Narendra Nayak, president of FIRA, who had campaigned for the law, endorsed the bill but said: "I knew they won't ban the most popular superstitions, such as astrology and Vaastu, and won't have the guts to touch the practices of other religions." (The Telegraph) This law, like every other law, will prove to be effective only if it is implemented actively. There are varying views about the need and utility of an anti-superstition law. People stand divided on the issue, some say laws already exist to prevent such inhuman practices others believe state intervention is needed. Inhuman superstitious practices do take place in the name of religion. There are cases of people being exploited, harmed and even killed in such acts. Therefore, if state intervention helps curb such inhumane practices without violating an individual’s rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, then such intervention is for the benefit of the masses.

NIS

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