Swimming against the tide of superstition is pretty tough, especially in Hassan.
The authorities of the City Municipal Council’s swimming pool in Maharaja Park quite unabashedly hang up a board one day every month that reads: ‘The pool has been closed as today is Amavasya’. Many consider Amavasya, new moon day, as ‘inauspicious’. The CMC says this has been in practice ever since the pool was built. The weekly holiday for the pool is on Tuesday.
Ironically, the same urban local body conducts a summer camp for children annually, where intellectuals and scientists motivate children to develop a scientific temper and urge them to question superstitious practices. Interestingly, the State government too has been trying to push forward a Bill against superstitious practices. The proposed law has been put on the backburner.
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Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti State vice-president Ahmed Hagare said that he had questioned the CMC about this blind belief. “But the CMC did not pay heed,” he said, pointing out that Article 51A (h) of the Constitution clearly states that it is the fundamental duty of the citizens to develop scientific temper. “The government and its institutions are engaged in promoting superstitions in numerous ways. We are demanding the implementation of the anti-superstition law, where the CMC is encouraging blind belief!” Mr. Hagare said.
CMC president H.S. Anil Kumar said he was also surprised when he noticed it after assuming office. “I enquired with the staff, who said it had been in practice since its inauguration. My staff suggested against stopping this practice,” he added.