Among the least concentrated areas which nonetheless happen to be one of the most important aspects in uplifting quality of life in rural areas is addressing the evil of superstition. Many individuals have lost their life in brutal murders that took place on the suspicion that they were sorcerers and practitioners of black magic.
The killing of Kudimetha Poshiga, a Kolam tribal from Thimmaguda in Kerameri mandal of Adilabad district a week ago, is a case in point. He was suspected of practicing black magic with the intention of spreading diseases.
In another unrelated incident, a ‘sorcerer’ from Muthampet village in Koutal mandal hung a chick upside down at the T junction in an effort to ward off evil spirits. He had made the villagers believe that evil spirits would be pacified only if a chick was sacrificed (the bird was subsequently released).
Fear is the main source of superstition, and also one of the main sources of cruelty, in the opinion of Bertrand Russell, a famous British philosopher and logician. “Yes, if this fear is conquered, there will hardly be any scope for superstition,” observed T. Lachiram, Adilabad district general secretary of the Telangana United Teachers’ Federation, who was also the State general secretary of Jana Vignana Vedika, that used to work for rooting out superstitions in the then united Andhra Pradesh until about a decade ago. “The government should address this problem which has claimed at least four lives across the State in the last one month,” the teacher said. “It should take up programmes in rural areas deploying cultural troupes to scientifically explain the reasons behind some of the unexplained phenomena, including spread of diseases,” he added. Awareness on superstition, however, should not be limited to common man. Some of the wings of the government, like the medial officers working in rural areas, should also be sensitised on the issue.
Take the case of Kolam Athram Raju from Gowri Kolamguda in Jainoor mandal, who is suffering from fever since the last 20 days. “The doctors at Jainoor primary health centre first said it was malaria and later said it was typhoid,” Raju says of the diagnosis which has left him confused and bewildered rather than cured.
“Our people approach witchcraft practitioners under such circumstances,” the Kolam tribal pointed out of the proclivity of the aboriginal tribes when confused. “It is the doctors who need to brush up their skills and be sensitised on the issue,” he burst out in anger.
