Literate Kerala - Rich in Superstitions?

Kerala, the God's Own Country  can claim supremacy over any other state in India in terms of education and literacy. But many news coming out recently are making Kerala home of superstitions. Recently, there has been an incident where the Malayalis, who consider themselves as the front runner of culture and education had to bow their heads in shame. Kerala is notorious for bringing back a superstition that existed in ancient Kerala. Irrational beliefs and customs that follow them are what we include in the scope of superstition. Spreading such beliefs regardless of religion is an insult to literate Kerala. The practice of sacrifice, which existed in ancient Kerala, has recently been reintroduced in Kerala. Human sacrifice at Ilantur is not an isolated incident. The double murder in Poovar, the suicide of a mother and daughter in Neyyatinkara, and the Nandankod murder are in this series. People who are addicted to superstitions are becoming cruel and murderous. When Kerala is moving to a state where even blood relations are being killed for the protection of their faith, the question arises as to whether our educational systems need to be revamped. We will remember a girl named Greeshma who recently killed her lover with poison. The young woman poisoned her lover because the astrologer told her that the man she married would expire. Greeshma is brilliant in academics.  It seems that education does not even affect rational thinking. You will be shocked if you consider the number of Malayalees who go to see witches to cure illness, get prosperity and work, get rid of ghosts, and destroy enemies. All problems have solutions for such people. Remedial actions include performing pooja, chanting water, chanting ghee, animal sacrifice, and purifying fire. Sadly, even educated people fall into the trap of such fake monks. Women and children who suffer from mental problems are the most exploited. Remedies for this are spells, home, and exorcism. Due to such people, patients do not even get proper treatment. Finally, treatment refusals have even led to the death of the patient. These bogus people are taking maximum advantage by performing spells on the mentally ill.

People don't even think about the place of these beliefs that oppose two people living together. "Kaivisham" is one of the most popular superstitions in Kerala. The food given by hostile people (it can be given by worshiping or doing similar actions) is called kaivisham.

There are people here who believe that love, friendship, etc. are the result of hand poison. The community approaches fake monks to avoid love, friendship, and alcohol. Some people pray that even if they get Covid or cancer, they should not go to the hospital hoping that Jesus will save them. There are a few young people who get addicted to alcohol and drugs through satan seva. Colonel Jinson killed his father and mother in the scope of such superstition. 

The proposed law to prevent superstitions and customs is called 'The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill' 2021, although the Law Reform Commission has prepared a draft of the bill in this regard, even after a year, there has been no further action. There is no other way before us except to enforce this law strongly and enable the children to work against such superstitions in the junior classes themselves. Let's hope not to repeat such human sacrifices...