Need To Develop A Rational Mindset

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 30 January 2025 At least seven people were killed and around 10 injured in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in northern India on Wednesday, said an official, as tens of millions gathered to take a holy dip on the most auspicious day of the six-week Hindu festival. Those who died will now directly go to heaven as they breathed their last during a pilgrimage or a very sacred event! I'm not making fun of this mishap. Nor is it black or grotesque humour of a frivolous person. I sympathise, nay empathise, with those who lost their lives. My point is: Don't people, particularly Hindus, understand that where there's an ocean of people, chances of happening such disasters cannot be ruled out. Are these people really educated? Do they have even a skerrick of scientific temperament? Proper and rational education is the key to empowering future generations and driving scientific advancements. Education equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities needed to understand and solve complex problems. By providing access to quality education, we empower future generations to become active contributors to society, enabling them to unlock their potential and create a positive impact in various spheres. Furthermore, education is crucial for driving scientific advancements and innovation. It cultivates a curious and inquisitive mindset, encouraging individuals to pursue scientific research and make ground-breaking discoveries. Education not only imparts knowledge but also builds a foundation for continued learning and encourages the pursuit of knowledge for the betterment of humanity. But education alone cannot foster scientific temperament. Even seemingly educated and rational people also entertain beliefs that have no scientific bases. They're also driven by their deep-seated irrationalities, called Sanskaar. To cut the matter short, we may be educated but we're not truly evolved or rationally sound. A rationalist's greatest asset is an open and inquisitive mind. A rationalist is not merely someone who has expertise in a specific field like a scientist, but someone who constantly asks questions, challenges assumptions, and seeks to expand their understanding. An open and inquisitive mind allows rationalists to approach problems creatively, connecting seemingly unrelated concepts and discovering new avenues of research. By employing this mindset, a rationalist or a truly intellectual person can break through boundaries, unravel mysteries, and make innovative contributions to their respective fields. Ultimately, it is the willingness to question, explore, and embrace the unknown that pushes the boundaries of rationalistic knowledge forward. Unless we all pluck out our embedded and engrained irrationality and embrace rationality at a collective and evolved level, irrational and superstitious people will continue to die during Kumbh or Haj. Lastly, the population of Allahabad or Prayagraj is approximately 60 lakhs. Nearly 2-crore pilgrims have assembled for the ongoing Mahakumbh. Will not such tragedies happen now and then? Why are devout souls so willing to dig their own graves at an apparently 'holy' place? Do they ask this simple question? Had they asked, they wouldn't have visited any such place and lost their lives. Alexander Pope rightly said , "fools rush in where angels fear to tread" (An essay on criticism). Let me paraphrase this with apologies to Alexander Pope, "Theists rush in where atheists and rationalists fear to tread! " ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/rational-mindset-maha-kumbh-mela/d/134474 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism