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A question of blind belief

No matter how fast we speed on the information superhighway, superstitions are part and parcel of our lives as AMRITA NAYAKdiscovers

PASSED ON Gen Y feels that superstitions are a social phenomenon, passed on from one generation to another, as a tradition of sorts. Here a couple of rationalists are showing how to pull off a supposed miracle PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

A software engineer sets off to work but scurries back home midway as a black cat crosses his path. He bunks work as he believes he will have a bad day all because of the poor black cat.

A DJ postpones her engagement as her left eye starts to twitch rapidly the day before.

A charismatic filmstar dents his classy appears by sporting multi-coloured gems on all his 10 fingers.

Sounds familiar, right? One comes across so many instances where people conform to age-old beliefs as a way propitiating capricious fate. This is the world of superstitions, which wields much influence over people even in these modern times. Superstitions are a part and parcel of our life. Even the most tech-savvy, hip societies have their own set of beliefs that are pretty irrational. Anthropologists and sociologists affirm that superstitions are ingrained in the human consciousness ever since the beginning of time.

How did superstitions originate? In ancient times, people lived with nature. Whenever they confronted difficulties they attributed them to nature, which was considered to be divine and hence feared.

Thus beliefs developed with the idea that the forces of nature helped the progress of life.

As civilisation progressed, these beliefs acquired different meanings, some good, some bad. This led to the origin of superstitions.

Superstitions are subject to variations. The extent to which they exist depends on how evolved the society is. There are two types of superstitions — those that are related to nature and cannot be categorised as good or bad and those that are related to social life and are very definitely divided into as beneficial and detrimental.

We all carry the baggage of superstitions forced down on us by our families and peers. Gen Y feels that superstitions are a social phenomenon passed on from one generation to another as a tradition of sorts.

Fear and comfort

Priyanka, Octavia and Ajay, who have just passed out from Aloysius College, say that superstitions exist because of fear and comfort — factors that are co-related. People feel secure in the knowledge that they can avert risk if they follow certain practices. "Belief in them doesn't yield anything," says Priyanka. She and her friends are not at all superstitious, but are well acquainted with the existing ones. "A black cat crossing the path, calling out to a person as he is about to set off from home, sighting a broom when one leaves home on some auspicious work are some of the many superstitions," lists out Ajay.

Angela, a social worker from America, says: "Superstitions exist because of a particular mindset that has been in existence for ages. One can neither be called totally superstitious or a complete sceptic." She points out certain superstitions, which cuts across cultures and countries, such as walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror and knocking suddenly on something during a conversation.

It is amazing to note that even in this hi-tech era, belief in superstitions among youngsters is rampant, be it in the city or rural areas. Chandrashekar Damle, Head of Department of Sociology, Nehru Memorial College, Sullia, explains: "Youngsters are exposed only to text books. They are scientific only in books, not in the mind. When they repeatedly hear or observe the belief of their elders, they perceive them to be true and make them their own, without scientifically analysing them."

However, there are some superstitions that have a positive side to them and people indirectly benefit from them. For instance, the serpent hill (naga bana) is highly revered and so nobody dares destroy it. Rare species of vegetation and plants grow in and around the area where serpent hills are located. So, a belief in not disturbing a serpent hill helps in the growth of unique plants and herbs useful to people.

Anything can be moulded to our convenience. Fear or courage, animals or things, our perception determines the significance of any concept to us.

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