"Witch-hunt" is not a term you hear often in the 21st century — at least not in its literal sense.
But for many women in the remote villages of India, it is a very real and very frightening possibility.
The superstitious practice has existed for centuries, but a recent disturbing report about the brutal beheading of a 63-year-old woman in Assam has brought the issue back into the headlines.
Even more unsettling is the fact that the incident is not uncommon. According to Indian government statistics, over 2,000 people were killed in witch-hunting incidents between 2000 and 2012 alone — and almost all of them were women.
A person branded as a witch is held responsible for various woes a village might experience, from illness to crop failures. This often leads to some form of lynching. In another recent incident in the State of Jharkhand, five women were attacked and killed by a large crowd consisting of practically the entire village, The Guardian reports.
Illiteracy and a severe lack of modern education perpetuate these beliefs, but the lack of access to proper healthcare and doctors further complicates the issue. This leaves the field wide open for local shamans or other unqualified healers. They often blame illness or misfortune on black magic or evil spirits, and they might accuse innocent people of being the cause.
How the accused is chosen is another piece of an already intricate puzzle. Al Jazeera reports that, often, accusations will stem from everyday issues like a village rivalry or personal vendetta. Taking advantage of an existing tendency towards blind faith and superstition, a conspiracy is hatched and the entire village is slowly lured into eradicating the "cursed one."
While there are no federal laws pertaining to witch-hunting in India, various states have begun passing legislation against it. But legal repercussions will likely do little to stem the tide unless the much larger issues relating to education and irrational beliefs are addressed.
Article Sources: Al Jazeera, The Guardian
Main Image Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Dilshad Burman
Author
Dilshad Burman is an award winning TV host and Canadian media personality. Born in Mumbai, India, she was surrounded by its creative energy and grew up with a passion for music, film and television. While completing her Bachelor of Arts in English literature from The University of Mumbai, she i...
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