Although witch hunting is an age-old practice in Assam and though it has become a serious issue since the nineties, there were not many organizations fighting against this. But the situation has become so critical now that quite a number of organizations have begun to raise their voices against it, to make people aware and to pressurize the government. ABSU (All Bodo Students Union), the apex student body of the Bodos, has launched a vigorous awareness campaign to fight against superstitions like ‘witch’ hunting in the Bodo areas.
It has been campaigning since 2004, and since then, has successfully rehabilitated at least 40 innocent victims. The ‘Assam Mahila Samata Society’ has also been doing much work in this field. ‘Brothers’ is another NGO trying to raise a voice against such activities.
Intervention by the State
‘Project Prahari’ is a programme introduced by
the police department of Assam in 2001 for the awareness of the people, but it
did not come up actively on the issue till only a few months ago. Now, with the
growing intensity of the problem, ‘Project Prahari’ is working seriously on the issue and is actively organizing people through
awareness drives.
A woman crusader
Here, a name is worthy of being mentioned in the crusade against witch
hunting; she is Birubala Rabha, from Thakurbila village in the Assam-Meghalaya
border. She belongs to a very poor family. Her son was suffering from some
ailments and the ‘bez’
told the mother that he would die soon. But she protested, took
him to a hospital, and he recovered. She joined the “Assam Mahila Samata Society’ in 1999 and dedicated her life to the cause of fighting against this cruel practice.
Through her initiative, 34 women, who had been branded ‘witches’
were saved. For her dedication, her name was nominated for Nobel
Peace Prize in 2006. Although she is illiterate, she is determined and very
brave. Now, under her leadership, ‘Mission Birubala’ is working at the grass-root level and
also forming cells in colleges for creating awareness among the common people.
There are some other NGOs also. Timely interference and proper investigation
can save the situation from deteriorating. This has been proved by ‘Mission Birubala’ in a recent case of witch hunting in
the river island of Majuli.
Law against witch hunting:
Strange to say, that though there are strict laws which have been formulated in different states, yet till now there is no such law in Assam. But the growing intensity of such criminal activities in the name of some beliefs has compelled the High court, also as a reaction to the PIL filed by a person, to instruct the government to take immediate steps for formulating laws against this practice and also to stop the activities of the ‘Bez’ or ‘Kaviraj’. The rate of conviction is quite low as there is the problem of getting witnesses.
The level of success so
far:
Recently, an overall
serious concern has been seen in the society. There are suggestions coming from
people, and there are programmes for awareness etc. But the main demand remains
thinking seriously about developmental work in such areas, providing education,
modern medical facilities, etc. Now there are demands for mobile health clinics,
regular health camps, good educational institutions, village meetings in all the
villages, as well as meetings in the tea garden areas, incorporating workers,
leading NGOs, garden school teachers and doctors to discuss the situation and
to make future planning.
There is also a demand for
inclusion of chapters in the school curriculum against superstitions, and for
developing a scientific outlook.
Conclusion: While concluding, it
must be said that a proper scientific outlook must be developed, and for this,
the Government, various organizations, leading personalities, sane village
elders, youth and women’s organizations of the marginalized communities as well as cultural
organisations and film makers must come out and unitedly free the people of
such ignorance. The growing threat of religious revivalism should also be kept
in mind as one of the greatest hurdles to progress. At the same time, laws
against this age-old practice should be formulated
and implemented by the administration with due seriousness.
