It is a well known fact that prohibition has given rise to a very dangerous parallel industru "SPURIOUS LIQUOR". Most of the liquor one buys in Gujarat, including those labelled for the armed forces are likely to be spurious. Many a guys, to keep up social appearances, keep on buying this spurious stuff, which is otherwise undrinkable. We all know that this spurious stuff could lead to a lot of damage to the drinker.

Maltmarchers went to the "52 hour fast at the Gandhi Ashram" held by Shankersinh Vaghela, who is trying hard to associate himself as the next "bapu", and asked him to take an oath on the Bhadvad Gita that he has never had a drink in Gujarat ever since prohibition has been in effect. Amid thousands of his supporters, he exercised his right not to take the oath, but for a man who also
admitted that he has had "all kinds of liquors" during his travel out of state, isn't it unintelligent to compare drinking to rape, murder, etc.?  By his logic, would it mean that if he can drink outside of Gujarat, he'd also go to a brothel where its legal or kill or rape someone where there is no law? No, because he himself, like everyone else, knows that drinking is not a moral violation whereas murder, rape, etc. are. because there is a clear and identifiable victim (domestic violence, which is morally unacceptable, is a matter of governance and not prohibition. Any person in Gujarat can still get hooch and tharra, drinks that are not legal in any state and will remain illegal even if prohibition is lifted). In case of prostitution, there is no victim since both parties are consenting but its morally wrong if you are being unfaithful to your spouse, present or future.

Politicians in Gujarat have longed harped on ill effects of Alcohol and have time and again drawn references from Gandhiji's speeches. Why has alcohol been the only one to bear the brunt? All aware of the increasing use of tobacco in varied forms, especially gutka in Gujarat. In fact the consumption of Gujarat in most regions has gone to appalling levels threatening fatal infections.

Why not drinkers and teetotalers? We have accepted secularism as the idealogy for our nation, whereby even religion is allowed as a freedom of choice, why not drinking which is a part of many cultures and religion such as christianity, sikhs, and also some tribes? The Gandhians imposing teetotalism on the rest of us is like the Taliban imposing strict "moral" code on everyone under their rule in Afghanistan. Forced imposing of moral values just doesn't work - although, unfortunately, it can last a hell of a lot of time, as with the prohibition because the supressors play on the fear of the population. If the current politicians playing on the fears of the population by staging anti-prohibition movement had been around Gandhiji's time, they would have tried to dissuade him from a secular, democratic India and, instead, opted for a socialist, religious fundamentalist nation. And we know that everyone has a different understanding of religion, just like different Gandhians have of Gandhiji's idealism.

What is the point behind the Gandhians supporting Shankarsinh Vaghela, who they admitted (to the MaltMarchers) is for nothing but political gain from his fasting at the Gandhi Ashram? Under the short time that the Vaghela Government was in power in 1997, they gave out more liquor shop licenses to hotels in Gujarat than any other Govt., not to mention the liquor permits given out. Would Gandhiji have supported their meddling in political games in the name of his idealogy? If Vaghela forms a Govt. tomorrow and continues on his own mockery of the prohibition by giving out more licences as he has done in the past, what will the Gandhians do? Stage a satyagraha with the Modi govt. and cry fowl over the Vaghela Govt.? Please stop this and move on. Gandhians, please realize that you will not be out of a job if prohibition is lifted, there are a lot of things Gandhiji stood for and Prohibition, in its current form, is not one of them. Gandhianism, and the idea of non violence, is a philosophy of being more moral than your enemy which induces the moral code in your oppressor to withdraw. If that is the strategy behind their actions, I ask them to rethink about who the oppressor is in this case and about their actions.

As Amdavadis regale in the chaos [IIMA], with the roots [CEPT] not far behind....I and my friend raise a toast to the freeing spirit of this city, that has grown to know of some more nights of revelry besides the nine [thanks to these esteemed institutions]....Paradoxical though it may seem but our toast was behind closed doors, and in hushed tones, lest the neighbours may hear.

And as i pondered on the freedom to stand there, with a beer in a hand and listen to the music.....the thoughts of the relation between music and Alcohol crossed my mind.

I'm sure all of us in somewhere or the other have seen this. There exists a correlaton between these two. Music traditionally has been in the company of Drinks...Remember Umrao Jaan or the classics of Elvis. Even in UK and Ireland the pub culture has significantly changed the music. Traditional music moved into the pubs when the idea of playing for listening and not for dancing became important. The same goes for India where music is far more for listening...Gazals, the indian music form is the best companion of any drinker.