Modi must work on changing the mind-set of some

No doubt, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started earning the appreciation and admiration of all Indians and all nations for his sincere efforts to transform India into a greater nation. Even the many persistent and hardened critics of his would be covertly acknowledging his statesmanship and determination in improving the country’s economy and infrastructure.

However, if his sincere and dedicated efforts are ever to succeed, concurrently, Modi would also need to focus on transforming the mindset of the many million illiterate and gullible masses who are still immersed in superstitious beliefs and irrational practices. Otherwise, all his development schemes will be built over the weak foundation based on the quick sands of illogical thinking and illusionary concepts that have taken deep roots into the minds of the masses over hundreds of years. It is high time to release them from the clutches of their misconceived and deceitful leaders, who throughout these years, have been successful in increasing and further nourishing the delusory beliefs of the susceptible masses.

The mysterious ‘divine light’ that still appears precisely at the same time in January every year, in the dense forests of the distant hill, located opposite to the famous Sabarimala temple, is a perfect example as to how the many thousand naive pilgrims have been historically deceived all these years. The vast multitudes thronging the Sabarimala area, who would be reverentially waiting for the ‘divine light’ to appear, would run into a frenzy to catch a glimpse of the flickering flame, believed to be the appearance of the deity, leading to stampedes that have caused the deaths of many gullible pilgrims. Thanks to the rationalists, who through the intervention of the High Court of Kerala were able to prove that it was a flame lighted by none other than the Kerala State Electricity Board.

With this in mind, Modi must give equal attention to wiping out such superstitions to transform the masses into better intellectuals, so as to project India as a secular nation composed of non-fanatic, tolerant and civilised people where foreign investors would feel safe in setting up their businesses.

— The reader is an Indian training manager based in Ras Al Khaimah.