Kerala has emerged recently again in the top position of the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for Indian States
and Union Territories, a study released by the Union Ministry of Education. In terms of education quality,
access to learning, infrastructure and facilities, Kerala has been a forerunner for many decades, even with a
title of the most 'literate' state, where even the oldest people know how to read and write and education is
given prime focus.

A common question that arises now is whether education and common sense are inter related and whether with
education alone, people would be ready to let go off all their superstitions and beliefs that are not based on
anything scientific. These superstitions are either passed down from generation to generation, stem from some
incidents that have happened in our lives (as it is easy to relate bad things to bad omens than finding the real
reason behind it) or a misconception/greed that arises as part of the human mind. A highly educated and politically
aware state like Kerala is expected to be far from all superstitions and work towards scientific knowledge, which
empowers our younger generations to be future ready. Even the state school science fair (2022) held recently was inaugurated
by boiling of the milk (considered auspicious) and was criticized by many as it was a 'science' fair and not a
religious ceremony, which shows the superstitions are in the mind of people and are here to stay longer unless strict
actions are taken. Whenever we buy a car, a lemon is squeezed first under the tyre for good fortune and to 'avoid'
any mishaps or accidents. Irrespective of caste,creed or religion, rich or poor, Kerala is one of the most fertile lands for
superstitions.

The main cause for such superstitions is the lack of awareness among the common public and a lack of efforts to bring
this awareness from the relevant authorities. The laws against superstitions are almost not there and with the recent

advent of uncensored online/digital platforms, people tend to believe whatever is shown and sometimes believe in
superstitions and rituals that can harm themselves and others. The recent ritualistic sacrifice followed by brutal
killing of two women in the otherwise calm Elanthoor of Kerala has sent shockwaves across Kerala and we as a society
should be held responsible. The reports had even suggested the accused consumed human flesh based on the advice of
a sorcerer, which shows mentally we have not reached the state of development that Kerala always boasts about.
Usually Keralites accuse North Indians to be superstitious but with so many recent events, it is clear that even with
high quality education, we have lost the mental growth that is needed to understand how to live together as a society,
where the benefit of all is what matters. The pursuit of happiness, pleasure and spirituality has made people eager
to believe and act up on any heinous crimes/superstitions and this is a grave danger that we are facing.

Many people with illogical beliefs try to paint a picture in society that they are quite socially inclined but this is
actually a mask to protect themselves from social scrutiny about their secret activities. They find pleasure that they
got away with such superstitious acts which build their confidence to go to the next level of acts. These people
may have antisocial and narcissistic personalities, with severe self-love and a lack of empathy which makes their belief
and superstitions very hard to break and they consider it a do or die situation. People have always been intrigued by aspects
of heaven or hell, near death experiences, astral projections etc. and when they try to make sense of this half cooked
knowledge along with whatever information they get from the internet, they fall deeper and deeper into superstitions. The
law that was drafted against superstitions in Kerala almost 10 years back has not been taken forward, as confirmed by
A Hemachandran, one of Kerala's former director general of police-rank officers and this shows why miscreants go on a
rampage and are more confident once they make up their minds to do any superstitious acts. The Kerala Exploitation By Superstition
(Prevention) Act, 2014 which awarded penalties for superstition and made them cognizable and non-bailable has not reached
fruition, giving miscreants a free run in the state.


As per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, out of the six human sacrifice cases reported in the country in 2021,
two were in Kerala which is indeed shocking for a culturally forward and educated state. A 6-year-old boy was hacked to death by his mother purportedly as a human sacrifice at Palakkad district in Kerala last year, which is shocking as even parents are ready to sacrifice their own kids for petty beliefs. Many times superstitious rituals are easily passed of as a traditional ritual and hence
it goes unnoticed, unless a crime happens and is uncovered. The so called astrologers and quick healers are easily
advertising themselves on media and getting lots of publicity. There are channels dedicated to these "gurus" and primetimes
are allocated by reputed Kerala medias to showcase miracle artifacts that can heal, attract wealth, make all wishes come true etc.
which all take advantage of the insecurity of people and their wish to prosper in life, no matter what happens. The lack of
adequate laws and limitations of the police force add more seriousness to the same. We have to understand that this is against
the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act and hence illegal and non sensical as well.

Violent exorcisms still claim to happen in different parts of Kerala to get rid of the Djinn/ yaksha/demon etc. based on the
corresponding religious practices. People on a large believe in maadan (a demon that attacks at night) and often aspired many
heart attack related deaths to this demon, which is still believed by many (some even calling the demon Marutha). It is pretty
evident that sorcery is ingrained in Kerala culture itself. Kerala is supposedly created by Parashurama, who is said to have
selected six Brahmin families to perform sorcery (the current Malaya tribe claiming they are original sorcerers in Kerala).Many tales in Kottarathil Sankunni's Aithihyamala, which is Kerala's Arabian Nights, have sorcery and black magic as their backdrop. Even the
folk practices like 'theyyam', 'theeyattu' and 'padayani' of Kerala are all based on one or other form of sorcery/superstition,
with movies like Kantara adding more collections from Kerala showing how much we still trust on all these superstitions to help us
in life. Most Malayalam films with a rural backdrop features an oracle and superhits like Manichithrathaazhu show how exorcisms can help to cure mentally unstable people just by giving them belief, which many think as reality.

The hopelessly faithful group of Kerala who still clench themselves to supernatural elements to calm their anxiety even go for
exploring weird and dangerous ways like Chathan seva, a kind of devil worship that involves animal/bird sacrifice. This custom
is still prevalent in many parts of Kerala even after the enactment of Kerala Animals and Bird Sacrifices Prohibition Act of 1968
that has prohibited the killing of animals and birds to please a deity. The Godmen and Godwomen of Kerala (self proclaimed God/Goddess or avatars/clairvoyants) are even promoted by religious factions, celebrities, politicians and as a whole the society silently accepts them and their superstitions. Their ashrams even after repeated violations or cases from even foreign nationals claim
to be 'heaven' and this shows how deep rooted the evil is and how hopeless we are as a society against superstitions. There are even swamis/self proclaimed deities who have cases in Kerala (smuggling, swindling gold etc.) who control the rural folk from abroad and cause tensions in Kerala.

Justice Devan Ramachandran of Kerala High Court has wondered and has stated in the courtroom: “Some of the things happening here(in Kerala) are beyond the limits of absurdity. Today it is human sacrifice. I wonder where Kerala is going.” Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2019 is also in cold storage as of now.

In March 2019,Thushara, a 27-year-old woman, was killed by her husband and mother-in-law, who had been practicing ‘black magic’. Thushara weighed only 20 kg at the time of her death, as she was fed just soaked rice and sugar syrup as instructed
by a sorcerer, according to the police. In August 2018, Krishnan, an occult practitioner, his wife and two sons
were killed by his assistant and helper who started an ‘independent’ occult practice. The accused killed his mentor
and family, suspecting that Krishnan’s magical powers inhibited his own success in occult practice. In 2017, Cadell Jeansen Raja
did multiple murders when he killed his parents, sister and a relative as part of his experiments with so called astral projection
in Trivandrum, which not only shocked the state but the whole country. Medical cases like schizophrenia can add more belief in such
superstitions and thorough medical care and evaluation may also be needed for such cases. Thus evil openly prevails in 'God's own country'.

Proper education along with awareness against such superstitions and strict laws that are enacted from the grass root levels may help Kerala society in the future. We
may not be able to change those who already have made up their minds to believe in superstitions, but there is still hope in the future. The society,
politicians need to act fast irrespective of any other differences before this menace becomes a huge fire and consumes the moral values of the majority.