Snakebites in India are mostly brushed away as a rural, poor-people problem. While the numbers are staggering, the bigger story is wrapped up in mythology, superstition, and abysmal public health infrastructure.
Seeking spiritual guidance is nothing to be frowned upon. But the masses flocking to babas should also be read as a symptom of a larger problem—India’s crisis of faith.
11 yrs after murder, Pune court hands life sentences to 2 accused, acquits 3 others. Family says they 'welcome' court’s decision & justice has prevailed, but will challenge acquittals.
Anti-superstition activists attribute this to frequent changing of govts, and lack of will on part of every administration. Very few cases lodged, conviction rate also dismal, they add.
Forced to run from Maharashtra by rationalists' open challenge to prove his 'chamatakar', 'godman' Dhirendra Shastri is back among his believers in Bageshwar Dham. Bail to cancer cure, devotees are flocking him for everything.
VS Astrology is running a campaign against looting and superstition for many years. The founder, Dr Gaurav Gite says that there are no superstitions in real astrology.
In April, Karimnagar collector issued instructions to doctors & priests against needless surgery. Hope is if 'auspicious date' perk is removed, parents will opt for natural birth.
The Nirouyeh Vijeh Pasdaran Velayat, or NOPO, was the only force Ali Khamenei trusted.It was founded in 1991 and is more feared than the Revolutionary Guards.
Rating democracies is a tricky business. I am only using the simple metric of who in the Indian subcontinent has had the most peaceful, stable, normal political transitions and continuity.
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