DIALOGUES IN ASTROLOGY 05: Need for Introspection by the Discipline of Astrology

If it is a matter of learning or understanding astrology, the way we understand basic biology, chemistry etc, then the fundamental question is the question of utility?

Very relevant as India is in the process of formulating a new education policy.

And education is definitely a matter of utility, unless you live in Scandinavia. Why do hordes of Indians learn physics, chemistry, maths etc, or Why are hordes of Indians becoming engineers? Not because India is undergoing any engineering super revolution. These subjects are taught, and learnt, because they dictate survival and progress, in the harsh reality called, India.

Concepts like ‘chasing your dream’ look good in a movie, are affordable to a thin elite of India, to an occasional upsurging talent from outside. Otherwise, for the rest, it is a matter of ‘food on the table’.

Can astrology be taught in schools, or can we envision it as part of some curriculum at University or College level?

Two possibilities here. If we look at it from a strictly utilitarian argument that I have proposed above, then YES. The number of Indians making trips to astrologers is huge, and these meek sheep definitely need some guidance, otherwise they are easy fodder for unscrupulous astrologers.

Let’s come back to this later.

Let’s inspect the argument, that ancient Indians had figured ‘it’ out much earlier. Not merely keeping the Sun at the centre of the solar system, some texts can even proclaim to have the seeds of quantum physics in them. Oppenheimer after his tryst with the Nuclear bomb, saw enlightenment and to some extent solace in the hymns of the Gita. The question then is, Why didn’t the technological marvels of the last three hundred years originate in India?

If we can take some pride and solace, in proclaiming that we knew it ‘all’, then we must also take responsibility of our inability to maximise the potential of all that knowledge. 

Even Nehru, who explored the rich cultural heritage of India in the ‘Discovery of India’, advocated cultivating a scientific temper for an Independent India. Can we blame his decision on mere westernisation of his thought? or is there something more deeper in this choice?

If we look at astrology, then the answer that comes to mind it that the practice of astrology is unlike any other knowledge. Knowledge by definition should be empowering, and should set a person free, however the astrological practice has done the exact opposite. The current astrological practice is akin to ‘crutches’ handicapping a person rather than crutches for a handicapped person. A drug that suspends thought to the point of hallucination. A drug that creates dependency rather than freedom.

History is rife with examples of Indian kings mixing astrological signals and military strategy to disastrous consequences. 

So, before astrology can make an argument for becoming a part a regular education, it must answer why it has reached this phase.An argument must be made as to how astrology could be an empowering knowledge. What are its roots and how did it disintegrate into something so sinister?

And, the answer is not going to be as simple as blaming the practitioners. Something fundamental is weak in Astrology, which needs to be found and corrected before it can proceed.

If compared with modern science, then, modern science is not beholden to the scientist. Science, as a discipline cultivates a self correcting mechanism, it entertains dissent, an argumentative process, a discipline that assigns responsibility. Even at the peak of Corona panic, Science allows for experts like Dr Bhakdi to take a contrarian view. No Scientist worthy of practising this discipline has made declarative statements about Corona. A periphery of statisticians, politicians, self proclaimed experts have done it, but a scientist never has!

Even with two phases of vaccine going through, no scientist is proclaiming that the third phase is a sure-shot win. A scientist always expresses caveats before making any judgements. 

For India, statisticians predicted doom all the way, 20 million cases by May, 1 million deaths by June, sensationalism that stands thoroughly discredited. Sadly, astrologers  fall in this same category: harborers of sensationalism. 

Post the Swine Flu epidemic of the last decade, scientists undertook a detailed study to understand what went wrong, where things went wrong. South Korea’s soul searching after the MERS epidemic is credited for its robust response to corona. Post Corona the global scientific community is guaranteed to undertake a review, carry course corrections into the future. 

Where is a similar soul searching in Astrology?

Every scientist around the world is restless and will stay awake in figuring ‘How did they get it so wrong!’

BUT 

at this same time, every astrologer around the world is busy proclaiming, ‘How much they got so right!’

And the problem as said above is not with the practitioners. Laying blame at their doorstep is ‘simple’. Fundamentally, we need to inspect the disciplines themselves. The discipline of Science is forcing introspection, the discipline of Astrology is allowing for a convenient escape. 

Once it undertakes this study, assigns responsibility, identifies mechanisms to avoid such backslides, then we can argue on the merits of the astrological knowledge, and only then we can focus on the utility of astrology in the education system.