SUPERSTITIONS EVEN IN THE COMPUTER AGE

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Even to-day,Indians do,many things,blindly.In South India,people hang an ash gourd,at the entrance of their house or shop.People,who hang that gourd,believe that,it would divert,the attention of people,who look at the house or shop.How for,scientifically,that look of any body,would affect the prosperity of the house or shop,has not been studied yet. I have neither seen,nor heard,any Westerner doing,this kind of hanging

.Basically,Westerners would question,themselves,before doing anything.They would do anything,only if they are convinced,about their action.As Indians,we do not have,that questioning habit.Right from childhood,our parents have brought us up,with fear.They taught us to do things,blindly.We are used to that.We pass on the same tradition,to our children.We expect them,to follow our habits,blindly.

I have written in an article,earlier,how I used to crush,four lime fruits,by keeping them below,four wheels of our car,on Aayudha Pooja day.I have stopped that practice,since five years.After stopping that practice,no accident took place to our car.I did that crushing of limes,because ,I have seen my father doing it,right from my childhood,at my native place,at Arakkonam,in Thamil Naadu.I followed that,for 43 years,after coming to Hyderabad.Education,is not making Indians,think ,rationally.
In Western countries,children are given the independence,to think rationally,right from their childhood.Parents do not compel them,to do anything blindly,like we do in India.Even,children born to Indian parents,living in West,think and behave like Western children.
I can give a live example,for that.This happened,twenty five years back.
My college room mate’s sister was living in New York.She visited our house at Shaantinagar,Hyderabad,with her son,who was about five years old.We all sat in the front room of our house.My wife was busy,discussing with the guest,about their life in New York.
I was watching,the little boy.He was looking at the roof of the room,all the time.With curiosity,I asked that boy,what is that,he is looking at the roof,all the time.He promptly replied,saying that,he is watching the lizard,at the roof.He was wondering,how that lizard was walking,with legs up and body down,without falling on the ground?

How many children born in India,would get such a doubt,I do not know.Even,grown up people in India,would not get such doubts
Scientifically,we know the reason,how lizards are able to walk,with legs up and body down,on the roof.But that small boy getting that doubt shows,how children,in Western countries,question,each and every event ,which we think as unimportant.

In India,if our child raises,such a doubt,we would only,make the child,shut its mouth,saying,”do not ask such silly questions”.We do not encourage,the inquisitiveness of a child.That is why,we produce very few scientists,in India,inspite of having,one fifth population,in the world.Like ash gourd is hung,people hang,coconut,lime fruits and chillies,in a string,at the entrance to the house or shop.All the above hangings are done,with blind beliefs.There are no scientific evidences,for the benefits,we would get,for such hangings.We are only wasting,all the above food materials,on account of blind beliefs.Please think,before you hang,such things,next time.

JN DAMODHAR ,FOUNDATION FOR RATIONAL THINKING, HYDERABAD