आइये  इस  विजयादशमी  पर    सामाजिक  अंधविश्वासों  एवं  कुरीतियों  के  निर्मूलन  का  संकल्प  लें  .सत्य  की  जीत   के  प्रतीक  विजयादशमी  की     बधाई  एवं  हार्दिक  शुभकामनाये    डॉ . दिनेश  मिश्र  ,अध्यक्ष  अंधश्रद्धा  निर्मूलन  समिति            

डायन टोनही के संदेह में पश्चिम बंगाल में तीन महिलाओ की हत्या.

डायन टोनही   के  संदेह  में  पश्चिम बंगाल में  तीन  महिलाओ   की  हत्या.    जब देश में नवरात्रि मना कर नारी शक्ति की प्रतीक  दुर्गा जी की पूजा की जाती है  उसी नवरात्र के   दौरान  पश्चिम बंगाल के मिदनापुर जिले में  पिछले दिनों तीन महिलो की डायन /टोनही के संदेह में लाठियों से पीट पीट कर हत्या कर दी .तथा उनकी लाशें कंसाई नदी की रेट में दफना दी ,ये तीनो महिलाये एक परिवार की है ,जिनके नाम फुमनी सिंह ७२ वर्ष ,तितली ४२ वर्ष ,तथा साम्बरी ४० वर्ष  है .  यह कैसी विडम्बना  है कि जहा एक ओर तो मिटटी की प्रतिमा बना ,उसका श्रृगार कर  ढोल नगाडो के साथ उसकी पूजा अर्चना की जाती है वाही हँसते खेलते इन्सान को सिर्फ अन्धविश्वास एवं संदेह के कारण. निर्ममता से पीट पीट कर मार डाला जाता है  यह मानवता के लिए शर्मनाक एवं निंदनीय है .ऐसे अन्धविश्वासो का निर्मूलन अत्यंत जरूरी है   डॉ,दिनेश मिश्र  अध्यक्ष अंधश्रद्धा निर्मूलन समिति .    

अन्धविश्वास  के खिलाफ अभियान   के  अंतर्गत डॉ .   दिनेश मिश्र  का  शासकीय शिक्षा महाविद्यालय में  अन्धविश्वास निर्मूलन एवं टोनही प्रताड़ना  विषय पर व्याख्यान

Superstitions prevent social evolution

- Dr. Dinesh Mishra

The Country has witnessed termendous changes in various areas of development after Independence. But, I am sorry to say that the meanace of superstition could not be wiped out as yet.

Ironically, the number of cases related with superstitions in Chhattisgarh STate is also on rise.

Incidents like killing women in the name of their being Tonhi (witch) are common in remote areas of the State.

The situation is no better in urban areas and people here are also obsessed with their blind beliefs. Such practices stall progress of a developing society. I think it is lack of self-confidence because of which people move to superstitions practices.

It is really deplorable to see that even in this modern age people believe that bad women is responsible for their failure. It is for this reason that such gullible people fall victims to Tantriks who claim to have super natural powers and provide instant solution of all their problems. It is not just indicative of the people's psyche, but also that of the society's in general.

I persoanly do not believe in things like "tantra", 'mantra', 'ghost' or 'witchcraft'.

I am also of the firm opinion that people believe in miracles only, due to illiteracy, lack of scientific temperament, poverty and non-availability of medical facilities, Politicians can also be blamed for it.

They often visit Tantriks seeking solution of their problems. Their act has its impact on common people who follow it blindly without thinking of consequences. The mania of instant success has taken most of us under its clutch.

Avarice has compelled a big number of people to resort to some superstitious act. We cannot hope much unless such mentality is changed. In fact, most of the miracles shown by the Tantriks are generally based on some scientific theory. If watched carefully then every miracle can be defined on the scientific tools.

April 14, 2001, Hindustan Times, New Delhi.

as told to K.K. Das.

Tonhi menace - A blot on humanity

The state of Chhattisgarh may be fast moving towards a better tomorrow but thee are still many practices that remind us. of medieval era. The Tonni (Witch) scourge is one such barbaric and inhuman practice which is very common in Chhattisgarh villages. It is in fact one of the most commonly prevailing superstition in the state. The way a woman is declared a Tonhi and subsequently subjected to some of the most inhuman tortures points to the fact that women's liberation is a distant dream as far as rural Chhattisgarh is concerned" These were the views expressed by President of Andha Shradha Nirmulan Samiti , Dr. Dinesh Mishra in an interview with " The Hitavada".

