Yogi as a Teacher

Now it is almost official India hates fun. We ban something outright; we should not think consequences and genuine needs. 

But it is also clear, for some reason, Indians like bans. Our politicians and courts don’t give a serious thought to reconsider a decision that affects lakhs and millions and kill employment. And in most of the cases, even the intent is not clear but people don’t mind crushing anything like the business, employment, fun etc. even though the ban might not achieve anything meaningful. 

Long before Yogi Adityanath became so popular with the closing of illegal slaughter houses, and put a ban on cow slaughter, Kashmiri people put a ban on films and closed all the cinema halls in the notorious Kashmir valley. Even they close all the schools and colleges for months and months as and when they wish so. Now, it is almost three decades, since all the cinema halls are closed in the valley but the nation is silent. 

One of the most brutal victims of the ban in our country try is poor alcohol. Although it gives maximum revenue and maximum fun, but it is treated as a sin and an enjoyment. All the states fail to control terrorists, Naxals, Jihadi, criminals but all try to regulate the flow of alcohol as much as possible. Haryana played with this game of ban. But failed miserably. Now Nitish Kumar is playing with this ban game. With one stroke of pen he altogether closed lakhs of shops, bars, etc. overnight. 

Even Honourable Supreme Court is a part of this game. The recent SC order, closing alcohol sales within 500 meters of highways is the latest drive. It has rendered thousands of businesses unviable, resulting in loss of millions of jobs. Even people with the valid license, cannot do the business. Such ban cannot be appreciated. 

Now there is no one to protect the victims of bans, neither Indian government nor the justice system. “Make in India”, becomes “business hell in India.” The people who sell and consume alcohol are the obvious casualty. All think it is morally good to bash those who are a part of the business that only create ‘pleasure’ and ‘fun.’ Nobody is worried about the damages it causes to the nation and society. 

It also spoils the image of the country as business-friendly image overseas. The foreign investors will treat us like an Islamic nation, who will change rules on the whims and fancies of a maulana or a Maulvi and no protection for investment and business. It is also damaging to the earnings of the states and people, which in turn is used for welfare measures such as education, health and other developments. 

This will also encourage illegal activities and economy to develop. Prohibition, or even restricted sales, has failed worldwide and in India many times. It only encourages bootlegging, bribes, corruption and under-the-counter dhabas and sales counters on the highway selling alcohol. It’s all funny ways of governance or absurd activism to hide failures. 

Google Maps will tell every shop, and even find the way through the shortest route to any alcohol outlet even if signs pointing to liquor shops are removed. New signs and names can also be created to mention liquor shop with the fast changing languages. These bans harm tourism, local economy, revenue collection, employment prospects for those honestly and directly involved and don't lessen drunk drivers on the road. Clear worthless, isn’t it?

The only way to keep drunk drivers off the road is (a) heavy penalties and quick punishments to offenders. It would have been much better to punish drunk drivers through fast track justice system. 

This game of ban was started in a big way by the secular government headed by secular leaders when they banned Taslima Nasreen’s ‘Lajja’ and Salman Rushdie’s ‘Satanic Verses’, two great literary works. Even communists supported these bans.

It is a well-known fact that Jallikattu, also known as ‘Eruthazhuvuthal’ in Tamilnadu, played on Pongal, bullock cart race in Maharashtra, Kambla in Karnataka, bullocks’ race in Punjab etc., have been traditionally and culturally very popular practice. All must respect these traditions and cultures but ironically all face ban. 

People’s memory is very pitiable. Bans are neither new nor unusual in India. In India, even all type of dissections is banned in labs even for educational purposes and researches. Now even earthworms, cockroaches, rats, fish, frog, monkey, etc., cannot be dissected. As a result of this in the field of education and research nation is suffering very heavily.

Similarly, medicinal tests, pharmaceutical tests etc., on insects and animals like rats, monkeys, horses, frogs, dogs, etc., are also banned in India. As a result of all these bans country has been suffering. Education, research all have been suffering very heavily. Academicians, researchers, and scientists are working under tremendous pressure on account of such bans. 

Similarly, animal shows in circuses are also banned. Even jugglers cannot keep animals like monkeys, bear, and even snakes. As a result of this lakhs of people lost their livelihood.

Animal rights fighters have succeeded in banning the long-established arts in India that expertise in training animals for shows as a means of living. There was a time when snake charmers and Baazigars would be sent to international fairs as emissaries of India’s conventional art forms.

But when the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was extended to these communities, they became criminals and law breakers. With one blow of the pen, their centuries-old art forms came to be treated as an unlawful activity, without even bother to offer them any alternative means of employment for survival. 

It is a very silly situation that every few weeks, nation announces one or the other blanket bans and restrictions. We never consider the global standard. If India aims to be one of the developed, civilised, liberal and modern countries of the world, we should follow, adopt and adhere to some global standard and practice? Alcohol sale is not restricted at all in any democratic nations, and yet they have managed to reduce drunk driving to a large extent.

President Obama, Clinton, Tony Blair etc. used to meet people for a beer in the presence of media. Global CEOs and achievers in every field openly have drinks and still work very well. To think of alcohol as a sin only is a Taliban idea because some misuse it is erroneous, at least so far as liberal world practices move.
In general, laws should not be arbitrary and pointless, written so hastily that someone might suspect lawmakers are under the influence.

By closing illegal slaughter houses and put a ban on cow slaughter, Yogi Adityanath, like a teacher, has taught the nation to speak against the game of ban. Now all the secularists, communists, Islamist, animal lovers, liberal and tolerant brigade, media, freedom-fighter for food, etc. all have opened their mouth against the game of ban.