Beware of those trying to control people through religion: Javed Akhtar

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

Noted lyricist Javed Akhtar, who is known for speaking his heart out in important matters, has again voiced out his opinion on those who try to rule people using religion as a shield.

At an event organised to mark the fourth death anniversary of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, poet and activist Javed Akhtar warned people to be sceptical of those who are trying to influence people by religion.

Akhtar said the contemporary society was displaying schizophrenic symptoms, where people see and believe satellites being sent off to moon using science, but still hold on to superstitious beliefs which are as ancient as organised religion.

He said, "I'm not surprised to learn that Copernicus and Galileo were tormented because they probed the truth, which they learnt through the practice of science hundreds of years ago. However, today people know and see things that science has brought in. They launch a satellite and send it to an exact location based on its programming."

"However, they still believe and follow the superstitions doled out by leaders of organised religion. What can you call this if not schizophrenia?" he added.

The lyricist also praised Dr. Dabholkar for introducing people of Maharashtra with an idea of rationalism and getting them away from all the superstitions.

"Sadly, our society, which is happy in being orthodox and conservative, which likes to depend on God for relieving it of its problems, never tried to understand what he was saying," shared Akhtar.