Superstition Haunts Assembly

Last week, it was not ‘bhoots’ but the unfounded fear of some MLAs which had been scaring the daylights out of the members, who had set aside their actual work and called for a ‘puja’ to ward off evil spirits from the house. Sangeeta Pranvendra does some ghost busting on the issue

Sangeeta Pranvendra

Updated : Feb 26, 2018, 05:35 AM IST

The honourable members of the Rajasthan Assembly are a scared lot. They fear for their lives at the hands of some supernatural power.

It was superstition at its best last week when the house witnessed chaos and pandemonium over legislators’ claiming Vaastu dosh in the building. There was a clamour to call in priests and sorcerers to exorcise ghosts and spirits from the August house.

Indeed, an extremely sad state of affairs as it involves persons who have been democratically elected to uphold the Constitution and have taken oath of office in the name of Constitution.

And the Constitution provides no space to ghosts and spirits - in short, superstition.

In the section V of the Indian Constitution, Article 51A on Fundamental Duties says “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India...” enumerating the duties; subclause (h) goes on to say “To develop the the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”. What can be seen unfolding in the Rajasthan assembly bears no semblance to the oath taken.

So, does the behaviour of the Rajasthan legislators fall in the category of violating the spirit of the Constitution and the oath they took?

That politicians are a superstitious lot is no secret, but what is happening in the Rajasthan Assembly is a trend in the wrong direction. Till now, such discussions related to the assembly building had not been made during the proceedings of the house. The fact that some MLAs are raising it through the point of order and demanding ‘corrective measures’ during proceedings is a cause of serious concern.

One could surmise that superstition thrives among the uneducated - but members of the Rajasthan assembly are all educated. The average education level of the legislators is graduate.

Further, the time being spent to discuss frivolous issues is paid for by the taxpayer and should ideally be utilised to discuss matters of public importance.

The state watches as leaders are on a high over ‘spirits’. What they want is that the ghosts of poverty, ignorance, water woes, unemployment and caste conflicts be exorcised.

FEAR FACTOR

The case of the legislators demanding exorcising ghosts from the assembly is not a lone case of superstition. A look around the political circles will spring many surprises

STATE BJP OFFICE VASTU DOSH

The infighting within the BJP was attributed to a Vastu dosh at the state party office. State BJP chief Ashok Parnami took advice of a ratna (stone) expert. Urns filled with specific stones were placed at strategic places on the premises in 2016. In another incident, the BJP state organisation general secretary organised a secret havan in 2017.

CONGRESS OFFICE VASTU DOSH

Congress defeat in 2003 was attributed to Vastu dosh at the state Congress office. The first floor was renovated. Congress believe it came back to power in 2008 because of tjis.

MAYOR HOUSE SUPERSTITION

Mayor Nirmala Verma died while in office and was residing at official Mayor House. So did the husband of the next mayor Sheel Dhabai.No mayor lives there ever since.

SUPERSTITION OVER DONKEY FAIR

No politician in office agrees to inaugurate the donkey fair, held some 25 km from Jaipur, due to a superstition that the one who does so will not be elected again.

TRIPOLIA GATE SUPERSTITION

It is a superstition that anyone, other than the erstwhile Jaipur royals, who passes through Tripolia Gate, the official entry to the city palace, loses the government he heads.