Alcohol and its Purana

This post was long in drafts, which I had deleted just a few days ago. Reason being, this was way too long and I had lost interest in writing about this. This post by Shrinidhi triggered me to retake it.

Alcohol as it is known in general around the world is known with different names. Rich call it with its derivatives like wine, beer, brandy, whisky, vodka et al... while the poor call it with their brand local saaraayi, kallabhatti, arrack and what not? But for the chemistry interested like me, its just C₂H₅OH (Ethyl Alcohol) mixed with some more ingredients along with some quantity of water.

Before diggin in, lemme start with a conversation I had with my friend.

Sandesh: Hey! Why do you drink?
Friend: Just like that.
S: don't tell me. There must be a reason.
F: Okay! Tell me what is your favorite drink?
S: Water. If you don't consider that as a drink, I go with Majjige (buttermilk).
F: Just like you drink majjige, I drink beer.
S: Oho! Me drinking majjige, I won't lose control but you do when you drink beer.

F: (Speechless)

Here in India, or at least in Karnataka, when one say "drinking is a bad habit" you know what is the response you get? They go back to puranas and say that even Devas used to consume drinks. I used to keep silent when hearing such conversations, but here I say, don't you know that even Devas quarreled? There are many instances in the puranas where quarrels happened due to drinks. One such story that I heard is posted here.

Forget that. Consider the current situation. Its hilarious. The Government conducts programs, creating ads and signboards saying Arrack is bad for health and the society, but they won't ban alcohol? aint it funny? The same is the case of cigarettes, beedis, gutkas and other addicts.

Why is it so? Government is minting money from it. The tax they impose on these companies that sell such goods is hefty, which is negligent when compared to the profits those companies make. Government doesn't want to lose its share from this and hence it is not banning it. Just as a cover to pose, it is coming up with this anti-alcohol, anti-tobacco ads. Many members of the same Government, as well as those in the opposition have grabbed their seats based on the same alcohol's influence. Any party arranged by any politician or any VIP for that matter, will have drinks. Isn't it a contradiction? Don't they have any better way to earn money?

Was this the same case say 10-15 years ago? I guess not. Though we had drunkards even then, they never used to take pride in drinking. We always have exceptions. We had pubs even then but not many used to go there when compared to present. We had these bar and restaurants, local arrack shops. Nobody used to drink in daylight skipping their work. All such things were kept for the night.

Its after the IT balloon which arouse in India, liquor business boomed. More of foreigners used to come and they used to have it provoking us Indians too. Few hesitated as even they had a secret desire to consume alcohol. Gradually they used to conduct parties where they made free beer kinda thing. People used to get attracted to it. When one is getting something for free, why not try it? eh? That was the attitude. They found pleasure drinking and suggested their friends to try it. Hence the bandwidth of boozers multiplied.

Rich always had a passion for alcoholic drinks. They're the ones who regularly visit pubs and discos which made alcohol a social drink. I dunno how it becomes social when you lose control.

When you consider the poor, the main reason behind their drinking is their poverty. A person who is hard working, self content and who doesn't consume alcohol, will never be poor at least. He works hard, gets his daily wages, comes home, will have his dinner and would get a nice sleep. He is least bothered about consuming alcohol. I've seen such people.

It is those who curb for their poverty in front of their loathsome friends who become alcoholic addicts. If they have a family, there are high chances that even his son, might catch up with drinking looking at his father.

Regarding the poor beating their wives after drinking, its just one thing they do along with many other things. Thats what people have highlighted. The main reason behind this is that one loses self-control after consuming alcohol to a certain extent. There are many other things they do. Some of them include

1. Rob the money the wife had secretly kept to get some grocery.
2. Stop the child from going to school and sending him to work to earn more money for alcohol.
3. Sell whatever valuable (if any) like the ring or necklace(mangala sutra) of the wife or some gold of child.

There are many a promoters for liquor consumption. Our very own Dr. Vijay Mallya. Thanks to his breweries. He says, Drink, but with responsibility. There might be exceptions but most of them lose their control and hence their responsibility when they drink. There are many jokes based on drinking and Vijay Mallya. Here is one.

Gunda sees Thimma drinking.
Gunda: Hey why are you drinking?
Thimma: Doctor has prescribed it.
Gunda: (Baffled) Which doctor?
Thimma: Dr. Vijay Mallya! Hehehe!

When you have such popular VIPs promoting liquor, the youth are eager to try that. Yes! They've seen those VIPs in page 3 with some hot babes (as they call it) in parties and they dream themselves in that position. High chances.

Adding to that, the corporates, arrange parties as I've previously mentioned and they arrange for free beer. Mass hysteria, many of the folks consume beer, just because others are tryin their hands. Some think that they would be treated inferior if they don't have it.

Now, regarding feminine drinking. As I've mentioned in previous post, I consider both men and women equally. If men can drink, so can women. But I oppose anybody drinking.This is for those who ask can women drink.

But, if you go by medical terms, doctors restrict women from drinking coz it might affect their womb from giving birth to a baby. I dunno the details, but somewhere I've read it. Will post the link if one needs. Dunno whether the doc is a male centric person. Don't blame me.

