When logic met superstition

The Reasons Which Created The Superstition We All Follow

Shraddha Talwar, AIS PV, XII

There are certain actions which are forbidden because of the ghastly consequences they propose. There are countless admonitions which we receive daily from our parents that entangle the web of our thoughts. Although they sound completely absurd to us, but the seriousness of the tones in which they are often spoken spin the wheels of our head. Why did mom say so? These superstitions, when served with an explanation and sprinkled with a tad bit of logic, make a more digestible recipe.

Unlucky spell, on a number it dwells! Friday is considered cursed by Christians because they lost Christ on a Friday. This Friday, when clubbed with a forever-cursed number, known for its bad omens, brings out a whole new level of ill-fated events. Friday the 13th is the best explanation for a botched math test when it happens on that fateful day. Hinduism, on the other hand, visualizes 3 as a symbol of lord Shiva, the destroyer. The number’s association with the deity results in its avoidance. Now who’s to explain to my mom that having 3 sandwiches for breakfast is not going to stop my promotion.

Black cat crossing your way, can spoil your entire day! Witches have transfigured themselves into cats as claimed by our previous generation. Minerva McGonagall’s cat avatar left a deep impression, somehow, confirming the claims of the elderly. Pointing out the futility of these claims, millions of people keep cats as pets, and the black ones look even more endearing to their owners, if not the street-hoggers!

Cross your fingers and touch the wood, everything around will be good! Christianity tells the story of how people used to cross their index fingers while making a wish as a symbol of support. Anything assuming the shape of a cross was thought to be a harbinger of luck. The tradition became something that one could do on one’s own. Even trees harbour good spirits. As a result, the fixation of wood is believed to be fortunate. However, all that’s wrong around cannot be cured with crosses and knocks. The good vibes do spread, if any, but they do not have the ability to cure all the ailments of the planet.

Cutting your nails at night is the new forbidden fruit! A lot of myths and taboos encircle the simple task of cutting your nails at night. The reason behind this was not a taboo but the simple case of lack of electricity, back in the times in which such sayings were coined.  Our ancestors did not foresee the discovery of tube lights and wished for our safety while performing simple daily chores.

Now that an explanation accompanies these superstitions, they don’t seem so bizarre. Our ancestors rewarded us with certain principles that gave rise to a lot of questions. These questions have afflicted, upon these rituals, by the centuries that have passed since they were first discovered. These superstitions are not devoid of logic. It’s just that the logic applied previously does not hold any relevance under the present circumstances.

PERSPECTIVE

The Indian-‘Phoren’ Policy

Time To Check What India’s Foreign Policy Means For Youth

Ananya Grover, AIS Noida, XI

India is the main contributor to the rising number of adolescent population, by being home to more than 356 million 10-24 year olds. Whilst considering the growing globalisation in regards to our youth, it is important that our foreign policies be more strategic, focus on domestic development, create a peaceful environment, and becoming a global power.

Building the pathway!
Access to internet has become synonymous with access to knowledge. Yet only 20% have internet connection. Recognising this need, the government has encouraged major corporations to help spread internet and invest in start-ups. Moreover, PM Modi’s visits have contributed to India’s investments. In 2016, India’s FDI hit an all-time high with inflows worth $60.1 billion. The challenge is to leverage international investments to herald change at home.
Taking the high road!
A child who grows up amidst violence misses out on the normal experiences. Scarred from an early age, these children feel alienated, suffer psychological trauma, and develop reactionary feelings. In order to ensure that a young boy in Kashmir has the same opportunity as one in Delhi, peace is an important goal that India must strive for. Over the past five years or so, India has evolved its policy to express willingness to keep lines of communication open. PM’s visits to different countries and their reciprocation in various forms will help India in maintaining cordial relationships with other countries.

Reaching the kingdom!
India has moved towards adopting a leading role when it comes to Asia. India’s membership in platforms like G20, the East Asia Summit, the BRICS coalition, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation stand testimony to our fast-growing economy and status. A promising future of the country will reinstate youth’s faith and fuel them to contribute towards its growth, rather than investing outside. India’s current priority must be to form a strategy to actualise its potential of competing with China ie to restore stability in the Doklam plateau. We also need to  leverage our ties with USA, which has the world’s foremost military, and Australia, both of whom in turn need India to counter China.

