Harihar’s Tripaty
A true story. The police arrested a shopkeeper who was running a tavern at the end of the village on charges of dealing in liquor. The villagers were very happy. The villagers were causing trouble by drinking liquor and spending the money they earned, so it was natural for people to appreciate the work of the police. But it was seen that after two days the shopkeeper returned from the police station smiling. Business continued as usual. In fact, it could be said that it went even faster. The secret of this incident was understood a few days later when the shopkeeper, adding lime to his drink, told the story of his jail journey. After arresting him, the police explained to him, why are you doing such a small business? When he said that he could not get good goods. They explained to him, gave him the address of where to get the stolen goods and let him go. Now he understands the policeman’s words and they also understand him. Wow. This is just a small example of how alcohol is spreading in our state. Alcohol is becoming more and more prevalent day by day. There are many other reasons for this.
Anyone will admit that alcohol is one of the many things that hinder the progress of the poor people of India. Alcohol destroys the world of the poor, no matter how much they earn. An alcoholic blames his misfortune and then goes to the liquor shop the next day. Efforts to eliminate social diseases like alcoholism were made before independence, but they have not been completely successful. Earlier, alcohol was declared illegal only in Gujarat, but now the Bihar government has taken strong steps and banned alcohol from the state. The biggest thing is that the state of Tamil Nadu has started efforts to control alcohol consumption. Along with this, the opening hours of liquor shops have been limited to 12 noon to 10 pm. Earlier, liquor shops were open from 10 am to 10 pm.
However, this is not happening in Odisha. The Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha is ruling for the fifth time, but it has not been able to take strict steps against alcohol. The fear of losing the royal property has consumed the government. On the other hand, the practice of alcohol is increasing day by day. Earlier, people used to drink in small groups, but now drinking alcohol in general has become a civilized thing. Ceremonies like marriages cannot be completed without drinking alcohol. The saddest and most shameless thing is that now when someone dies, people who go to cremate the body in villages and cities first ask to drink alcohol. It can be easily guessed from this to what extent humanity has gone.
Although the great Odisha hero Biju Babu could not ban alcohol in the state during his lifetime, his views against alcohol were strong. In 1990, a few days after becoming the Chief Minister for the second time, his visit was to the undivided Koraput district. While visiting various parts of the district, Biju Babu joins small and large meetings and understands the good and bad of the people. During his visit to Gudari, a big meeting is organized. Around 200-300 tribal women sit in front of the meeting. After the speech festival was over, Biju Babu approached them. He asked an elderly tribal woman, “Hey mother, I have come to you, Biju Patnaik. Tell me what is your problem or advantage. What can I do for you?” The woman said, “Sir, the price of all goods is increasing. Our men are going to work, so they are giving away the wages they bring to drink alcohol. We, the poor, will find a child and a man, how will we manage?” Bijubabu listened patiently. He said – “You mothers, get together. Put the men who drink liquor in a sieve. Break the liquor factory in the village. Liquor is destroying everything. If you give up liquor, everything will be fine. Then the children will study. You will all be fine. You mothers, get together. Protest against liquor. Get together and break all the factories.”
Enraged by Biju Babu’s words, those tribal women held a significant protest against liquor at that time. They broke the liquor factories. When the police went to take action against them for taking the law into their own hands, it was stopped due to Biju Babu’s intervention. Biju Babu knew that if he went to completely ban liquor, he would have to face opposition from the government itself. So, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he started an indirect movement against liquor in his own style. If Biju Babu had been in power for two or three consecutive terms like the this government, then perhaps liquor would have been banned from the state from the day it was banned. So, even if it is late, the Odisha government should learn something from the governments of Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Gujarat. If there is one of the biggest obstacles to the progress of the state, especially the progress of the poor, tribals and daily wage earners, it is liquor. If liquor is banned, many improvements will come in the law and order situation of the state. The government needs to discuss this issue repeatedly. If the government is ineffective in this direction, women in the society will need to apply Biju Babu’s formula. Then the government may definitely have to face many challenges.
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