Open Journal of Psychiatry & Allied Sciences
Open Access
  • Year: 2018
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue: 2

Witch hunting in Jharkhand: does mental health has any business on it?

Associate Professor & I/C PSW, Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, India

*Correspondence: Dr Kamlesh Kumar Sahu, Leve-V Block-D, Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh-160030, India. withkamlesh@gmail.com

Online published on 18 July, 2018.

Abstract

Witchcraft or witchery is practiced since long across the globe which is often present within societies and groups whose cultural framework includes a magical worldview. Witch hunting is a matter of great concern in which the victim who is labelled as a witch is subjected to torments. This editorial attempted to depict this issue with special reference to the Jharkhand state of India. Some of the areas covered are the regional terminology, historical evidences of practices, current efforts to deal with it, and finally, possibility of mental health aspect of it.

Keywords

Witchcraft. Societies. Culture