Around 300 auto drivers in Boisar have pledged to henceforth stop fastening a lemon and chillies to their vehicles, in the belief that it will ward off all evil. The drivers arrived at the decision after being made aware that it was a mere superstition, during a drive undertaken by Andhshraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS), Pune, in association with Indian Medical Association, Boisar chapter, and Rotary Club of Boisar-Tarapur.The drivers were also surprised to learn the fact behind the myth, during the campaign launched on Saturday at Boisar Railway Station.At traffic signals, it’s common to find hawkers selling lemons-chillies every Saturday (considered an inauspicious day), and rickshaw drivers and other motorists buying them at Rs 5 apiece. “But, as part of the ANS campaign, around 300 auto drivers have decided to stop the practice after we explained the story behind the superstition,” said Anil Karvir, a member of ANS which was founded by the late Dr Narendra Dabholkar to eradicate superstition.“People believe the lemon-chillies will bring prosperity and help avoid mishaps, while some just ape others,” said Karvir. “If an auto driver sees his colleagues fasten the ‘lucky charm’ on their vehicles, he will blindly do the same, little knowing the history behind the act. Such charms do not guarantee the driver will be protected from evil. I’ve seen so many accidents in which the vehicle is badly damaged but the lucky charm is intact,” Karvir said.“The belief is just humbug,” said IMA member Dr Subhash Sankhe, adding that members of the three association will also approach industrial units and explain the superstition to workers. “We are living in a scientific world, and one should shun such superstitions,” he said. And how did the practice come into being? Karvir has the explanation: “In ancient times, when there were no proper roads and people traversed through jungles on foot to reach their destinations, they would carry a lemon and few chillies with them besides water. If they grew thirsty and dehydrated, they would squeeze juice from the lemon, which contains Vitamin C, into the water and drink it to refresh themselves,” Karvir explained.“As for the chillies, they played a big part in determining poisonous snake bites! While walking through jungles infested by snakes, people often got bitten. To determine whether the bite was poisonous or not, the victim would eat a chilli,” said Karvir.“If the bite was poisonous, the victim’s tongue would have no sensation as his nerves would be numbed and he wouldn’t find the chilli bitterly pungent. But, if the bite was non-poisonous, he would immediately feel his mouth ‘burn’ due to the hot taste of the chilli,” Karvir said. “Thus, the lemon and chillies served as a mobile first aid kit during those days.” Over time, it somehow led to the misconception that the lemon and chillies ward off evil while travelling.“Nowadays, however,” Karvir said, “people continue to be misled by the belief. In fact, in ancient times people in hamlets would hang lemons and chillies from their doorposts for the sake of travellers. But even today you find people doing the same.“There are approximately 1,500 auto drivers and 600 trucks in Boisar who indulge in the practice. Doing away with it would also result in a monetary saving for them,” Karvir said. “We had launched the campaign in October 2013 in Pune, and was a success. This is the first such campaign in Thane rural district, and we will spread the message to other parts of the State too,” he added. “This is one of our methods to educate the masses against superstition, thanks to our founder, Dr Dabholkar.”“We were living in the dark, but after being explained the true significance of the act, we’ve decided to stop it,” said Mahadev Mullick, president of Thane District Auto Rickshaw-Taxi Owners Association. “On Saturday, 300 drivers vowed to do so, and as word spreads more of our association members will follow suit,” he added.