IX§
Yogaswami, just like Navalar, took deep interest in two social issues that brought benefits to the society: alcohol prohibition and agriculture promotion. The difference was, Navalar being a confirmed bachelor, was able to involve directly in these issues, while Swamigal being a renunciate, involved in these issues indirectly thorough his followers and devotees.§
Navalar already began to sense the evils of alcoholism and started to campaign against the evils of alcoholism long before even India started to think about prohibition. He noticed that alcoholism had spread fast and wide among people only after the foreign government came to power. The government promoted consumption of liquor only to augment their income. In 1874 Navalar had written in his geographical science textbook as follows: “Alcoholism is the root cause for poverty, misery and all sins. Liquor was rare in ancient Sri Lanka. Now, however, it is growing fast. The British Lords received about 600,000 rupees as income in 1852 and 2,000,000 rupees in 1872 as income from the sale of liquor. The Sri Lankan citizens would be healthy and wealthy, commanding good morals and longevity, if only the civilized and well educated British Lords find a way to boost their income by some other means other than from the sale of alcohol.”§
In 1913 & 1914 the Singhalese were actively engaged in the alcohol prohibition campaign. Special mention can be made of F.R. Senanayake, D.S. Senanayake and D.B. Jeyatilaka for their participation in that prohibition propaganda movement. In the riot of 1915, the British government charged all of them with treason and put them in the prison, though they were involved in the propaganda of alcohol prohibition.§
In 1924 in Jaffna, the members of Y.M.H.A., which we had discussed earlier, were actively involved in the propaganda. At that time, as a local option, the law allowed to take vote to close toddy and liquor shops. With this law as the basis, intense campaign was done to close-down liquor stores. Leading the campaign was one Mr.V. Muthukumaru M.A., a teacher. The office of Justice S. Rasaratnam (later, to be known as Hindu Board Rasaratnam) near the Central College was used as campaign centre. Yogaswami gave full support for this movement, as He knew fully well the evils of alcoholism. Once, a renunciate who had long association with Swamigal, went to see Swamigal after consuming alcohol. Swamigal severed the relationship with him from that day. Swamigal talked to many liquor store owners with many examples, that the wealth accumulated from the sales of liquor would not do any good for their generation.§
Swamigal daily visited the propaganda office and encouraged the volunteers involved in the collection of votes. He arranged their midday meals with some of His devotees. With Swamigal’s blessing and tireless work of the volunteers, all the liquor and toddy shops were closed in Jaffna.§
Though all the liquor stores were closed in Jaffna, liquor from adjacent districts started to flow in. The law allowed one person to bring maximum two bottles of liquor to Jaffna. Moreover, smuggled liquor also started to come in. As such there were agitations to reopen liquor stores in Jaffna. Added to this unrest, there were also claims that toddy tappers were unemployed. These agitations weakened the alcohol prohibition campaign. Political leaders too supported these agitations. As a consequence, liquor stores were opened and taxes on toddy tapping trees were introduced. The introduction of tax on toddy tapping trees, nurtured the toddy tappings by leaps and bounds.§
Seeing this new development, Swamigal encouraged all Sivathondan members to get involved actively in the alcohol prohibition propaganda. As per Swamigal’s orders, North Lanka Prohibition Association was formed on 8.3.1952 under the leadership of Dr. C. Guruswamy. In June 1952 issue of Sivathondan, an advertisement appeared as follows: “With God’s Grace, the Alcohol Prohibition Association was established on 8.3.1952, and is in service since then. We need financial assistance to perform this service. All Sivathondan members are requested to donate one rupee for this service. This amount can be paid in part every month or the full amount for the entire year may be sent to the following address: S. Visvalingam, Manager, Sivathondan.”§
Following Swamigal’s order, many essays were published in Sivathondan on the evils of alcoholism and the aims of Alcohol Prohibition Society. The following is an extract from one of the essays: §
“The elders testify that in the olden days drinking alcohol was considered as a disrespectful act and those who consumed alcohol usually did behind the scenes. But, under the foreigner’s rule alcoholism had risen and people considered it as a civilized act. Dinner celebrations were centered on liquor consumption. They supported this habit because of their status symbol and wealth. Why should such a trend of foreign influence continue even after Sri Lanka’s independence. Many types of liquor get imported in huge quantities to this country and millions and millions of rupees flow out to other countries. Souldn’t we think about this? Poverty increases due to liquor consumption. The poor people spend more than 60% of their income to support this habit. The Mother of Lanka is making a frantic call to the people of Sri Lanka to destroy the Liquor demon that is responsible for many fatal accidents, violent murders and heinous crimes. Oh, citizens of Sri Lanka, leaders of this country, resolute young lions, rise up against this and annihilate this evil. Work for the progress of the country to make a good state. The North Sri Lankan Alcohol prohibition propaganda Society had come forward to deliver the means to achieve this. We wish them success in their endeavor.”§
During the active alcohol prohibition campaign period, Swamigal wrote the following Tirukkural verse when I was the Secretary of the Alcohol Prohibition Propaganda society:§
“Deliberation ends When a decision is reached. To delay that decision’s execution is detrimental.”§
(Translation taken from, “Weaver’s Wisdom” by Sat guru Sivaya Subramaniyaswami, Himalayan Academy, 1999).§
Swamigal had sent this Kural verse to remind us that we should work more diligently and efficiently. It appeared as if Swamigal wanted to stand as an example to the Kural verse in that even in His eightieth year He memorized all the Thirukural verses of Aram (virtue) and Porul (prosperity) chapters.§
Few liquor stores were closed due to the efforts of Alcohol Prohibition Propaganda Society. As voting against the tax on trees was not part of the voting right act, we could not do anything. The alcoholic habit is increasing. As devotees of Swamigal it is our duty to act and prevent the spread of alcoholism.§
Sri Lanka, which was once self sufficient in food production, became dependent on other countries ever since the beginning of British rule. Navalar had attributed the reasons for this acrimony in his geographical science text book, as had been mentioned earlier, as follows: “Three quarter of Sri Lankans are farmers involved in agriculture, but since they do not have the drive and technical expertise, they are not able to grow sufficient paddy for Sri Lanka. In contrast, in England only one in three is a farmer but able to grow sufficient grains for their country.§
In Sri Lanka only one sixth of the land is cultivated for Agriculture. The British are not extending sufficient assistance to the Sri Lankan citizens. If only they take measures to convert the jungles and maintain the lakes with proper irrigation methods, sufficient grains can be grown for Sri Lanka.Ӥ