Witchcraftm, conflict between , disbelief

Rudra Sharma

In conjugal life, there is no need of law to govern the relationship between a husband and a wife until and unless love subsists there. But the solicitor comes in through the door as the love flies out of the window. This means, law can not govern every human relationship. It is love, affection, morale, custom and some spiritual things that govern many of the human relations.

For instance, witch, witchcraft and witchdoctors are some of the beliefs, which are not governed by law in Nepal. Still, many of the human relations and even some of the social crimes are based on witchcraft or caused by it.

But, these beliefs used be, for our ancestors are now turned out to be disbelief especially to the young and educated generation. However, it is not happening for a damn sure. Even if one is sure not to believe witchcraft, a specific incident of it may hunt him/her if it happens to be in our own case.

Sociologist Prof. Dr. Ganesh Gurung postulates similar views. Gurung says the society is not ready to disagree with witchcraft completely." It can be disputed but it can’t be said that there is no witchcraft. It’s not only in Nepal. It’s influence is spread all over the world. If not, why the words like witch and ‘witchcraft’ ‘witchdoctor’ are developed. Said Dr Gurung." The only difference is that it was belief then and it is now turned out to be disbelief" the Professor remarked.

But, former speaker and law expert Daman Nath Dhungana has different views." Witchcraft is a type of exploitation against women. So such injustice against women are punishable by even existing laws," Said Dhungana." Regarding enactment of specific legislation to outlaw witchcraft he said " It should be decided first what type of crime is it."

In this way, a conflict between belief and disbelief is raised as such practices are not outlawed and the emerging new generation is not ready to uphold the traditional notions of witchcraft as they were.

It is probably because of the conflict, more and more incidents of witchcraft are being reported into the media unlike the past practices.

In the witchcraft incident of Mahottari, Simardahi two months ago, a health worker Marani Devi, 55, was beaten up seriously in a witchcraft charge. Worse on it, women from all over the village were tortured when they were forced to eat Prasad in a bid of recognizing witch by a shaman called from neighboring India. It worst to note is that the Village Development Committee(VDC) had extended mandate to this all inhumane activities and the VDC chairman himself had led the perpetrators.

Naramaya Thapa,72, of Dolakha was also charged with witchcraft. Poor and old Narayamaya shunned by her son and daughter in law had committed no crime except her inability to pay back 10 grams of gold. This was all enough for the perpetrators to charge her with witch. A group of ward chairman Chhatra Bahadur Thapa not only chased away Narayamaya from village but also forced to let down human feces through her throat.

Such Narayamayas and Marani Devis are not new inventions of our society. There were and there are hundreds and thousands of Narayamayas and Marayani Devis Nepalis society from the time immoral.

They only difference now is that such crime used to be dumped through the power social hotshots. But now a days they are prominently carried on the media. There are volunteers also who work and defend on behalf of such victims and against the social crimes.

To count such a major bid, a group of lawyers have filed a writ petition recently in the Supreme Court challenging such practice of witchcraft.

The writ seems to be rational and logical. The constitution provides for that "...special provisions may be made by law for the protection and advancement of the interest of women....". On the ground of such constitutional provisions the government may introduce specific law to address the social evils like witchcraft.’ Since the witch related cases are being disposed as social crime by the District Administration Office, a separate law is called for to look after the witch related cases" said advocate Resha Thapa.

Though the chief objective of law is social engineering, law sometimes dilutes itself from social need until they are timely incorporated within legislation. Witchcraft is a glaring example. It is no doubt a crime from social point of view. Still, an specific law is required to eradicate such inhumane malaise prevailing in our society. The sooner such law is made and enforced, the better it is for the sake of justice and it will also help end the conflict between belief and disbelief.

Man is born free

By Archita Pant & Kamana Singh Basnyat

We have remained chained with different kinds of unscientific rules, regulations and customs. Narrow thinkers have never solved any problems and particularly in a moderate society like ours, where people have been living under a feudal system and orthodox religion. Dogmatic view is likely to be approached, perceived and apprehended.

Teenagers are branded "problematic creatures not abiding by the rules and regulations of the society" and said to be creating problems. However, it is not they who are to be blamed. Blame should be put to our superstitious nature and dogmatic religious beliefs resulting into ignorance. It is these false notions of ours which have embedded the very concept of discrimination and differentiation, darkening our lives.

The sensitive and receptive teenagers, wanting to be like the westerners are undergoing a tug of war in terms of food, fashion, and views with our still conservative society. As a result, there is a widespread dispute and resentment. The young are not at all ready to subscribe to the old and traditional things and ideas. They want and they are struggling for their identity to be recognised and freedom to be guaranteed.

"The health of the youth is being threatened by the on-going trend of smoking", said a restaurant owner in New Road with concerned look. Yes, cigarette smoking is indeed harmful and hazardous. But does that mean it is unsuitable only to the teenagers? Is the caption, "Cigarette smoking is injurious to health" meant only for teenagers? Similar is the situation with alcohol and drugs.

Media, one of the most pre-dominant factors is certainly changing our lives as it is making us more knowledgeable and aware. With the dissemination of knowledge and the growth of awareness and understanding, we have come to know about the realities and the truths. The theocratic and feudal system is being challenged with the ample growth of democracy and liberty, a thought permeated by the media towards the realisation of freedom and independence.

One of the senior teachers of St. Mary’s School repeatedly stresses on the role of media and how it has made the students more perceptive towards the country’s prevailing situation and development, which was something unlikely and rare even about a decade ago.

Even the fashion the teenagers have adopted these days is being widely criticised and scorned at. Some of the teenagers said that the Constitution of the nation does not compel any of the citizens to follow any particular fashion and it will definitely not be called an offensive act.

Another binding and influencing factor is science and technology. The impact of the West on the East is something that has become noticeable. Western ideas and trends are being imbedded. Teenagers, as presented by the western media and literature, have left a worldwide impact. Teenagers are reading and educating themselves and the literature they are studying is saturated with the ideas of the West.

At the same time we cannot overlook the negative aspects. We are going through a process of zigzags and during this process aberrations and perversions become inevitable. In the name of freedom teenagers are committing different sorts of acts and landing themselves in perils. It is because teenagers are not mature enough to develop a vision of the future. Thus they should be dictated and restrained. In other terms disciplinary behaviour should be practiced. Hence the situation is very paradoxical and ironical.

MAIN