In the Indian context the depiction of drunkards and the hobby as such, for a given long period of time had been tagged as taboo for writers, story tellers etc. If you go through our Indian literature, rarely you find the detailed description of alcohol as such, in their writing endeavoring . And if, there is any description too, that is in a negative aspect. This pertains to characters, harmful to the society. Even, in our mythological depiction it has been mentioned as the drink of demons.
Drunkards description in writing, as taboo
The description in writing or depiction of drunkards, in other mediums of communication came in vogue after 1950. Whilst the ground reality is, a good majority (just about half of them in number) of writers, poets etc, who enriched the intellectual world with excellent gifts of literature, had been fond of alcohol and habitual to this. Fortunately or unfortunately, if someone of them, made a contribution in writing regard ‘drinks’, as an appreciation, in a certitude he got proclaimed as a biggest drunkard of his time.
The truth is, the business of alcohol selling, in India comes under control of the “Excise department.” This business is run, controlled and protected by the establishment in a way, so that it seems a conspiratorial mechanism of the government. As “the Union of India is the federation of States,” as per the law of the Constitution of India. The right to produce and selling of alcohol, come in the list of “State’s power,” and is one of the major sources of revenue for every State. In some States’ government’s policy, the consumption of alcohol has been the part of promotion of drive of tourism.
The advertisement policy
A very ironical rather entertaining situation, we people in India encounter about alcohol policy of the government. This policy proclaims, any State government or Central government can not promote, propagate the spread of consumption of alcohol in public media of any kind. Whether it be, the print media or the electronic media. Even, private parties as a businessman are banned to do that. Although in a fake way, they advertise their product. For instance, if brand name of alcohol is Teto, they will advertise of Teto distilled water or soda water.
Not only this, a separate department under the legal aegis of the government, in the name of “Prohibition Department” is duly maintained and run by the establishment. It,s like a white elephant, and works as NGO though it,s not. The “gentle man drunkard” are always on its target. Now you may object this “gentleman drunkard” category. Hence I make it clear, the people who after consuming alcohol don’t create any nuisance, are categorized as such. In fact, drunkards are those who flounder, create an uproar, swear and become destructive. Their behavior is evident of the fact, they are not consuming the alcohol in sooth ,they being consumed by the alcohol as such.
Temperate drunkards
Very interestingly, these “gentleman drunkard,” further can be divided into two sub categories. That is, firstly “Medium waves” category, and secondly “Short waves” category. The Medium Waves category, takes a sufficient time to finish their drink, take drinks in a limit. Added with a mannerism or etiquette, they follow in their deportment. It is evident, if they begin their discourse on a particular topic they don’t deviate from that, remain focus upon that. In between this discussion, their talent display is fully bloomed. I would like to make it clear, this example of category is derived from the “Radio -Transistor” modus operandi. You switch on to “Medium Waves” band, it,s easily attuned, sound is clear, undisturbed and doesn’t flicker.
Short waves category means desultory
The capacity of “Short waves” category drunkard, ranges from three drinks to onward. Meant, they may consume to such an extent, be toppled at the place of partying, even can even vomit. They find it insulting to waste the time in consuming the drinks. Not only this, they look upon over the the “Medium Waves” drunkards as contemptuously. They feel proud about themselves, to be declared as “real drunkard.” These people are put into the category of “Short Waves,” for behaving reasons.
For example, If you try to fix some station on short waves, it remains fix to the station for a while. After sometimes, become overlapped by another nearby station. I amplify the example, you have tuned your station to songs, it relays that for some times. Later on, automatically it shifts on to the transmission of just adjacent station’s program of cooking. The drunkards of this category too reveal the same motion or swing of the mood.
Just they are found, discussing the National level politics. After five minutes, you may find them, giving the detailed lustful description of some woman of the locality. After some lapse of minutes, they are playing the trumpet of this political party. Just minutes after, praising the another opponent political party. The debate may be subject oriented, but later on deviated from the main topic. They keep on flickering like Short waves stations from hither to thither. Finally, a time comes when they get attuned to some foreign station. This simply means, now they all begin to speak in English, in which in normal condition, they can’t confidently talk. A good long list of these sweet people, I have got in store but all that later on timely be described. Penned by — Vinay Pharasi …..
