During an earthquake, when people gather in open places, they start talking nonsense and unnecessary things about the earthquake. Such talk exposes the lack of scientific knowledge among Indians. Read Akshit Joshi’s report.
Earthquake tremors were recently felt in many parts of North India including Delhi-NCR. It was around 10.15 on the night of March 21, when an earthquake occurred. Its intensity on the Richter scale was 6.6. Now people are in dilemma… what to do then? Sit under the table-vegs inside the houses or go out and go to the park! If the flat is on 14th-15th or higher floor then what should they do? If the tremors of the earthquake were strong, by the time they come down, it would have been too late.
It was a matter of gratitude that the tremors were not strong. After the earthquake, many discussions have started whether a big earthquake can happen in Delhi and North India.
tectonic plate collision
Earthquake comes from the sudden release of internal energy of the earth’s surface. Because of this, seismic waves are formed, due to which the surface of the earth starts shaking. A sudden release of energy like this gives information about the stress that was built up for a long time.
Mountains are formed from the continental crust of the Earth. These are called tectonic plates, which keep colliding with each other. The collision between two large blocks of solid rock produces a resultant force, which increases the height of the rock pile in the middle. Mountain chains are formed only because of the ups and downs in the resulting area.
The Hindu Kush mountain was also formed in the same way. There was an earthquake in this area. The Hindu Kush Mountains are the predecessors of the Himalayas. A few million years before that, the Eurasian continents were formed with the integration of the Eurasian continent.
Even after the formation of mountain ranges, this collision always pushes the mass of rock upwards. However, such cases take a long time and major changes happen only a few times a century. Such changes mainly occur with such large and small magnitude earthquakes.
lack of common sense among people
Article 51A (h) was added in the 42nd amendment in 1976 under fundamental duties, which talks about developing scientific temper, humanism, spirit of inquiry and reform (these will be the duties of every citizen of India). The purpose of this amendment was that when the people of the country are faced with the tremors of small scale earthquake, then this article of the constitution can be used.
Most of the common people of the country do not even know how an earthquake actually occurs. They do not have any clear information about this, but those who have gone to school-college and are educated, they also cannot say with confidence that what is the real reason for the earthquake.
This deficiency may be due to the education system of the country or there may be a lack of geological education in the school curriculum, but this problem always persists.
Will there be an earthquake tonight too?
During the earthquake, many confused reactions and questions of the common people come to the fore. People often ask will there be an earthquake tonight too? Actually, they do not know that aftershocks or tremors come only with big tremors of earthquakes and it is not possible for this to happen every time. Many times people even doubt the reason for the earthquake. People even doubt that the cause of earthquake is scientific, which has something to do with surface geology.
The same thing happened during the March 21 earthquake, as it often happens. In view of the fear of earthquake, people left their homes and came to open places. Now the question arises that to what extent the training and knowledge given regarding earthquakes is useful in our country?
nonsense and unnecessary things
During an earthquake, when people gather in open places or fields, then absurd and unnecessary things about the earthquake are heard very easily. People even go so far as to say whether it is an earthquake in reality or are tremors due to military exercises. Some people comment that earthquakes occur only at night and its connection is with the rapid industrialization in urban areas.
However, such conversations highlight the lack of scientific knowledge among Indians. Along with this, those serious problems also come to the fore, which have always been intact in the education system of the country. By the way, during the normal tremors of the earthquake, terrible results do not come out, but due to the lack of knowledge during severe natural calamities, there can be a difference in the figures of life and death.
Astrological and Religious Basis
The science of seismology or earthquake study is new, but we humans have been experiencing earthquakes since the beginning of our life on earth. There was a time when the anxiety of animals was the basis of human knowledge to understand these incidents. Many of these scales have changed, but some are still intact.
Apart from this, tribes living in geographically remote areas used to consider earthquake tremors as outbreak of evil spirits. At the same time, some believed that the gods are responsible for the earthquake. After this, the connection of matters related to earthquake started being linked with monotheistic and polytheistic beliefs. Their beliefs were also different in different religions.
Religious thoughts are always dependent on luck. Under these, it is believed that everything is pre-decided for any philanthropist. Nothing in the world is supposed to happen as per the wish. Similarly, earthquake is also considered as predestined destiny.
Unfortunately, people in developing countries are not actively involved in earthquake risk reduction due to fatalism and religious beliefs about earthquakes.
In fact, cultures sometimes associate earthquakes with other natural phenomena. These events include eclipses, flashes of lightning, thunderclouds, comet sightings, meteorite falls, storms and floods, and the death of prominent figures.
Because of these things people’s faith is affected and they believe that supernatural causes are responsible behind natural calamities like earthquakes. Astrological knowledge and oral knowledge traditions are very rich in India, due to which such beliefs are very vocal.
How does fear work?
Another unique and interesting phenomenon is when people get scared and come out of the house and roam around in open places. In such a situation, fear and uncertainty increases. After this they experience a change in their daily behavior and perceptions.
The fear and wonder of the people united in the open spaces caused by the earthquake changes their everyday perceptions and takes them beyond normal prejudices. India, divided on the basis of caste, class and religion in everyday life, is able to bring unity in such matters in the face of this external and deadly threat.
However, most of the conversations done during that time can be scientific. The fact is that people tend to appear together and form groups in the strangest of ways. It is also an important sociological phenomenon of how we live and react as a species.
Click to read the original report in English.
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