Tobacco has a long history in India. It dates back to the late 16th century, when it was introduced by Portuguese traders. The Portuguese brought tobacco seeds from Brazil to India and grew them on the coasts of Goa and Gujarat. At that time, tobacco was promoted as a miraculous medicine. Later, it became widely used. But because of its addictive nature and harmful effects, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir ordered a ban on the use of tobacco around 1617. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS-2), 28.6% of adults aged 15 and above in India consume tobacco. Of them, 42.4% are men and 14.2% are women. This is a serious issue today because tobacco and gutkha are also damaging India’s cultural heritage. Gutkha spitting is making the walls of temples, forts, and monuments dirty and damaging them. I recently visited Connaught Place, the heart of Delhi, and saw how the beauty and cleanliness of the white buildings were being spoiled by gutkha spitting. The red marks of gutkha on walls and public places not only look bad but also make us think about the image of our city and our responsibility towards our heritage. Gutkha can be found being spat on at many of India’s temples, forts, and monuments. The 83-year-old Howrah Bridge, one of Kolkata’s most famous landmarks, was built using 26,000 tons of steel and is also facing this problem. The mixture of gutkha and saliva is eating away at the protective steel hoods around its support structures. When we spit on such monuments and landmarks, what impression do we leave on foreign tourists about India? It also raises questions about how seriously we take our responsibilities towards our heritage. These days, gutkha can be found everywhere, from train windows to train toilets. The Indian government also earns significant tax revenue from tobacco products. According to the Ministry of Finance, taxes collected from tobacco and tobacco products accounted for approximately 2.2% of the government’s Gross Tax Revenue in 2023–24. These taxes include GST, Compensation Cess, Basic Excise Duty, National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD), and customs duties. Recently, the Karnataka government banned the sale and distribution of all types of gutkha, pan masala, and other products containing tobacco or nicotine throughout the state for one year. This is an important step by the Karnataka government. The Indian government should also impose strict restrictions as soon as possible. But it is not only the government’s responsibility; it is also ours. If we consume harmful substances like gutkha, we should at least take responsibility for where we spit it. The beauty and protection of our cultural heritage should be our priority. As we move from a developing country towards a developed one, maintaining the beauty and cleanliness of our heritage and monuments and presenting them properly to the world should also be an important part of our thinking. We should leave behind the mark of a beautiful and clean India for the future. Post navigation Ex-Naxal Women Put Down Weapons, Step Onto the Fashion Ramp
