- (AFP) --With two cobras coiled around his neck, a federal
minister walked on fire, honoured village exorcists and vowed to promote
occult studies, a news report said today.
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- "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.
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- Paswan, who has a master's degree in physics, wowed an
audience of some 2000 people yesterday 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.
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- He also honoured 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.
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- 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.
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- "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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- Agence France-Presse
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- http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7360973%255E13762,00.html
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