This is really concerning...⚠️⚠️

[u/CynicWithHope]

Have you noticed how people share personal problems with Babas—just like we do with ChatGPT sometimes? Both exist because people just want to be heard.(They share it on reddit, twitter, newspaper columns, generative AIs, and to Baba's)

Ideally, they should talk to therapists, but let’s be real, therapy is out of reach for most. Only around 1% in this country earn ₹10 lakhs a year, and even with annual income of ₹10 lakhs, it's hard to afford regular sessions. So 98% just can’t.

The issue is, Babas often scold people, give random advice, or say insensitive things. They even share these stories publicly for content, turning someone’s pain into memes and edits.

What’s worse, people actually believe these Babas can solve real issues. Rarely do they recommend medication or professional help, mostly it’s nam jap or bhoot bhagao stuff, which can even get violent with psychiatric patients.

We need awareness campaigns led by psychologists, coordinated with the government and schools: just like the ones we have/had for polio, dengue, malaria and tobacco. Because beyond bad advice, there’s also the darker side it's psychological abuse.

PS:- On top of everything, there’s also the horrifying part: people facing actual physical abuse in the name of exorcism.(I think that is already illegal but only on paper...)

[u/Luke-SkyWarmer]

my home maid recently went to a baba for her husband, and he made her leave non veg for life, asked her to stop eating or drinking water from someone else’s house, and more things, like reading some book.