Indian Newslink: Soothsayers fail to read their own fortune

Soothsayers fail to read their own fortune
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Rajendra Prasad on 14/04/2010 15:05:00
 
Auckland is increasingly becoming home to saffron-clad Pujaris (Priests) of the
devious kind, dispensing their services as astrologers. Most, if not all, are
from India.
They delve in the ancient art of fortune telling, palm reading, witchcraft and
spiritual healing, minting money from the simple and gullible.
Some of them, daubed with ashes, heavy dots or streak of vermilion on forehead
sit amidst the pictures of a pantheon of Hindu Gods, preying on the ignorance of
people.
Their business is brisk and these dens of thieves have multiplied so fast that
it is not difficult to locate them in suburbs where Indians abound.
Wolves in lambs’ garb
The attire of the practitioners sets them apart from others, looking holy but
possessed with the heart of the devil. Many clients have returned with wisdom
determined not to fall into their traps again, although such wisdom would have
come at a high price.
The practitioners, certain that there would be no reprisal, continued their
tricks.
The sting operation by Campbell Live (TV3) on April 1 was truly an eye-opener
for New Zealanders to know more about these cheats, who engaged in intense
advertising in the Indian media. Indian Newslink did well in the programme, with
its Editor coming out openly against these fraudsters.
Fear is the most potent weapon in their armory that brings their victims to
their deadly embrace. Their diagnosis is broad and relevant to most people:
financial woes, employment difficulties, depression, concern about the future
and black magic.
They offer to remove these afflictions upon payment of a fee that could range
from $500 to $5000; in some cases, up to $30,000. People, who are in dire
straits, become victims.
Hindu religious scriptures do not prescribe or serve as a base for such
practices.
However, the practitioners know that attesting religion to such practices makes
it easier for them to penetrate Hindu followers whose search for God in any form
(cow, elephant or a human being) is legendary.
Pictures of Hindu Gods embellish their practice chambers. They keep the
traditional lamps lit and the powerful aroma of burning incense sticks make
their victims feel that they are in the presence of God.
The practitioners are clever, cunning and calculating, easily discerning the
minds of their victims. They make their moves with the sagacity of the wolves,
as the victims melt under their mystical spell.
A no-good exposed
If the practitioners could foresee and forewarn, they failed to know about the
Campbell Live sting operation.
If the practitioners do not know about their own fate, how can they tell about
that of others?  These greed-driven people are heartless and ruthless.
A year ago, Bangalore based Shakuntala Devi, a world-renowned mathematician
visited New Zealand to dispense her services as an astrologer. She left the
country in haste as criticisms and accusations against her for extorting money
rose.
Indian Newslink logged numerous criticisms and complaints from distraught
clients, claiming that after reading palms or horoscopes she charged $500-$700
per customer to remove “black magic” from their lives. This newspaper
reported the plight of many victims in its April 1, 2009 issue.
Shakuntala Devi was no ordinary person. She held the world record for
calculating faster than a computer and, reportedly, owned homes in UK, US and
India. She was held in respect and admiration but is now loathed in many
countries for engaging in such devious activities. Certainly, it would be
imprudent for her to return to New Zealand.
Alien to Kiwis
Such activities may be normal and acceptable in India but are totally alien to
the Kiwi culture and are rightly abhorred.
The Government should introduce appropriate mechanism to protect its citizens
and ensure that such practices are prohibited. Those engaging in such activities
must receive deterrent punishment.
It is also the responsibility of community leaders to ward off such people who
amass wealth through deceit and deception and tarnish our image.
In a multiracial and multicultural society like New Zealand, each community must
maintain a balance with the dominant culture, expunging the vices and evils that
are alien to its core values.
Campbell Live has done a great service to the people of New Zealand – Indians
in particular by exposing the activities of these devious characters.
Rajendra Prasad (Email: raj.prasad@xtra.co.nz) is our columnist with strong
views and issues that affect the country, the society, the community and
humanity in general. His articles are exclusive to Indian Newslink. Read related
story on Page 3.
We welcome readers’ opinions at editor@indiannewslink.co.nz
Astrology, described as a ‘Perfect Science,’ has been practiced in India for
thousands of years. Based on the movement of nine planets that come under the
Earth’s Path, they are said to influence all living beings. It is only in
recent years that Astrology has sadly become a ‘free-for-all.’ It was not
certainly meant to hoodwink the innocent and helpless.