Say Yes to Life: Protest Against Liquor Shop in Kausani
By Siby Kollappallil Joseph
Say Yes to Life and No to Drug is a goal worth pursuing. But the irony that I observed is that this was part of the liquor shop signage in a newly opened liquor shop in Kausani, Uttarakhand.
I couldn’t believe it when I first read it. Therefore, I read it again because such messages are typically displayed in a genuine attempt to promote healthy living and discourage the use of such substances.
“Alcohol is injurious to health. Drink Responsibly. Don’t drink and drive.” These were also part of the signage, which is common because it’s part of the statutory warning from the Government.
The placement of such a message in a liquor shop raises more questions than answers. No doubt, it is not intended to educate people but is just a marketing gimmick. This is nothing but a deliberate attempt on the part of the liquor lobby to confuse people about the true nature of the drug they are selling. Alcohol is definitely a drug because it’s a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, meaning it slows down brain activity. Such contradictory and misleading messages should not be kept in any liquor shop.
We reached the site of the shop after a nonviolent march on June 8, 2025, organized by Youth for Truth to express our protest against the opening of a liquor shop adjacent to a historic site connected with Mahatma Gandhi, namely Anasakti Ashram, Kausani, where he spent around two weeks and completed the introduction to the Gujarati translation of the Bhagavad Gita, known as Anasakti Yoga, in 1929. This place is a pilgrimage site for people who believe in Gandhian ideology and attracts many tourists due to its scenic beauty. This place was also the karmabhoomi of Sarla Behn, one of Gandhi’s British disciples who established Laxmi Ashram in Kausani.
We took our route from Anasakti Ashram and moved to the place, crossing another historic site, namely the residence of the well-known poet Sumitranandan Pant. It is the duty of the Government to ensure prohibition in such places to maintain the sanctity of such an important place.
In the conclusion of the march, senior Gandhian activists like Ram Dutt Tripathi, formerly with BBC, and Prof. Sudarshan Iyengar, former Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, and others addressed the padayatris. While participating in that padayatra, the following words of Mahatma Gandhi echoed in our hearts: “If I were appointed dictator for one hour for all India, the first thing I would do would be to close without compensation all the liquor shops, and compel factory owners to provide humane conditions and rooms where these workmen would get innocent drinks and equally innocent amusements.” (Young India, 25-6-’31) If the Government and authorities are serious about promoting the values of Mahatma Gandhi, immediate steps should be taken for the closure of the liquor shop.
About the Author:
Dr. Siby K. Joseph is a Gandhian scholar and academic associated with Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha, Maharashtra.