Regarding agelimit for drinking, places to drink. Again, I support a ban on liquor, I don't believe in agelimit for drinking or a certain place to drink.

Once you find a person, drinking and if you care for him, what I suggest is, you go to that person, tell him about the demerits of alcohol in a friendly way and try to pull him outa the trouble. Do not force him. That wouldn't serve the purpose. He would take up drinking later more passionately, if force be applied. Leave the decision to him about quitting alcohol. If he quits, well and good. If not, you just stop thinking about him and continue your work.

I do have friends who drink in a silent manner, enjoying that state of losing control. First of all, I suggest they quit drinking. If they can't let them not promote drinking to their peers. If they sit all alone or with selected friends drinking without forcing anyone and not causing harm to anyone, its well and good (though I don't quite support them doing that). But such people are hard to find. Though we have some instances like that, its pretty rare.

There do exist some people who say, look at the foreigners, when they can drink, why can't we? They say, that there do exist some cold countries like Russia, Canada where you cannot exist with alcohol. I dunno. I can never think of that. They say that drinking alcohol will keep their body warm against the outer environment helping them sustain the cold. I can never comment on that unless I experience that. But for those who take examples of foreigners, I say is drinking alcohol is for pleasure in India and not to retain your body temperature. Please do not give that reason. You can have pleasure by other means.

What do you say?

Pubs, Discos & RSS, Sri Rama Sene, KaRaVe...

Currently whats the hot news in the state and the centre?

Nope! Its not the Mumbai Attacks but the attack on the pub culture by Sri Rama Sene in Mangalore.

Thanks for the stupid media in creating more hype towards this...

Personally If you ask me whether i'm for or against the pub culture? you know the answer better if you're a somewhat regular reader of my blog.

Its a clear 'NO'.

To write more on the pub culture, I might not be the right person coz I dont fall in that category of goin to pubs n discotheques. But this post is based on my experiences of interaction with those who follow it and support it. You've got a point, (I need not say it everytime) post a comment. Always welcome.

Expression for some, is to write out their thoughts, for some its singing, some its dancing... It varies among the people, but according to the Indian Constitution, everyone has got the right to express*.

Yes! There is a asterisk(*) which says conditions apply. The sole condition is that your fun, your expression should not be on someone else's cost. This is the only point I raise for this issue.

They've got better things to discuss in the parliament, but they elongate such petty issues wailing away their precious time. They can discuss about how to improve remote villages for their basic needs, about the power outage problems widely prevalent across the nation( I can go on and on...), but they never seem to take up such things. They're least bothered.

They're only concerned for a few people who were brutally battered for doing some stupid thing.

They were partying. Partying hard! Dancing for some great hip-hop songs with loud speakers, drinking, smoking...

Dont you think this will be a nuisance in the area? Wouldnt it increase the crime rates? People are concerned about those party-goers but are least bothered about the victims of accidents made by the same party animals. I'll just give the recent accident that happened. A person took his car drunk in Indiranagar hit three men and they died on spot. Tell me who is responsible for this?

Many such cases go un-noticed just for the reason that these party animals are highly influential. You can see the police taking the drivers license that day, the next day, you can see the same driver driving.

Okay! Forget the non-party-goers. I might have mentioned this point in some of my previous posts but it would add more weightage here too. How many affairs start and break up in such parties? People who have secret desires among their fellow colleagues do not hesitate to make it true in such parties by adding some tablet to the drink, making the victim numb and do whatever they want? Probability is very much high. There are many such instances.

Instances like a denied proposal, may make way for a murder. These people do anything when they're outa their mind. They dont care about the aftermath.

Anything can happen. Noticing this, the police have come up with a 11PM deadline and these partygoers conduct a rally opposing this. Strange thing is media is supporting such petty causes like anything.

I agree that 'Sri Rama Sene (SRS)' was a bit too violent in stopping the party that day, but do you think being sober would have worked? Never. They would hardly have listened to SRS. To stop such a thing, one has to be rude for a quick outcome. ( I agree in Gandhian principles, but it would take more time). Who would listen to the voice of the non party goers? Its only the common man who has to raise his voice amidst the roars of the highly influential people which would hardly ever been noticed.

I completely support SRS in this regard.

People might disagree with me in this respect, but I go by my words anytime. You've just seen the repeated video clips on media of SRS guys beatign the party girls black and blue. Have you seen how they party half (almost complete) naked? Does the media capture such videos?

One express your concern only for those who are beaten by SRS? Who will cry for those normal people who were hit by a drunkard party goer? Surprisingly none.

Finally, Partying(as the call it! Atleast what happened on that day) is not Indian Culture. One can see the transition, the west is getting easternized and the east westernized. Recently there aws a news, Two Russian couple got married in Udupi Sri Krishna Matha in totally vedic style. They even converted their names Keshidhama Das and Vrunda. They stand for the first transition and these party goers, stand for the latter transition.

Ending this post on the hope that there would be control on the pub culture.

leavebangalore.com - a review.

