Recently, I had been to a pub in Chennai with a friend. After a couple Jacks on the rocks, we decided to leave and the waiter produced the bill. My friend took his wallet and pulled out a couple of 500 rupees notes and I saw Gandhiji staring into my eyes. Swiftly, I took out my credit card and asked my friend to take his wallet off my sight. Since then, I have been wondering, in a country envisioned to be built on the principle of Mahatma, we do every forbidden act using the currency printed with his face on it. Isn't there a be better way to remember and pay our respects to the Mahatma?
Now, the government has invented yet another way to pay its respects to the father of our nation. Smoking in public will be strictly banned from 02-Oct-08, the birth anniversary of Mahatma. Don’t these guys have better things to associate Mahatma with? The act also empowers school principals, Postmen, Railway Stationmasters, even your boss to book you, if you're caught smoking in a public place. How ridiculous!When you want to ban something, why do you allow its root cause to exist? Fear of loosing revenue? You give something and set the rules exactly opposite to it for your own amusement and pride. You allow production and selling of cigarettes and set a rule not to smoke in the public. It’s like Adam’s apple. Look! But don’t touch. Touch! But don’t taste. Taste! But don’t swallow
Statutory Warning: Smoking Cigarettes and Drinking Alcohol is injurious to health
16 comments:
well i like the new rule...but yes they should ban the root cause..they are trying to make more money..they want people to break the rules...not people to follow things...
I am with you on this,its like selling candy and telling the child not to buy or eat it.Even here there are a lot of cities that have banned smoking in public.In some ways it is a good thing because you are passing on second hand smoke to people who do not smoke and have a right to be out in public areas also.I just worry about the health issues with smoking.In the end it is to each his own.
Extending your metaphors...read a post but dont comment !!
I guess the mahatma is no longer relevant in daily life but he resides within us. A conscience keeper of sorts. Atleast to our generation !
The keeper who stares at you and forces you to whip out the credit card ! ;)
We are making a mockery of him and what he stood for. Both by the breaking of everything he stood for and by symbolic following that wakes up on Oct 2nd, and burried after the TV cameras whizz away !
You have an award waiting for you on my blog.
Good one dude. The fact is, YES, Govt is scared of loosing revenue. But It asol depends upon how good our citizen's can cooperate for this.
Personally, I have walked up to few ppl & requested them to put off the cigaratte in public.
I heard that ppl can't dare to EAT in public during Ramzan month in Saudi(or any muslim country).
Vishesh,
Yes. You are right.
Thanks!
Starry,
Glad that you are with me. May be, it is the first step forward. Let's hope, they stop the production soon
Kavi,
It's very true. Everyones claims Gandhi Rule or Kamaraj Rule without even knowing what they stood for. Completely agreed sir
Thanks!
Anand,
You are an amaravian man! You have the guts...
Everything boils down to living by principles. In India, we have lost most of it...
Shiva,
Very interesting thought. This is the only way everyone seeks Gandhism in this country.
Prem
What teaches the colleges is to think whenever I witnessing some young students smoking! The replacement job for small producers work on making tobacco could stop feeding.
shiva, i am not with you on this. government can't stop producing and selling of cigarattes because there are people who want to smoke. And they are just trying to block the passive smoking.
Offcourse, you would know that idealism is wonderful thing but when you are in administration, you just have to be pragmatic. And i think even this ruling is not pragmatic enough !
Do you really think that the rootcause to smoking is the production and selling of cigarattes in india ? No. i fear not.
shiva, i am not with you on this. government can't stop producing and selling of cigarattes because there are people who want to smoke. And they are just trying to block the passive smoking.
Offcourse, you would know that idealism is wonderful thing but when you are in administration, you just have to be pragmatic. And i think even this ruling is not pragmatic enough !
Do you really think that the rootcause to smoking is the production and selling of cigarattes in india ? No. i fear not.
Hello Siva,
In the Name of Mahatma was Interesting...
But, Only when people get boozed, heart and mind get Sync.
During this time, your action will be according to your heart as well. And that has happened on that day...
- Haroon
I am totally with you...each word has its relevance dear what you wrote here
Awesome post on such a day :)
Keep it up
Cheers
u r right .. agree .. but then atleast this they have done na tos tart with ..cos so far nothing was working !:(
so we must be happier ..
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