While the older members of our society govern how it runs, the youth is impacted the most from the consequences of their every action. Will India succeed in providing its youth with meaningful skills and jobs, firm roots, and broad outlooks to unite, and shape a sustainable future for themselves and others? The youth believe that it will.
(Courtesy: Indian Council of
World Affairs)

Little pearls of wisdom

Donkey and the stick

Anwita Agarwal, AIS Saket, VI

Raj Marg was a busy road. It connected many villages. Once a group  of people who were crossing the road discovered a big rock kept on one side, clearly ignored for many years. When they came near it, they saw some markings inscribed on it, looking like a donkey and a man holding a stick.
They were curious about what it could mean and decided to consult a sage. But the sage had gone away to a long pilgrimage, and there was only a young disciple present tending to the cows. They approached the disciple who proclaimed that the drawing is of the magic stick, and the man holding it is the hero of this village. Everyone passing through must make offerings or they’ll be considered donkeys. The villagers were surprised but believed him. The disciple sat by the rock all day, taking offerings and relaxing. But his pleasure ended as soon as the sage returned from his pilgrimage. The sage, after knowing everything, examined the rock carefully. Then, without saying a word, he took a stick and started to move the rock. When people gradually turned around, they saw this and were astonished to discover a pot of gold hidden under the rock. Addressing the people, the sage said, “The drawings meant that you are supposed to move the rock with a stick to find the hidden treasure. If you didn’t, you were all foolish like donkeys. If you had not followed the words of the priest blindly, you would have discovered this treasure long ago, and made better use of it. Instead  you helped this greedy disciple of mine become lazy.” The villagers understood their fault and were embarrassed. The young priest went back to cleaning cow sheds.
This story teaches us that one must always have faith on oneself before anyone else. Instead of letting people befool us, we must first observe ourselves carefully and think clearly.

Education for liberation

We turn 72 years young this Independence Day. Yes, young, alive and kicking, that’s what we are - a 21st century nation whom the whole world is looking at with awe for creating a synergistic and progressive society. India has always been a great land of knowledge, an awesome civilisation of exemplary intellect and an eclectic blend of culture & virtues. Aryabhatta, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Sushruta, Dr Kadambini Ganguly, Chanakya, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Samrat Ashoka, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Sage Agastya, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and many more such stalwarts have built this great nation that we live in. In the process, they have given one of the greatest gift to the youth of this country - the gift of education. All these people have not only been the experts but also the great believers in the wonders of education and used it as their single largest tool to bring in the reforms they wanted to see and help Bharat achieve the position of a world leader, which this nation has always been.
As the doyens of new Bharat, now we need to fully imbibe, utilise and value the biggest driving force of 21st century, i.e. education. We need more quality education woven with values. The education which empowers us to think and act like reformists, innovators and educators and also bestows us with humility and gratitude. We now need to make education more inclusive and equitable so that it liberates us from the shackles of gender bias, from inner fears, from conflicts and wars so as to bring in more peace and equality in the world, realizing the vision of  ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.

Responsible freedom

India gears to celebrate its 72 years of independence and GT its 10 years of inception. While both celebrate freedom, they do so responsibly.  The recent government orders of banning the manufacture, sale, distribution, and display of plastic national flags is one step towards celebrating freedom with responsibility. In my one decade of association with students, the question of ‘freedom’ to write anything for the newspaper has cropped up at every edit meet, every year. Herein comes the question of being free to write and being responsible writers. Students ask me why they couldn’t publish certain reports. Since journalism is a very live and dynamic subject and student journalists, by the virtue of their age, are naturally inquisitive and impulsive, such questions are all very natural. 
It is important to understand here that it is not only a fake or an unverified news that triggers violence. Sometimes even truth triggers conflicts which may not be in the best of interest of the student and might play havoc with the young mind. Sometimes it’s only the difference in perception, the way of looking at thing that differs and we think it can create a news or story when actually it doesn’t. All these years I too have been constantly learning about freedom with responsibility. There have been times when I so much wanted to talk about certain aspects but later realized that this may not be well understood by children of all age group who are its prime readers. As a journalist, I chose to be responsible and constructive rather than reactive and destructive. That’s what we do as journalists. That’s what we journalists are meant for.