K. Sivakumar*

* Ph.D., Research Scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu.
Abstract
Minjur Kanakasabhapathi Bhaktavatsalam, was an Indian lawyer, politician and freedom fighter from the state of Tamil Nadu.  He served as the Chief Minister of Madras State from 2, October 1963 to 6, March 1967.  He was the last Congress Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.  When he was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu he wanted to impose prohibition on seeing its harsh impacts for that he faced so many difficulties.  Eventhen he stopped the manufacturing and drinking of liquor. Thus prohibition has come to stay in the province. Hon’able Mr.M.Baktavatsalam is reported to have said in one of his speeches in the Trichirappalli District.
Introduction
Minjur Kanakasabhapathi Bhaktavatsalam, was an Indian lawyer, politician and freedom fighter from the state of Tamil Nadu.  He served as the Chief Minister of Madras State from 2, October 1963 to 6, March 1967.  He was the last Congress Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and have taken part in the Indian Independence movement.
Bhaktavatsalam was born on 9, October 1897 in Madras Presidency.  He studied law and practiced as an advocate in the Madras High Court.  He involved himself in politics and the freedom movement right from an early age and was imprisoned during the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement.  He was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1937 and served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Rajaji Government and as a Minister in the O.P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar Government.   He led the Indian National Congress during the 1950s and served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from 1963 to 1967.  Following the defeat of the Indian National Congress in the 1967 election, Bhaktavatsalam partially retired from politics.  He died on 31, January 1987 at the age of 89.
Bhaktavatsalam was born to C.N. Kanaka Sabhapthi Mudaliar and Mallika in a Vellalar family of Nazarethpet or Nazareth Village, Madras Presidency.  His father died, when he was five and Bhaktavatsalam was brought up by his uncles  C.N. Muthuranga Mudaliar and C.N. Evalappa Mudaliar.  He completed his schooling in Madras and enrolled at Madras Law College.  On graduation in 1923, Bhaktavatsalam commenced practice as a lawyer of the Madras High Court.
Indian Independence Movement
Bhaktavatsalam joined the Indian Independence Movement even during graduation.  He joined the Indian National Congress and became a member of the Madras Provincial Congress Committee in 1922.  In 1926, he became a member of the Congress Working Committee.
Extension of Prohibition, Potable Prohibition
The fourth category of potable alcohol comes under many guises.  There are spirituous medicinal preparations, toilet lotions, enlinary essences and even ordinary power alcohol.  The difficulty to assess the medicinal value of any alcoholic Ayurvedic preparation as opposed to its deleterious effects is great.  Ayurvedic preparations of a kindred nature the loophole to escape the Prohibition Law is wide indeed.  A judgment of the Supreme Court, what is known as the Balsara Case was pronounced against total banning of such articles for sale.  In such cases methods will have to be evolved to see that these articles go into the hands of the right persons only.  Sometimes doctors become easy prey to the importunities of patients and prescribe alcoholic medicines or wine which probably may have no relation to the treatment of the apparent disease.
This brings us to the consumption of methyl alcohol after making it potable by the addition of sugar and like juice, in spite of the caution that it is a poison and should not be drunk.  The recent tragedy of more than 100 persons dying in the city and in Chengalpat District by drinking varnish or methyl alcohol caused a furor among the public and the incident was used by some as an argument for the scrapping of prohibition this is to say the least to be considered as juvenile in the makeup of such detraction.   If persons will have recourse to poison event after telling them so, they should bear the consequences of the act even though they may come from the slums.  These are instances of inefficient checking of disposal of spirits intended for industrial purposes they have to be tightened.
The Magistrates have generally taken a lenient view of prohibition offence and though provisions were made for enhanced punishment and compulsory containment to Jail, there have been no proper appreciation of the need for such punishments.  Moreover in the assessment of evidence a Welter of laws arising out of obiter dicta of High Courts have clouded the real issues and even weakened the hands of these, who are inclined to deal severely with offenders.  The judiciary, while holding the scales even has to read into the objectives of the act and then deal with the offenders.  Fines of even hundred rupees are flea-bites to the prohibition offenders.
Drawbacks Noted
The fundamental basic principle implicit in prohibition being accepted, the next important thing is to bend all efforts to see that the reform is an unmitigated success and that loopholes, which have made themselves manifest in the course of its working so far are eliminated. Some of these loopholes, which require immediate tacking may be mentioned.  First, there is the problem of illicit distillation.  Secondly, we have the problem of finding suitable employment for the toddy – tappers, who lose their means of livelihood by the prohibition of tapping.  Thirdly there is the question of prohibiting drunkenness, which is a part and parcel of the problem of prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors.  The government is fully alive to these drawbacks and loopholes in the execution of the prohibition programme and has taken steps to eliminate or tackle them.  The problem of stopping illicit distillation is of course, a difficult and formidable one and can be effectively solved only by unceasing vigilance on the part of the enforcement staff and imposing deterrent punishments on  those who resort to it on the one hand, and by the active co – operation and assistance of the public in the detection of cases of illicit distillation on the other.  When public opinion asserts itself and every case of illicit distillation is brought to light, the distiller and the bootlegger will find their trade gone and if side by side deterrent punishments are awarded to these clandestine manufactures of intoxicants, the success of the campaign is assured.  The Government has already taken steps to put a check on would-be drunkards trekking into non-prohibition areas for a drink by prohibiting the opening of liquor shops within a range of 5 miles of the prohibition area and by demarcating a further belt area extending over another 5 miles beyond.  They have also decided to bring in legislation to amend the Abkari Act to make drunkenness itself an offence.  Lastly, they have sought the Co – operation of neighboring States like Mysore, Hyderabad, Travancore and Pudukkottai to enforce the intentions of the prohibition policy pursued by them.  Similarly legislation is also under contemplation, as stated by the Hon’ble the Prime Minister, to impose collective fines on villages, which report a large number of prohibitior offences like illicit distillation.
Conclusion
Thus prohibition has come to stay in the province. Hon’able Mr.M.Baktavatsalam is reported to have said in one of his speeches in the Trichirappalli District.
References
1.    Bhaktavatsalam.M. Enathu Ninaivugal. Jananayaga Sevasangam, 1971.
2.    Perunthamizhar Bhaktavatsalam.M.Kavirathna Kanchi Amizhthan.
3.    Karuppiah, Bhaktavatsalam Vazhikkai Varalaru, Madras, 1920.
4.    The Citizens Committee. Sixty – Eighth Birthday. Commemorafion Volume.
5.    Sen (Ed), Dictionary of National Biography, Volume. I, (A-D).

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