Horror of Horoscope!

Those of you are from West Bengal and regularly go through vernacular dailies; must have noticed ads of various ‘Jotish’ cover mostly half of a page. Occasionally they cover even more! Don’t think they get any concession for putting ads on newspapers. Obviously they can well afford those expensive Ads; since they yield. I used to surmise in 2014; how come so many ‘Babas’or “Jyotish’ who promise to solve your problems within 3 minutes, dare to advertise publicly! Our democratic law is so lenient that anyone can claim anything putting advertisements publicly. They may sale residential plots in ‘moon’ at a cheaper rate. There is none to question! Off course; there are people who get duped and have no complaint over them or their practices.

I have visited few of them; sometime on curiosity or other time being pursued by someone closed. Every time I felt convinced while sitting before them. Later when I recounted the whole thing, it came clear, the man talked a lot and initially he asked why I was there for. There is the answer. I told him the problem; he wove the imaginary solutions that may not solve your problem but bury it. Once I asked a renowned astrologer, who regularly contributes to a prestigious magazine on astrology, whether he finds my change of residence in near future! He simply said if you get good deal; sell it and buy another. Coolly while bypassed my question without offering no concrete foretelling. It’s just this way all other persons I met from astrological community they offer solutions. Some forecast imminent problems like accidents or terminal sickness and offer solutions with some gem stones or stems. They mostly refer particular stores wherefrom you should buy. They make sure that they get commission for what you buy.

Jothish, sooth Sayers or fortune tellers were always present in our society. But they were never so buzzing as they are now. How the profession became so lucrative remained a question in my mind. Of late; while venturing for negotiation marriage of my son; I got the answer. The terms like ‘Mangolik’, Bhowmo Dosh’, ‘Sare Sati’ or ‘Kalsorpo yog’ are very common these astrologers use and encash. All of them bear a covert threat for bring misfortune to your life! Negotiation marriage invites their tantrums in almost full-fledged manner in our society. This was unthinkable or so wide-spread two or three decade ago. My parents never consulted any astrologer for their wards marriage. So there were many others too. Are we moving forward or backward; I ask myself! Few had faith, as always in it and they insisted. Fortunately in my life time I hardly ever come across any of them. But to my utter surprise I find now, barring few exception most insist of horoscope matching. May be our society has become much vulnerable to modern world’s vice like divorce, separations et el. Celebrities like Amitabh Bachhan, had a lot of media coverage while getting his son married with another ‘Mangolik’ film star. This too appear to have proved a boon for so called Astrologers.  Now they have field days; so the gem-stone sellers. Just think people spends thousands or some time even lacs of rupees for gem that have mostly no re-sale value! Open any newspaper and find the ads or gem sellers. Offering original gems promising you to turn from rag to riches!

Nowhere in the world such trades are legal or allowed. It’s incredible INDIA again.