Superstitious practices are abound in India, including among the highly educated. Why is it so hard to remove such practices? Discuss the significance of scientific temper in fighting such superstitions. (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 6 years
KEY POINTS
· India is a curious mixture of scientific advance and traditional superstitions.
Superstition exists
· India witnessed an unusual rise in the degree and variety of superstitious practices, even among the educated.
· In India, practices such as sati was abolished with the efforts put in by social reform campaigners, education and empowerment (of women in particular).
· Even though, rationalist movements of Periyar and others have made a dent, yet surviving superstitions can be dangerous too, for example when they contradict medical advice.
· Superstitions are deeply ingrained and cannot be eliminated overnight.
Why is it so hard to remove superstitions?
· Fundamentally, a belief may be difficult to shake off simply, due to its deep-seated habituation.
· We are all hypnotised by our previous experiences, and superstition, in particular, is a form of deep-seated hypnosis that is very hard to undo.
· It is undone only when the harm is clear and evident for example, the practice of Sati.
· Such beliefs are strengthened by a confirmation bias (giving importance to facts that agree with our preconceptions and ignoring others) and other logical holes.
Role of Scientific temper
· Scientific temper is a way of thinking and acting which uses a method, including observing physical reality, questioning, testing, hypothesizing, analysing and communicating – using logic.
· The Indian Constitution is unique in listing, among fundamental duties, the duty of each citizen “to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform” under Article 51A.
· Superstition cannot be eradicated by preaching or legislating against it, but can be countered by rational arguments.
· Awareness campaigns against dangerous superstitions along with better education and scientific outreach may have some impact.
· People are generally better persuaded by the reasons which they have themselves discovered than by those which have come into the mind of others.
· The first step to deal with Confirmation bias is to see the matter from the other person’s point of view and acknowledge the validity of their perception, and then bring in its limitations.
· Such a strategy may be more successful than the aggressive campaigns of rationalists.
