The Hindu : Front Page : Superstition eclipses science

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 04, 2005

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Superstition eclipses science

Dennis Marcus Mathew

HYDERABAD: As the beautiful spectacle unfolded across the skies with the moon partially hiding the sun, tradition and superstition pushed science aside and threw a blanket of abstinence and prayers over the twin cities on Monday.

There were many who did not budge from their seats and remained indoors for the entire period, which lasted around two hours, refusing even to relieve themselves. In offices, many left by 3 p.m. so that they could be inside the "safe confines" of their homes before the "dragon swallowed the sun". Many others observed fast.

No marks!

Housewives were busy before the eclipse placing `darbas' and tulsi leaves on food items and throwing away cooked food to prepare fresh food later. Pregnant women too were tense, sitting tight for fear of hurting their babies. Some grandmas prevented them from scratching too for the fear that the newborn would have scars!

These were the deeds of those who believed that a solar eclipse was not the best of times of to do anything. The list actually is much longer. "A cyber city in the 21st century, and all these?" was the question the progressive ones raised.

Panicky NRIs

"I got several calls from non-resident Indians, asking about precautions when the eclipse would occur in their country. I told them there was no need of such fears," says the director of the B.M. Birla Science Centre, B.G. Sidharth.

"These beliefs have no scientific backing. In fact, many reasons are actually contradictory," says Y. Ravi Kiron of the Association of Amateur Astronomers.

Science-speak

"For instance, they say you should not go out to avoid the radiation. Truth is that during an eclipse, the sun's rays are blocked and radiation is minimised! As for food getting spoiled when it becomes dark during the eclipse, what about the daily sunset? And on normal days too, it is harmful to look directly at the sun," Mr. Kiron argues.

"Same logic applies for worries of pregnant women getting affected due to ultraviolet rays. The UV rays are blocked during an eclipse. Avoiding scratching to prevent the baby from getting scars is also unscientific.

They say the fall in temperature is dangerous. What about winter?" he asks. Still, science and its advocates had few listeners in the cyber city on Monday.

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