Dr. Mishra feels that only a total change in social perspective can help in solving this problem. ' Though we have entered the 21st century, we still carry the beliefs and practices of 18th century' said Dr. Mishra and added that it is imperative to develop villages and bring about an overall change in the thinking of the people. Only then can we think about progress' said Dr. Mishra who is of firm opinion that without an open mind, education is a farce.

Pointing at the dismal record of the state in this matter. Dr. Mishra said that in the last one year, Chhattisgarh has witnessed series of cases in which rural woman were subjected to extreme humiliation time and again. " As long as people do not have an open mind and treat fellow humans with compassion, real development and progress would remain a distant dream" said Dr. Mishra.

Blaming a woman for any natural or man-made calamities that befell a village shows the ignorance and superstition of the people, said Dr. Mishra and added 'It proves that people are still as uneducated and illiterates as they were hundreds of years ago' We have to fight against these beliefs and without the help of entire society, it is a daunting task, said the champion of women's emancipation.

According to Dr. Mishra the 'Tonhi menace is no longer restricted to a particular village or a caste, but is s social problem and hence, has to be addressed through collective efforts.

Expressing outrage over the condition of women, Dr. Mishra said, women are not only physically tortured to great extremes but are also publicly humiliated and ostracised from the society. Many women cannot get over the trauma for a long time and their social ostracism creates horde of problems for their future life, he said. Usually the perpetrators are either influential people of the village or are in majority due to which the remaining few can hardly protest against the atrocity, said Dr. Mishra. Due to this very few police complaints are registered by the victim or any other persons against the tortures. Many times the treatment meted out is so horrible that the victim is completely terrorised and loses all hope. The victims have no recourse but to end their lives in desperation, pointed Dr. Mishra

Dr. Mishra was also very critical of the role of the administration in addressing this issue. Even the administrative officers as well as the public representatives turn a blind eye to the problem, feels Dr. Mishra. Due to this 99% of the cases remain unsolved and the helpless victims fail to get justice.

Talking about the methodology of branding a woman. Dr. Mishra said, it is the Baigas who dictate the rules and brand the victims as Tonhi. These people are also one of the most feared and influential people of the village. "They first chose a certain woman, then accuse her of being a tonhi. Later they lay certain conditions before the woman to absolve her of the charge. But usually these conditions are impossible for her or any other woman to meet and the whole village then brands her a Tonhi. The influence of the Baigas rises from the ignorance and illiteracy of the villagers, said Dr. Mishra.

The villagers fail to see that these women are too weak to defend themselves and incapable to do any harm to the entire village. Dr. Mishra feels that it is necessary to provide education to the people to liberate them from such superstition and dogmatism, otherwise the overall development of the state would remain a distant dream. " To make it a reality, the entire state administration. Non Government Organisations, and societies of the state must work unitedly towards the goal " Said Dr. Mishra.

- By Surabhi Bhattacharya

Interview published on Thursday 3 January 2002 The Hitavada Raipur.

जादू  टोने के संदेह में एक  वृद्ध महिला पर जानलेवा हमला .      बैकुंठपुर  (कोरिया )के  ग्राम सल्ही में एक वृद्ध  महिला  शंकरी बाई पर उसके पडोसी  सुरजन सिंह  ने टंगिया से हमला कर दिया .जिससे शंकरी बाई गंभीर रूप से घायल हो गयी तथा उसे गंभीर दशा में शासकीय अस्पताल में भर्ती किया गया है . बताया जाता है की सुरजन सिंह को शक था की शंकरी बाई के जादू टोने करने से उसकी तबियत आये दिन ख़राब रहती है ,इसी शंका में उसने २२ सितम्बर की शाम जब वह खेत से काम कर लौट रही थी ,टंगिया  से वार कर शंकरी को बुरी तरह घायल कर दिया .ग्रामीणों को यह समझाने  कि जरुरत है   कि बीमारिया जादू टोने से नहीं होती बल्कि  संक्रमण ,कुपोषण ,और दुर्घटनाओ  से लोग बीमार ,अपाहिज हो जाते है ,मेरा ग्राम सल्ही जाने का कार्यक्रम बन रहा है ,हम गो जाकर ग्रामीणों को जागरूक करेंगे . डॉ.दिनेश मिश्र  ,अध्यक्ष अंधश्रद्धा निर्मूलन समिति