Social evils, whatever their nature or magnitude, are like insidious viruses that eat into the very vitals of society. History bears testimony to how addictive substances can weaken not merely individuals, but the very foundations of a civilisation. Nineteenth-century China offers perhaps the most striking example.
The widespread opium trade, particularly the British-controlled trade in Indian opium, fueled addiction, drained wealth, and contributed to China’s political and economic humiliation during the Opium Wars and the era of unequal treaties. The opium scourge became so deeply entrenched that combating it remained one of the greatest social and political challenges confronting China for decades, ultimately requiring a revolution to cleanse society of the menace.
In contrast, the social history of Kashmir has not historically been documented on scientific lines; whatever little trickles down to us survives through folklore, folk theatre (Bhand Pather), and folk dance (Hikat). In ancient times, cannabis was not taboo, and its derivatives were viewed as a sacrament to the gods.
Shoda Taqi Dens of the Past
In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it gained social sanction among the majority community in Kashmir as a medium for spiritual elation. It gradually became institutionalised, allowing addiction to spread unchecked. Local lore suggests that even some rulers looked favourably upon Shoda Taqi dens while themselves indulging in opium.
Voices against smoking cannabis and its derivatives were raised from religious pulpits - most notably by the Mirwaiz of Kashmir from the minbar of the Jamia Masjid. While their efforts met with success, consumption persisted in Shoda Taqi dens, which often operated as sanctuaries for societal parasites masking themselves behind a halo of godliness. These dens received a decisive blow in 1977 under the state administration headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, resulting in the abolition of cannabis parlours and the retreat of their patrons.
Influence of Hippie Culture in 1970s
By the 1970s, however, a new drug culture began seeping into Kashmiri society, catalysed by Western hippies traversing the region. Indian cinema, particularly Bollywood, tacitly glamorised this culture through films centred on hippie subcultures, and Jammu and Kashmir could not escape the fallout.
Beyond cinema, psychological factors such as an uncertain future also drove youth toward substance abuse. Some tourist hubs were hit hardest by the menace, claiming a heavy toll on young lives. Over the past few years, the crisis has spread at an alarming rate; statistics brought into the public domain by various agencies describe the situation as menacing.
Those Who Show the Mirror
While the state administration has launched intense campaigns against the drug menace at all levels, mobilising public opinion remains a bounden duty of society. In this regard, the roles of religious leaders, journalists, and writers are imperative. For many decades, notable contributions in our local sphere have been made by writers and professionals such as Dr Mushtaq Marghoob, a renowned psychiatrist, and Dr Nisar Ahmad Bhat Trali, a physician, through their impactful pamphlets and books on the subject.
Their extensive research has helped bottle the genie, providing enforcement agencies with a pathway to rein in the menace through counselling and persuasion.
Dr Nisar’s new book, Aaina-e-Manshayat (Mirror of Drugs), is an important addition to the literature on the subject.
Nisar Ahmad Bhat Trali is a physician by profession, a researcher and author by choice, and a social worker by commitment. A highly dedicated doctor, besides extending the finest medical services to nomads by holding medical camps in deep forests, he works to secure the best education for underprivileged children through the Akhlaas Welfare Society, Tral.
He believes that public awareness regarding health issues has the potential to prevent many diseases from spreading. Living up to this conviction, he brings medical knowledge to the doorsteps of common people through small booklets on almost every illness, serious or otherwise. There is hardly a disease - from diabetes to various cancers - that he has not written booklets on in lucid Urdu, the language read and understood across Kashmir.
Drugs Crisis – From Causes to Impact
The 352-page book is a comprehensive work on the drug menace and the measures required to control it. It features an illuminating and alarming introduction by Jauhar Quddusi, a well-known author.
Quoting experts on the subject, Quddusi notes that patients brought to hospitals for treatment are mostly suffering from mental depression, disappointment, and uncertainty, with major causes being unemployment and other deprivations. Furthermore, the number of such patients is increasing rapidly: while a decade ago the average daily footfall of such patients in hospitals was ten to fifteen, it has now surged to between 150 and 200.
The book is an essential read for anyone concerned about the drug crisis taking over society. It has been written to send a terse message to the common man, and to assist those engaged in counselling affected individuals and fighting to eradicate the menace. From explaining the basic definition of a drug, to detailing how one falls prey to it and how to fight the menace, the book covers every conceivable subject connected with this malady. From opium to other dangerous substances, it dwells on all kinds of intoxicants that affect physical and mental health.
Building his argument on the popular adage "curiosity killed the cat," the author explains how young people are drawn to drugs out of a desire to experiment with and taste these substances. Besides analysing the various causes driving the younger generation toward drugs, the book provides an in-depth look at the stages of drug addiction and methods for diagnosis.
It also analyses the health impact of every addiction, ranging from tobacco and cannabis to opium and other substances. In an exhaustive chapter, the book emphasises that every member of society, alongside civil society and religious leaders, must rise in unison against this menace.
To understand how this hazard can be prevented, this book will serve as an invaluable guide for parents, teachers, and members of society engaged in campaigns against widespread drug use in Kashmir.
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