comes, ironically, from Gandhi's Dandi March (also called Salt March) 75 years ago, which protested the salt laws of the British rule in India. Gandhi, who also said that you have the duty to disobey unjust laws, was the chief proponent of an alcohol-free India. One of our objectives is to make a case that the context under which Gandhi instituted prohibition is not valid today. Today, alcohol prohibition in Gujarat is an outdated, corruption and crime breeding, short sighted law which must be systematically removed. Keeping up with Bapu's spirit, the Maltmarch community plans to march to the Sachivalay and have a drink in defiance of the prohibition law (date undecided). 
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MaltMarch's stand is that prohibition can be removed responsibly and systematically in Gujarat without sacrificing Gandhian principles or the concerns of pro-prohibitionists (politicians, cops, bootleggers not included). It can also be done in such a manner which reduces corruption & crime (which is at No. 5 in India per capita), benefits the underprivileged, increases governance across the state, and assist in lowering domestic violence by keeping alcohol out of reach of irresponsible citizens. The fear of the pro-prohibitionists is that these will increase if prohibition is removed, but ask any economist and she will give you a more informed and educated opinion. In other states in India, alcohol tax makes up more than 12% of the Government's revenues. In Gujarat, that chunk goes to organized crime and corrupt politicians who don't shy away from using any form of resources to make sure the "fear" of alcohol remains ever present, which in turn affects the vote bank. Its a self-fulfilling prophecy.
If you're like to know more about what MaltMarch Stands for, please click here.
Countries which tried prohibition but failed, countries that still have prohibition, and countries with double-standards
India wasn't the only country to have been inspired by the short-lived prohibition in the US (1920-22), many countries around that time were experimenting with this "noble" but "unfounded" ideology.
Here are the countries that imposed total prohibition of alcohol consumption & production, only to repeal it later:
- 1920 to 1933 in the United States
- 1914 to 1925 in Russia and the Soviet Union
- 1915 to 1922 in Iceland (beer was still prohibited until 1989 because the bill removing prohibition in 1922 mistakenly did not mention it)
- 1916 to 1927 in Norway (wine and beer also included in 1917)
- 1919 to 1932 in Finland (called kieltolaki)
- 1901 to 1948 in Prince Edward Island, and for shorter periods in other locations in Canada
- 1914 to 1955 Sweden utilized a rationing system (not prohibition)
Countries that still have Total Prohibition:
Thought prohibition reduces cases of drunk driving? Study concludes people drive a great distance to drink & drive back drunk
Let's Stop Cheating the Mahatma.
Gujarat is the land of Gandhiji. We are proud he was born here and lived here to become the Father of the Nation.
Gujarat is also the land of prohibition. A concept preached by the Mahatma.
But, how does Prohibition perform today?
Liquor free tourism strategy: "Jal Jeera can attract tourists from around the world"
Click here to read the article "Liquor-free state tourism dept's new mantra" in Times of India
Lets have a some "Jal Jeera Shots". Bottoms up and let that fart out!
It hasn't happened until now, so what makes these idiots think people from around the world will drop into Gujarat to have some "chhas" and "bajri nu rotlu"? This article quotes the head of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat saying "A vast range of vegetarian food and non-alcoholic drinks ranging from butter milk to €˜jaljira' and mango juice can attract tourists from across the world". How did this guy become the head of tourism department of a state with 50 million people, he's not competent to run a restaurant if he's going to stick to Jaljira and butter milk". People don't go to Israel to have kosher food even though it stands a heck of a lot more chance than the fart-relieving jaljeera. Gujarat, as a destination, doesn't stand a chance to attract anyone to come here with such a thoughtless tourism agenda.
Quote martial !! Bottoms Up !
"No nation is drunken where wine is cheap,
and none sober where the dearness of wine substitutes
ardent spirits as the common beverage.
Wine brightens the life and thinking of anyone."
Thomas Jefferson, 1800s
MaltMarch: Executive Summary
Prohibition background
When India gained independence from the British in 1947, all states in India were constitutionally required to have prohibition of Alcohol but none, other than Gujarat, sustained it. Prohibition has been tried in many countries around the world in the 20th century, but later removed because it failed to produce the desired results wherever it was implemented. Gujarat is no exception to that rule €“ in spite of alcohol prohibition; Gujarat has one of the highest consumption of alcohol in India and has created an underworld economy that tarnishes the potential of a socially vibrant and economically strong Gujarat. Today, Gujarat remains the only state in India to have alcohol prohibition and it has been estimated that the Govt. of Gujarat could generate Rs. 20,000 million in additional state revenues if alcohol were to be made legal in Gujarat.
TV Report from 1933 in the USA - Industry Booms after Repeal of Prohibition
Gandhianism as a religion
Gandhi was an individual, so was Mohammad, Allah, Buddha, Mahaveer, Jesus.... some of the individuals who have been credited with starting a religion... Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. Yet, Gandhi's distinction comes from being one of the few to have earned the "ism" after his name in the 20th century. I hesitate to name the others but suffice it to say that the human race had enough collective wisdom to realize by then that "gods" were capable of making mistakes and did so, and were not "complete" and perfect, something for which we pay the price in every religion.
Gandhi was, indeed, a great human being - and the world is a better place for he lived in it. Yet, are Gandhians ever capable of being as great or even aspiring to be as great as him if they don't have the freedom to question him? Are all muslims capable of being as intelligent and wise as the prophet Mohammed himself, if they must live by the strict codes Mohammed preached? Are all Jains deserving of putting themselves on the same pedestal as Mahaveer without going through the self-discovery he did? If not, aren't we merely relegating ourselves to the level of blind followers if we don't have the freedom to reason with their choices? After all, how many muslims you know following buddhism and how many gujaratis you know following Christianity? I, for one, know none, but I do know everyone claims their religious to be the most noble. Almost all follow what we are born into, and you and I very well could have been born black, brown, christian, buddist or a nomad (or an animal for that matter). Wouldn't any of these intellectuals have been strongly against blind faith, which denies the precious human liberty to reason and freedom to choose? It is my opinion that religious heads were leaders who understood, in the absence of law and order, that the only way to unite humankind is to play on their conscience... aka sin. But Gandhi was on a threshold - he saw law and order, and I add freedom, within grasp but not given, so with the goodness of his heart he set about to unite all the different flavors, religions and colors of his motherland - India and set about to capture that freedom from the oppressor and share with the rest of his kin.
Video on Prohibition Propaganda
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Prohibition Propaganda - Advertisement. Prohibition and Excise, Government of Gujarat
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Prohibition is not only our requirement, it is also our responsibility. Intimate us about illegal activities in state of Gujarat.
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Good luck!
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