It had always been a very tiring start to every day for me. Not because of the booze but probably a hangover of the excess efforts I try to put in from my side in any aspect. But that day was a little different. I still remember it was early morning on August 5th, 2011 and I woke up quite fresh. Though it was the last working day of the week, the successful project release a day before had helped me gain some unplanned rest and peace, both mentally and physically.
When I started to browse on my Smart phone for the morning news I was quite surprised. Ah, that made my start so dramatic reading it. I got a pinch in my head straight away. That was not because of someone physically pinching me but was an effort of times of India online news site. The news of a campaign for making the age limit to drink liquor at 25 pondered me with silence. I can still recollect what went through my mind that day, penned down here for a read.
India is of course a democratic, secular nation with many laws and regulations going against the people who want to party hard. Few days back we were playing loud music at a friend's place when the cops arrived and intervened our celebration at around 1 "AM". This was of course an action taken up keeping in mind the violation of a few laws which we were not aware of. Well on the brighter side of it, if it happens to you sometime, let me tell you that you can get rid of the situation with just a Rs.500 note slipping outta your pocket and falling in the hands of the policeman in front of you or maybe even a lesser amount.
We all know how well maintained are the laws in our country and how well do the officers work in order to implement them. I recalled that earlier sometime when I went to watch the famous movie ‘Delhi Belly’ in my hometown I was a bit surprised to see the school kids joining me in. When I asked the staff there they said exactly these words as quoted: "Are bhai, pura show khaali ja raha hain, koi nahi aata hain ab dekhne 1 hafta ho gaya hain. Agar theatre ko loss me nahi le jana hain to ticket to bechna hi padega na " (All the shows are going empty now as the movie is now a week old, if we don’t sell the tickets to everyone it would lead the theatre in huge loss). Well, at these places it’s the duty of the staff there to implement the rules and regulations on minors. But the lust to earn more and loose less has changed the scenario in today's world and the game altogether.
What I meant to convey is that what happened at the theater or at the party spot can definitely happen again at the liquor shop too. If the government plans to approve the laws made by the bureaucrats of the nation then they should also make it a serious issue to enforce them. People above the age of 18 are considered as adults. Above 21 a guy can marry as well. These rules have been taken up seriously, though not at all the places, and have been an integral part of the society since ages now. But laws restricting someone to enter a theater or a place where a minor shouldn't be, are hardly even known. Our country has been developing since freedom now, but the thoughts of the people are already developed to a large extent, even surpassing the western culture in a number of ways.
A lokpal bill which was supported by all the sections of the society and for which each and every Indian came forward to echo his/her voice along is still to be induced successfully in the Indian Law system. I wonder how can one even think of implementing this law for liquor ban under age 25, when all the people falling in the banned age group (of course not the minors) are going to protest against it. Even if they show some respect for the nation and do support it, which would actually be a surprise to me, through signature campaigns or other stuffs, they are definitely going to have party at weekends with drinks flowing like The Nile.
To be honest there is no use of diverting the attention of the people at any point from the serious issues that pertain in the Indian society at any given instance. Instead everyone responsible should look for solving the issues which are more important, and in turn beneficial for the society as a whole.
Google with apt words and it will show you the condition of the people in the under age group (25) not just drinking but even going beyond the limits with different sorts of natural and chemical drugs. Definitely I too would love to stop these insane acts by the youth of the nation but unfortunately we can’t. This is a problem across all the countries in the world, and this, my dear friends is ‘India’. News like these and even thoughts just bring out a smile on my face with a thought that we are still “Hoping against Hope”.
When I started to browse on my Smart phone for the morning news I was quite surprised. Ah, that made my start so dramatic reading it. I got a pinch in my head straight away. That was not because of someone physically pinching me but was an effort of times of India online news site. The news of a campaign for making the age limit to drink liquor at 25 pondered me with silence. I can still recollect what went through my mind that day, penned down here for a read.
India is of course a democratic, secular nation with many laws and regulations going against the people who want to party hard. Few days back we were playing loud music at a friend's place when the cops arrived and intervened our celebration at around 1 "AM". This was of course an action taken up keeping in mind the violation of a few laws which we were not aware of. Well on the brighter side of it, if it happens to you sometime, let me tell you that you can get rid of the situation with just a Rs.500 note slipping outta your pocket and falling in the hands of the policeman in front of you or maybe even a lesser amount.
We all know how well maintained are the laws in our country and how well do the officers work in order to implement them. I recalled that earlier sometime when I went to watch the famous movie ‘Delhi Belly’ in my hometown I was a bit surprised to see the school kids joining me in. When I asked the staff there they said exactly these words as quoted: "Are bhai, pura show khaali ja raha hain, koi nahi aata hain ab dekhne 1 hafta ho gaya hain. Agar theatre ko loss me nahi le jana hain to ticket to bechna hi padega na " (All the shows are going empty now as the movie is now a week old, if we don’t sell the tickets to everyone it would lead the theatre in huge loss). Well, at these places it’s the duty of the staff there to implement the rules and regulations on minors. But the lust to earn more and loose less has changed the scenario in today's world and the game altogether.
What I meant to convey is that what happened at the theater or at the party spot can definitely happen again at the liquor shop too. If the government plans to approve the laws made by the bureaucrats of the nation then they should also make it a serious issue to enforce them. People above the age of 18 are considered as adults. Above 21 a guy can marry as well. These rules have been taken up seriously, though not at all the places, and have been an integral part of the society since ages now. But laws restricting someone to enter a theater or a place where a minor shouldn't be, are hardly even known. Our country has been developing since freedom now, but the thoughts of the people are already developed to a large extent, even surpassing the western culture in a number of ways.
A lokpal bill which was supported by all the sections of the society and for which each and every Indian came forward to echo his/her voice along is still to be induced successfully in the Indian Law system. I wonder how can one even think of implementing this law for liquor ban under age 25, when all the people falling in the banned age group (of course not the minors) are going to protest against it. Even if they show some respect for the nation and do support it, which would actually be a surprise to me, through signature campaigns or other stuffs, they are definitely going to have party at weekends with drinks flowing like The Nile.
To be honest there is no use of diverting the attention of the people at any point from the serious issues that pertain in the Indian society at any given instance. Instead everyone responsible should look for solving the issues which are more important, and in turn beneficial for the society as a whole.
Google with apt words and it will show you the condition of the people in the under age group (25) not just drinking but even going beyond the limits with different sorts of natural and chemical drugs. Definitely I too would love to stop these insane acts by the youth of the nation but unfortunately we can’t. This is a problem across all the countries in the world, and this, my dear friends is ‘India’. News like these and even thoughts just bring out a smile on my face with a thought that we are still “Hoping against Hope”.
-- Utkarsh
