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Gujarat is the land of Gandhiji. We are proud he was born here and lived here to become the Father of the Nation.

Gujarat is also the land of prohibition. A concept preached by the Mahatma.

But, how does Prohibition perform today?

Click here to read the article "Liquor-free state tourism dept's new mantra" in Times of India

Lets have a some "Jal Jeera Shots". Bottoms up and let that fart out!

It hasn't happened until now, so what makes these idiots think people from around the world will drop into Gujarat to have some "chhas" and "bajri nu rotlu"? This article quotes the head of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat saying "A vast range of vegetarian food and non-alcoholic drinks ranging from butter milk to €˜jaljira' and mango juice can attract tourists from across the world". How did this guy become the head of tourism department of a state with 50 million people, he's not competent to run a restaurant if he's going to stick to Jaljira and butter milk". People don't go to Israel to have kosher food even though it stands a heck of a lot more chance than the fart-relieving jaljeera.  Gujarat, as a destination, doesn't stand a chance to attract anyone to come here with such a thoughtless tourism agenda.

"No nation is drunken where wine is cheap,
and none sober where the dearness of wine substitutes
ardent spirits as the common beverage.
Wine brightens the life and thinking of anyone."
Thomas Jefferson, 1800s

Gandhi was an individual, so was Mohammad, Allah, Buddha, Mahaveer, Jesus.... some of the individuals who have been credited with starting a religion... Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. Yet, Gandhi's distinction comes from being one of the few to have earned the "ism" after his name in the 20th century. I hesitate to name the others but suffice it to say that the human race had enough collective wisdom to realize by then that "gods" were capable of making mistakes and did so, and were not "complete" and perfect, something for which we pay the price in every religion.

Gandhi was, indeed, a great human being - and the world is a better place for he lived in it. Yet, are Gandhians ever capable of being as great or even aspiring to be as great as him if they don't have the freedom to question him? Are all muslims capable of being as intelligent and wise as the prophet Mohammed himself, if they must live by the strict codes Mohammed preached? Are all Jains deserving of putting themselves on the same pedestal as Mahaveer without going through the self-discovery he did? If not, aren't we merely relegating ourselves to the level of blind followers if we don't have the freedom to reason with their choices? After all, how many muslims you know following buddhism and how many gujaratis you know following Christianity? I, for one, know none, but I do know everyone claims their religious to be the most noble. Almost all follow what we are born into, and you and I very well could have been born black, brown, christian, buddist or a nomad (or an animal for that matter). Wouldn't any of these intellectuals have been strongly against blind faith, which denies the precious human liberty to reason and freedom to choose? It is my opinion that religious heads were leaders who understood, in the absence of law and order, that the only way to unite humankind is to play on their conscience... aka sin. But Gandhi was on a threshold - he saw law and order, and I add freedom, within grasp but not given, so with the goodness of his heart he set about to unite all the different flavors, religions and colors of his motherland - India and set about to capture that freedom from the oppressor and share with the rest of his kin.

Prohibition Propaganda Prohibition Propaganda - Advertisement. Prohibition and Excise, Government of Gujarat Home Department - Government of Gujarat - 34 sec - May 18, 2006

Intimate us Prohibition is not only our requirement, it is also our responsibility. Intimate us about illegal activities in state of Gujarat. Home Department, Government of Gujarat - 26 sec - May 18, 2006

Good luck!

My first reaction to hearing our Government's new policy (relaxation of€¦) was positive.  I was told that our CM announced "relaxation of prohibition policy" in special economic zones (SEZ's). I felt admiration for the Govt. for taking this progressive step, until I was told in simple words that "only outsiders and permit holders living in SEZ's will be able to drink, not the residents like you and I". Immediately, the picture that appeared in my head was of the British Clubs in India that carried the sign "Dogs and Indians not allowed" (one of these clubs even survived almost a decade after we got independence). While I do give some credit to our Government for taking this step in speeding the inevitable removal of prohibition, I feel this is narrow-sighted and undemocratic decision, which isn't even going to "lure" any investors into the state.