Smoke for thought

Smoke, smoke, smoke thy lungs away....!!!

But then if Delhi University administrative authorities and the Student’s Union have their way, the campus smokers maybe left singing another song! The SUTTA song… (Now! You know what am I talking about here!)

On Jan 28, 2008, DU administration and the Student’s Union in collaboration with Delhi Police launched a signature campaign against tobacco consumption on campus. Headed by none other than Hon’ble Minister of Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar. The move is evidently aimed at creating a smoke free environment but how successful can such a movement be is what makes me wonder... Especially when banning it could be so injurious to the state coffers! However it is definitely a step in the right direction but practically speaking imposing such a ban and ensuring its implementation is a Herculean task. Now come on, think about it, just because you prohibit the sale and purchase of cigarettes along the length and breadth of the campus, you cannot expect people to not smoke! If such unrealistic expectations are being harbored by the authorities then, SORRY!! For they are in for grave disappointment to say the least. I mean how illogical! What next? Check each and every student’s bag?? Its as if property rights to clean air has been transferred to non-smokers. The overall reaction to this campaign so far has been lukewarm. Smokers feel that it is no one else’s business to dictate terms on them and going by the feel of it, this campaign would soon sink into oblivion. The reason for its failure being its own unachievable goals. The reasons of the problems we face regarding the laws of our country can be seen as running on two different yet simultaneous parallels. Firstly, we have a tendency to formulate improbable laws to bring about a change and secondly, even if the laws are promising enough, their implementation is ineffective. The resultant situation is a one with people playing the blame game and trying to find a scapegoat! What the government and the Student’s Union are trying to bring into force is nothing more than a farce aimed at promoting vote-bank politics targeting the slogan-shouting so called ‘protectors of morality’ in our society! Where was Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar when we launched an Anti-molestation campaign in the campus?? Is it by standards, a less important issue when compared with smoking on the campus??

I see no point in unnecessarily inconveniencing people who smoke. True, they should not force others into passive smoking but if they need a fag it is perfectly understandable if they do so in the confines of their own vehicle.

We are here dealing with well-informed educated adults. We can only try and make them understand the devastating effects of the addictions engulfing them but imposing a ban is no solution. Instead it would lead to more lies, deceit and eventually do more harm than good. Is that what we want?? I mean, smoking is a complete non-issue. If at 18 one can elect one’s representative to the government and can’t smoke in the campus at 18 or buy a drink at a pub, then I feel that the voter ID cards are a complete facade.

Its time the authorities do a reality check.