KOZHIKODE/KOLLAM: “Religious beliefs being personal to the individuals concerned, any person was at liberty to believe in the genuineness of the hair and worship or to disbelieve the same. Any investigation to prove the genuineness of the hair would lead to unnecessary law and order outbreak in the state.” These excerpts from the affidavit filed by the state government before the High Court on the ‘Thirukesham’ (holy hair) row between two Sunni factions in Malabar apparently say it all. The fact that it is impossible to differentiate between faith and superstition prevents effective enforcement of law to root out the menace of superstition or ‘divine’ treatments from society. This inability to clearly demarcate the right and wrong is also providing a thriving zone to the fraudsters.
“There is a kind of ‘spiritual treatment’ apart from the normal schools of medicine. We firmly believe that certain diseases and ailments can be cured using Mantra,” said Hameed Faizy Ambalakkadavu, state general secretary of Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), the youth outfit of Samastha Kerala Jemiyyathul Ulema. However, Faizy added,”such treatments should bear fruit only if they are conducted by clerics or scholars who are proficient in religious practises. Unfortunately, a lot of people are exploiting this and cheating the public. However, it is almost impossible to differentiate between the right and wrong.”
Legal experts and social critics hope that massive awareness would reduce this social evil to a great extent. “From various incidents, it appears that education would not change the beliefs or superstitions of a particular person. I personally know retired professors who strongly believe in the ‘divine’ powers of human gods. Even the highly educated people among the Muslim community believe that marriages would last forever if the ceremony is led by someone from Thangal family,” said social critic and author Hameed Chendamangalloor.
BJP leader and advocate P S Sreedharan Pillai suggested the constitution of a special squad to nab the fraudsters who thrive by exploiting the religious faith of the people. “Clearly, all these activities are illegal. Hence, a special police squad should be formed, raids should be conducted at these centres and stringent action must be taken. Often, these sorcerers create an illusion among the devotees that a particular disease or an ailment has been cured. Even if they realise that they were cheated, they would not reveal it out of fear orisolation in society,” he said. Meanwhile, North Zone ADGP N Shanker Reddy begs to differ. “First of all, these are very sensitive issues. It is completely a private affair of the people who approach such persons for cure or seeking prosperity. They are doing it out of their belief. Police can act only if there is a valid complaint against a person. Otherwise, it would evoke widespread criticism. Those who have complaints can approach the police officers concerned requesting action,” he said.
Jam-eyyathul Quzat Val Mahallath, Kerala, (the authorised association of the Qasis and Muslim Mahals of Kerala) general secretary advocate K Noorudheen Musaliyar, alleged that such evil practises were spreading across the state as the clerics and religious scholars fail to create awareness among the people. “Religious bodies should be able to help devotees to judge between the good and bad,” he said.
V N Murali, state general secretary, Purogamana Kalasahithya Sangham, there is a general acceptance in society for such short cuts. “Caste and religious organizations are doing a revivalism these days. The electronic media also need to be blamed for spreading superstition by airing advertisement on products with magical powers,” Murali said.
