Indian federal minister wants to promote supernatural practices
( 2003-09-24 16:46) (Agencies)
With two cobra snakes coiled around his neck, a federal minister walked on
fire, honored village exorcists and vowed to promote occult studies, a news
report said Wednesday.
``This is all futuristic science and hence needs promotion by the state,
media and civil society,'' Sanjay Paswan, junior minister for human resource
development, was quoted as saying by The Indian Express newspaper.
Paswan, who has a master's degree in physics, wowed an audience of some 2,000
people Tuesday as he beat a drum and walked on fire in Patna, the capital of
Bihar state which is among India's poorest, the newspaper said.
He also honored 51 so-called exorcists who use their purported knowledge of
the supernatural to earn a living.
``They heal broken hearts and humans ... I want this included in school
(curricula) to bring this ancient wisdom closer to modernity,'' Paswan was
quoted as saying.
Traditionally, the faith healers used to give medicine in
remote villages using herbal potions, but the tribal health system has now
collapsed and healers don't know how to cure new diseases, experts say.
In such situations, the exorcists are known to blame the ills of a village or
individual on ``witches'' _ single mothers, widows or old women, dozens of whom
have been murdered in villages across Bihar.
``The WHO defines health as being physically fit, mentally alert and
emotionally balanced,'' Paswan said. ``Modern doctors can only take care of your
physical fitness. Traditional healers will give you mental and spiritual
comfort.''
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