Indians Addiction With Gutka
You might be wondering why Indians, and Gujaratis in particular, consume gutka and adore it so much.
Let’s start by acknowledging that gutka is most popular in India and highly addictive, but how does it taste?
Since I don’t eat gutka and won’t be tasting it for this essay, I looked at other people’s experiences on YouTube instead. I discovered that there are various kinds of gutka. Some brands of gutka come in two packets, and all you need to do is combine them before serving.
Gutka is a white, chewable powder that is similar to coarse white powder if you’re like me and have never taken it.
When you first begin to chew, it feels like you are eating small stones, but after a short while, you will experience a sensation in your mouth, followed by a hot or bitter flavor, depending on the brand of gutka you have taken. All of this occurs quickly.
Unlike alcohol, gutka has a faster and more enduring effect on the brain once it is in the mouth. People eat it for hours because of this.
When someone chews gutka, they spew out red-colored material. Why, then, is it red?
A substance called Arecoline, which is orangish red in hue, is created in our mouths when chuna is combined with saliva.
Yes, it is the same color as the roads or public restrooms in train stations.
It’s noteworthy to note that the inclination towards red colors dates back to 4000 B.C. During excavation, archaeologists from the Philippines discovered a few skulls with red-colored teeth.
Further tests revealed that “Paan” was the cause of the red coloration. Paan and Supari were first introduced to India by Indonesian traders. As time went on, India as a whole began to consume paan. Without Paan, even the Mughal Emperor’s diet was lacking.
Now keep in mind that I have covered Paan’s history up to this point. Tobacco (Tumbakoo), a poison, was added to paan in the 17th century.
It’s noteworthy to note that the inclination towards red colors dates back to 4000 B.C. During excavation, archaeologists from the Philippines discovered a few skulls with red-colored teeth.
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Further tests revealed that “Paan” was the cause of the red coloration. Paan and Supari were first introduced to India by Indonesian traders. As time went on, India as a whole began to consume paan. Without Paan, even the Mughal Emperor’s diet was lacking.
Now keep in mind that I have covered Paan’s history up to this point. Tobacco (Tumbakoo), a poison, was added to paan in the 17th century.
Regarding Gujarat, 18 of the total number of gutka manufacturing businesses in India are located there. Gujarat is where half of India’s tobacco is produced.
Therefore, it makes sense that Gujaratis overindulge in gutka and that Gujarat is known as India’s Oral Cancer Capital.
Even in America, Gujaratis make up the majority of Gutka customers. Yes, legal gutka is also sold in America for less than a dollar.
The unorganized worker sector is a significant factor in why India is the world’s largest consumer nation.
In India, the unorganized sector employs about 80% of the entire labor force, yet there are no laws or regulations protecting workers in this sector.
In the majority of unorganized sectors, employees must put in 12 to 14 hours a day in hazardous conditions, which strains both their bodies and minds.
They start smoking Gutka (Smoke Less Tobacco) to feel better since it stimulates the brain and makes them feel alert.
The cost is another consideration. In comparison to tea and coffee, gutka is more affordable.
If a worker makes 400 rupees a day, he or she can drink gutka 4-5 times for 40 rupees, but tea or coffee would cost 70-80 rupees. That is why the majority of the working class and impoverished eat gutka. To sate their hunger is a stunning additional reason why poor workers take gutka. Nearly 70 million women in India depend on gutka to sate their hunger.
In 2014, a study on the effects of Gutka (Smoke Less Tobacco) was carried out in America. A few rats were consistently given gutka for six months, and within three weeks, unfavorable effects were visible in their bodies. Rats’ bodies as a whole weigh less as gutka suppresses their appetite, including their liver and hearts. Even their testicular size and testosterone levels were decreased.
You must have seen the government-sponsored theatre adverts raising awareness of cigarette use. Ironically, India’s government permits the marketing of tobacco use on the other side as well.
Companies like Gutka take advantage of gaps in the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India’s regulations, which forbid pan masala manufacturers from selling products containing tobacco or nicotine.
Pan masala skillfully avoided this rule. They offer a separate sachet of tobacco along with the tobacco-free pan masala packets they sell. After the customer mixes two packets, the gutka is ready for consumption.
Do you believe that the government is unaware of these strategies?
The tobacco industry employs around 36 million people, and the government receives about 50 thousand crores in tax money from this industry each year. Behind the scenes, illegal bribe payments are contributing.
A notebook with disturbing transactions about the bribe he paid to government officials was discovered in 2008 during an income tax raid on gutka traders in Tamil Nadu. The diary included the names of the state’s health minister, police commissioner, and DGP at the time. These types of situations may be observed in other states as well when gutka firms pay government officials and save hundreds of crores in taxes.
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