Anti-superstition group to hold programmes against sorcery

PUNE, MAY 7: Dattu Kotwal, a middle-aged labourer from an obscure Marathwada village Shilavani, had heard of bhanamati -- a kind of sorce...

PUNE, MAY 7: Dattu Kotwal, a middle-aged labourer from an obscure Marathwada village Shilavani, had heard of bhanamati — a kind of sorcery — but never had a brush with it, much less, known the consequences of being seen as a witchcraft performer.

Kotwal’s body was found hanging from a tree recently, a day after a woman, believed to be possessed’ by bhanamati (a spirit), named him for masterminding one of the most dreaded forms of black magic.

For over five years, the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti has been engaged in an arduous battle in trying to eradicate the pratcice, which psychiatrists say, is a culture-bound syndrome peculiar to the backward Marathwada region.

Samiti working president Narendra Dabholkar says: “The Samiti treated over a thousand cases’ of bhanamati over the last half-a-decade or so. It’s not just the issue of some psychological disorder. Bhanamati revolves around deep-rooted socio-religious convictions, the lack of education and conditions of extreme poverty.”

Bhanamati, as it is known in Eastern Marathwada — especially in Beed, Parbhani, Nanded and Latur — and poltergeist’, as it is known to the rest of world are entirely different concepts, Dabholkar explained.

According to Samiti activist and psychiatrist Nandakumar Bulbule, bhanamati is a classic example of a psychological disorder dominated by cultural beliefs. “It’s a disorder confined to Marathwada,” Dr Dabholkar says.

Typically, the bhanamati-struck person shrieks, gyrates, makes horrific noises, even barks like a dog. Under the possessed’ condition, he also names’ the person who is responsible for his trauma, says Dabholkar.

Story continues below this ad

In all this, it is the witchcraft practitioner’ who suffers. “Take Dattu’s case,” says Dabhokar, “He was called to a certain place in the village and beaten up. The next day, his body was found hanging from a tree. There was an attempt to make the whole episode seem to be a case of suicide. However, the suspects were later tried.”

The phenomenon needs to be studied in depth “to uncover its chemistry”, says Dabholkar. Underdevelopment and educational and economic backwardness contribute to bhanamati. Nanded, for instance, has the least literacy rate for women in the State, he pointed out.

Having treated about 1,100 bhanamati cases, Samiti workers believe five years of concerted effort could eradicate the problem, says Dabholkar.

The Samiti has planned rallies in Parbhani district beginning Thursday. Activists, including a team of psychiatrists, will discuss the phenomenon with groups of villagers, give scientific demonstrations of the tricks behind certain miracles’ performed by a possessed’ person and register persons needing treatment.

Story continues below this ad

The patients’ identified during the 10-day programme will be pursued meticulously for treatment, he said.