Was headin towards Bangalore Central to meet one of my friend yesterday, had boarded a bus to Shivajinagar 252 i guess, coming from Peenya. Was standing... Turned on the radio. Dials were at 91.9 [after listening to Friday's Night Patrol, Geoffrey Thomas], some song was gettin played which i enjoyed after which an Ad had me dumbstruck.

It goes...

Person 1 : I am leaving Bangalore...
Person 2 : Enough! I'm leaving Bangalore.
Person 3 : Oof! Thak gayi hoo mai! Jaa rahi hoo! Mai Bangalore Chodke jaa rahi hoo yaar!!
Person 4 : Naan Hogtha iddini andre hogtha iddini! Bangalore bittu hogtha iddini naanu!
Person 5 : Thats it! I'm packing my bags and leaving Bangalore!
Chorus : We are LEAVING BANGALORE!

Another Chorus : Why is everyone leaving Bangalore?

Suddenly a female voice comes up [the same female who performs for these orange properties ad] and says "Do you want to leave Bangalore too? log on to leavebangalore.com and tell us why?"

I thought this is another ad coming after the 11:30 ban! You can see my take on that here. Decided that I'll go home and post a blog on this for sure. Once i was back home, I was busy with one of my cousin flyin to Germany, we had a get-together for that and couldnt much think of it. Was fast asleep by 10:30.

Today morning, i just thought of this and had logged on. Before that! I thought of checking whether we have any other blog for any of our other metros. I tried leavemumbai.com, leavedelhi.com, leavechennai.com. couldnt find any. I thought of having a look at the blog now.

That blog consists only two posts. first, which asks for the reasons behind people getting frustrated about Bangalore. Almost all of them are looking into this, due to which the second post doesnt gets its prominence. All the author wants to say is in the second post. Please do have a look into that. [ I dont want to list that post here! Go have a look yourself].

He actually has posted a video of Rick Astley which says the opposite of the domain name as well as the radio ad. this is a bit clever but many have fallen into the pit. Also those who support Bangalore, have not noticed the above fact and commented about others here. Right at this point of time, we have 195 comments for the first post and the second has only 5.

Only 5 have noticed excluding me. I'm the sixth one i guess. [ Not boasting hehe!]

Though many have commented about things how they feel are in Bangalore. They talk about everything. People being rude which i totally oppose, they bang the taxi drivers as well as the rickshaw drivers, the traffic, high cost of living, what not? Will post a seperate post on that after this one.

Please do post your comments on that here.

Ban 'em! Bang 'em!!

There is this newspaper called mid-day which is specially meant for page 3 lovers as I can see. We get a free issue everyday at the office. Dunno whether they are making profit outa this. As the paper says, it is a paper which is released by the afternoon unlike most of the dailies.

I hardly go through the paper, but an article made me go through it yesterday. [11-Aug-2008]. Please have a look at the link provided. Here is another blogpost [which also came as a review in today's edition of mid-day] which supports the article.

Lemme tell you whats it all about. Recently the Bangalore Police have raised a ban on all shops and establishments to shut down their business within 23:30 due to security constraints. All the music enthusiasts along with DJs are protesting this move and this article covers the protest.

One says 'Give us our Bangalore back!!!' another DJ says 'Get me my job back', yet another says'Give us our rights back!' while another female plays a guitar in the crowd asking them to join her. You can say 'Bengaluru bleeding' on almost all of their attires.

Also, the blog post says 'Life is a chief cause of death, should we ban life?'

Okay! thanks for those slogans, but do you think they are valid?

Bangalore is still the same [Barring the balding done by the influential people who are amongst this crowd], nothing has happened to its culture [Apart from the IT Intruders], There is no point in saying 'Give us our Bangalore back'. We had the 11 o' clock rule much before also.

For the poor DJ, Who has taken your job? You can perform well within 11:30 pm and be safe. I say the same thing to everyone.

Let me explain, but before, you PARTY ANIMAL, answer these questions.

1. Why do you want to lift the 11:30 pm ban?
2. Is that essential for you to dance everyday?? If yes, why can't you dance within 11 and go to sleep, so that you wont be late tomorrow to your work?
3. Why do you want to dance even after 11?
4. What provokes you to break the rules?

Be it whatever, I see only one reason you do such things is just to enjoy! Lemme explain you the problems with this.

1. You booze. Thats the major reason for all the criminal offense happening after 11. You misbehave once you are drunk.
2. Its a nuissance which disturbs the rest.
3. You drive after drinking which causes lots of accidents on the road (as well as off the road).
4. In case you make new friends at the party, you try to go one step ahead than what you usually do with strangers which leads to lots of complexities.
5. It becomes difficult for the police to handle you.
6. I find it so illegal. These rave parties etc.

That post on churmuri, all I have to say is to have a look at this video. Just check out this video and how they misuse the freedom given to them. And that crap about MGR's rule and people coming to Bangalore to enjoy! What crap? its just plain BULLSHIT. Didn't get any better point yeah? And yes, dont compare life with your stupid partying. Its simple stupidity. Life is much more than partying.

I was once shocked to see people like Girish Karnad, Raghu Dixit in the protest. I'm wondering how can they protest on such a mean topic.

These are my views. Please comment with yours. Meanwhile, you can check my another post on google insights on Abhiyantaru.