People exhorted to keep superstitions beliefs far

People exhorted to keep superstitions beliefs far

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 3, 2015 : A jatha against superstitions was organised by the Manava Bandhutva Vedike at the Service Bus Stand here on Dec 2. Addressing the people, Wilfred D’Souza, convener of the vedike, said that the people, even in districts considered to be more advanced than the rest in the State, followed superstitions including ‘made snana’.

About a few decades ago, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts were known for harmony as people of various religions and castes lived together there. But in the last two decades, the situation had changed drastically. Disharmony was reaching even villages.

There were fundamentalists in all religions and communities. But they had to be kept at bay,  D’Souza said.

The Dalits had been oppressed by upper castes for centuries.   People of the upper castes kept dogs and cats as their pets and treated them well. At the same time, they meted out the worst treatment to the Dalits, he alleged.

B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, had fought against discrimination and oppression. He had dreamt of a just and an equitable society. Instead, the reactionary forces were trying to take the country back by a few centuries through their communal agenda.   The jatha would culminate in Belagavi on December 6, where an ‘Anti-Superstition Day’ would be celebrated.   William Martis, progressive leader, said that there was no connection between education and superstitions. Even the most educated persons could be superstitious.

TV programmes  :  All the television channels telecast programmes on prediction on zodiac signs in the mornings.   Though the predictions were suspicious, people watched them, he said.  Dinesh Kotian, convener of the vedike; and Annappa Sherigar, Raju Master, Keshav Hejmady, and Shekhar Hejmady, office-bearers of the vedike, were present.