In these days of restricted living spaces most of us agree on the need to keep only essential things and discard useless pieces of furniture,old corespondence and paper, clothes etc in a bid to increase our comfort.It is strange then that we are reluctant to do the same with regard to the spaces in our minds too.True, memories cannot be erased so easily but what I have in mind are the habitual ways of thinking that we all get attuned to,without a critical appraisal of their usefulness and relevance.
I was watching a TV program on the administration of justice.A girl is raped and the man had escaped without a trace.She is however accused of adultery and is punished severely under an outmoded system of law.It is held by the judge that in order to prove that she was coerced into the sexual act she should have four reliable witnesses who should all be male.In order to get them she should have shouted for help!
In another case a woman sues a man for sustenance as his wife but he tells the court that he had indeed been supporting her.She denies it and it is her word against his.The judge pronounces a verdict in her favour simply because she swears by her testimony in the name of God, holding a holy book in her hands.
When the judge is questioned about the legal system he tells hios interrogator that no questions should be asked about the laws of the creator.
Parallels are not difficult to find in other parts of the world.
Similarly I recently came upon three cases of cancer.Two of the patients died.The third is living a normal life.The main difference is that the former two had gone to alternative medical systems since they were either distrustful of allopathy or because the treatment was painful.The third was treated using chemotherapy after surgery and undergoes regular periodic check ups.Still i find youngsters discussing with animation about the side effects and specialization of the western medical system as contrasted to ayurveda or siddha systems.It is however an open secret that when all hopes are gone people do turn back to a speciality hospital in a last ditch effort to save themselves at great cost and trouble.The empiricism,the lack of a sound foundation of basic principles and the trial and error approach of these alternative systems are too well known to need recountiong here.
When shall we give up useless baggages of the mind quickly and embrace modern developments quickly?This is of particular importance and urgency in this country.