Na Dava Na Daru - A Case against Prohibition

“Baykhari” or “Bhuskhar” is the Bihari word for Silo’s or Granary.

 It’s like a thatched conical mud house, lined with dry hay and grains stored within.

 Besides the utility of storage of grains free from pests and humidity, it’s a symbol of security, prosperity and pride. Still, in Villages, we count the number of “Baykhari” one has before giving our daughters in their family.  

My Late father used to tell me, that during the late sixties the Congress government came with a rule that, all farmers have to sell their grains to the government and government only. One was allowed to keep only a few sacks of grains in their house, just for consumption. 

The police along with the concerned department used to raid farmer’s premises, take all the grains stored and destroy the “Baykhari”. Thereby destroying ages old, a functioning system of agro storage and agrarian balance.  Destroying also their prosperity, ages old symbol of pride and chances of a good bride for their sons.

Please find a relevant article here: http://ccs.in/parking-space-poor-restrictions-imposed-marketing-movement-agricultural-goods-india

Of course, it didn’t last long, as farmers stopped growing; there was scarcity of food and famine followed. It was overzealous socialism and governments perceived morality of spoon feeding the poor nation called India.

In a similar move, the State of Bihar, through its elected members of legislative assembly, unopposed.  One fine morning decided that the Bar in my house, a symbol of prosperity and pride, is an illegal Silo and the contents of it, acquired with so much of effort, through various travels, is dangerous for the poor people of this state, also immoral.

Not much has changed since then it seems.  As the Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar, imposes complete ban on alcohol, not a single individual or group or civil society opposed it or even showed some signs of resistance.

On the other hand, Nitish Kumar has formed a Mahila Brigade to showcase his high ground on morality. Who beat drums, play with colors and burst crackers in favor of prohibition. 

It’s a staged performance, paid by the tax payers’ money, as these groups run state sponsored NGO’s, some of them housed in govt. buildings.

Undoubtedly, inebriated men had become a social nuisance in Bihar, especially in villages during last 10 years.  

Shri Kumar was the CM for these years. The booze shops increased from mere couple of hundreds to over 6000. Shops were allowed to have a drinking area too, even allowed to operate in residential and educational area.  Mr. Kumar’s logic was the govt. needs the revenue. The revenue shot up from 150 crores to 4000 crores.

Then, like the Great Samrat Asoka, Nitish had a change of heart and like Asoka, from the great warrior and war monger  became the most powerful preacher of Buddhism and peace. 

Nitish wishes to become the preacher of prohibition. 

Like Asoka, learnt that wars never get over and are expensive way to remain a renowned king, piggy backing on Buddha would make him immortal.

Nitish would make this a national issue and walk his way to the immortal chair of the Indian Prime Minister. 

Asoka did succeed to a large extent, time shall tell about Shri Kumar.

But, Sir Ji, Wars didn’t stop after Asoka and neither will the flow of alcohol, after you try to piggy back Gandhi.

Yesterday, one of my co-villagers was arrested from his house, consuming his daily dose of whiskey.  Arrested under section 47(a) of Excise laws.  We were told someone complained, thus his house was raided.  To know later, Panchayat elections are due and people are settling scores. That’s how law takes its selective turn.

The punishment is 5 to 10 years of prison for possessing, consuming or manufacturing of alcohol and in some cases death sentence too. Now that’s what we call a resolve.  

The state goes to sleep at 9 pm now. Clubs and hotels have halved their staff.  People packing for Delhi and other places.   Marriages, parties, seminars are being postponed, cancelled or moved away to other destinations.

I am sure all these people were drunkards and a bane to the Bihari society, better in other places than here.   Laloo during his arrogant days, made sure that the trader community got out of this state, leaving behind caste ridden backward and prejudiced society, a fit place to run by a nincompoop. Still, he knew his basics well; he liberated toddy and the Pasi community from the socialist congress and removed the licensing on the age old profession.

The other day, I happened to travel with my journalist friend for a story on the effect of the ban on the lives of the Pasi community.  We went to the houses of those tree climbers, their women were in tears, there was no food for last few days, as these people earn on a daily basis. Even a single day without work has direct effect on their stomach.  Police has been harassing them and breaking their utensils. Even their political leaders have abandoned their cause as they are a part of the govt. and the unanimous passing of the legislation.

Initially, the ban was supposed to be in two phases, first was ban on so called country liquor, which is nothing but flavored alcohol made out of simple distilled molasses spirit.

Later, it might have been extended to so called IMFL, whatever, that means its branded booze. Also, now, the state beverage corporation would sell them from their own 650 shops across state.

The aggrieved manufacturers and shop owners had gone to court, seeking injustice, main argument being, if booze is bad, even IMFL is booze, why should country liquor be singled out. 

Does it mean, rich have the right to drink and poor don’t? 

On the 5^th of April, the case was up for hearing, a day before that, some 50 state run shops that were to open weren’t allowed by the vigilant citizens, as they were being opened in residential areas. The mood was set for anti booze. Mr. Kumar realized his weak wicket, before the court went to hearing they decided to implement full ban. 

Putting the parties on back foot. Now, they would have to go to the drawing board again.  He cited that, there was immense support from the masses for prohibition.

Thick skin Politicians have a knack for making hay in adverse situations.

   

The Bihar Booze industry which was almost an 80K crores business, suddenly had no takers. As if no one knew who was drinking all that stuff.

There are mainly two reasons why everyone kept quiet. Primarily, the issue of morality, perceived misplaced hypocrite morality. 

Not to call a spade a spade is a civil society norm.

Second, no one wants to be seen on the wrong side of the law. 

When Nitish was on a liquor shop opening spree in 2006, the aggrieved, especially the women of the house, kept quiet and let it happen. The law was supporting the drinking business.  

Now, he is closing all shops and putting drinkers behind bars, the law supports thus better to keep quiet.

For a society to flourish, dissent is the most important ingredient.  What we have since ages instead, is hope filled yes Sayers, some have vested interest and some are just too lazy to dissent. 

They are hopeful that good things will eventually come forth.  

Oh! They will, but with your dissent.

What shall eventually happen is, bootlegging and mafia and deep rooted nexus and very powerful certain group of people and some real hooch tragedy death and death of a society. 

Good men sipping their adulterated scotches in steel glasses in quiet corners of their homes, reliant on goons for their supply and the goons shall sit on the sprawling lawns of MLA quarters and gulpthe real thing.

As for me, its Dava Daru.

A co - villager told me a certain remarkable thing.  “It’s called DAVA - DARU” meaning Medicine and liquor go together.  One has to have Daru like a Dava, Alcohol like medicine, in the right dose, not less not more for good health.