Freewrite: Witchcraft
Yesterday I was doing some research for my Ethics and Integrity paper, where a question was put that.."Custom and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism".
While doing some Google search, I came across an article where it mentioned that in 16th century England, it was believed that witches stole milk and other edibles from neighborhood. So the authorities issued orders for witch hunts all around the region.
Wizardry and witchcraft practices also exists in my part of India. There's a place by the name of Mayong, located in Morigaon district of Assam. I think it lies near to the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. This is about a 100 kms from my place.
This place, Mayong, is known for all sorts of blackmagic, wizardy and witchcraft, good and evil. Now with the advancement of civilization, these practices are rare. Also the next generation is taking up education seriously rather than following their ancestors' professions.
Government of Assam introduced "The Assam Witch Hunting(Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act, 2015" when a large number of cases relating to merciless killing of women, mostly widows, suspected to be witches, created headlines in the last two decades. For a country religiously devoted to myths and beliefs, superstitions cannot be readily eliminated.
CC: @mariannewest
Announcement post: HERE
This happened in 2015? !
Yeah the law was officially brought in place to curb the rise in such cases.