Illustration: Tuhin Chakraborty

Suspecting evil spirits of possessing her, a British-Pakistani family recently killed a pregnant 21-year-old woman in the UK. The Crown Court judge said that the cultural context (that of Pakistan) was of importance to the case.

We are closer than we think to our neighbours when it comes to belief in the occult. For a country of over 1.2 billion people, we have roughly 40 mental health institutions. WHO figures point to one psychiatrist per 500,000 people and only one psychiatric nurse per 2 million. Perhaps this is the reason that faith healers and exorcists are far more in demand in India than psychiatrists.
When belief replaces science, godmen become its glorified doctors. One remembers godman Nek Singh, who used to mercilessly thrash and trample women in the name of curing their ailments in his village, Sidpura. Sri Guravayya Swamy of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, was famous for spitting, kicking and thrashing his devotees. A godwoman who operates between Nellore and Kovuur and goes by the name Thathamma, is known to use the choicest language when under the influence of her “guru” (spirit). Her unflinching followers claim she has divine powers to heal and sort out marital issues.
Nikhil M. Bhat, regional director, Ghost Research and Investigations of Paranormal Activities (GRIP team) of the Indian Paranormal Society says, “Eighty to 90 per cent of possessed victims suffer from psychological problems. But there are a few things in this world to which even science has no answer. This is where temples and sadhus come in.”Sadhus or faith healers do have their part to play, says Dr Sangeetha Makesh, a clinical psychologist. “Faith healing is an intrinsic part of our lives. There are much fewer psychiatrists than people with mental illnesses. Faith healers or exorcists mostly operate by whispering a 'mantra' in a person’s ears which brings about a catharsis. The 'mantra' is blown directly into the mind and that has an electric effect. We cannot afford to neglect them and it would be wise if we incorporated the benefits of this type of treatment into modern medicine.”
However, the problem lies with the stigma accompanying mental illnesses, says Sumitra Padmanabhan of the Humanist Association. “Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are terrifying to people as they are often unable to understand it. It becomes shameful to solicit medical help for such illnesses and far easier to go to a priest who reinforces ignorance.”
Psychologist Jayshree R. agrees and says, “It’s really difficult to change the beliefs of people who find comfort in a priest who has been visiting the family for years. Often he or someone he recommends tries to do the job of a doctor. Even in cases of depression parents are scared to take their child to a psychologist because people might think that their child is ‘mental’.”
But are these faith healers really quacks, considering that many have found cure and solace through faith healing or exorcists? Author and tarot reader Veenu Sandal, who has widely spoken about seeing spirits and believes in paranormal activity, says, “Most people go to faith healers when all attempts by a medical doctor have failed. A supernatural power does exist and it helps in healing. Often the symptoms might be that of a certain illness and doctors can try and help. But only a faith healer can cure it since it’s not an illness — these people are overpowered by an external force or fed substances through food that make them weak.”
Explaining why faith-healers are often called quacks, she says, “It’s not legal as in the West. Quacks often know a lot and because there’s no degree or recognition attached, it is largely an intangible skill.”
Temples where faith healers work are also known for their healing powers, says Raja Narayanan, a television host on Star Vijay who travels in the South exploring supernatural communities and folklore. “Almost all the temples in South India are built according to Thatchu Sashtra, the ancient science of construction. The temples were raised in such a way that they enhance vibrations through mantras. So people head to South Indian temples for relief from physical and mental pain. The Chotanikkarai Amma temple in Kerala is popular as it heals people who are possessed by ghosts. At the time of the Guruthi puja, you can visibly see spirits leaving the affected ones, accompanied by hair flying and body shaking. Faith healing does work because one believes in it. This positive approach helps as opposed to the fear and doubt they might have towards doctors.”
An entire school of thought however avers that arcane beliefs and practices cannot replace scientific thought and reason. “Spirits do exist and there are a few ways to ascertain that. But the larger question we must explore is “what after”? “Equipment is available to gauge vibrations and determine if there is some supernatural control. But curing these people depends on scientific methods used. Godmen in our country claim to have healing powers which is questionable,” says Nikhil.
Prof. Narendra Nayak, president, Federation of Rationalists Association of India believes that certain neurological illnesses are confused as spirits possessing a person and he says, “Neurological illness and also deficiencies of vitamins, hormones, mental illnesses etc. can all be confused as possession. Many times it is done deliberately to express things which could not have been possible otherwise. For example a woman who wants to say things about her in-laws could do that only if she feigns being possessed by some spirit!”
On godmen taking advantage of blind faith, Narendra says, “So called godmen are thugs waiting for opportunities to exploit the gullible in every way — hetero/homosexual relationships/paedophilia or economic exploitation. They would naturally say ‘I am Krishna and you are Radha’ etc. or use words like karmic cleansing to explain this sort of sexual activity. They are not qualified to be therapists, and most hardly have the intelligence or the time to be counsellors. So, it is a myth that they are helping those in distress.”
Is it true then that educated Indians leave all rational thinking to the wind when it comes to such issues? Narendra says, “There is no education in India; there are the literates and illiterates. One may be literate in science, engineering, medicine. But, to be truly educated, one must develop the capacity to reason. This is why we see the paradox of perfectly rational people believing in all sorts of superstitions.”
Despite polarised views there seems to be enough evidence to suggest that faith healing has as much a place, success and failure in our country as a tried and tested medical therapy. And when the two are combined, the result perhaps might be the true panacea for a happier mind and soul.