In the bustling streets of Mumbai, a disheveled man huddles in a corner, clutching a small packet of white powder, his gaze dazed.
This scene is not uncommon in India's major cities, prompting a profound reflection: how has this once-glorious civilization fallen to such depths?
Around 20,000 people die from drug-related issues each year, and villages of widows are emerging like mushrooms after rain, yet the Indian government appears indifferent.
India's drug problem has become a potential ticking time bomb, threatening to disrupt social order at any moment.
From luxury hotels to slums, the shadow of drugs is omnipresent.
Even more shocking is that this issue is not limited to the lower social strata; it has spread to the entertainment and sports sectors.
Once-glamorous stars like Rajput and Vicky Kaushal have also fallen prey to drugs.
Their downfall is not just a personal tragedy but has also had an immeasurable negative impact on Indian youth.
The roots of the drug epidemic can be traced back to India's history.
As the only country historically permitted to produce opium, India still retains a massive drug manufacturing and trafficking industry.
This gray market resembles a giant python, coiling through various corners of Indian society, consuming countless vibrant lives.
Disappointingly, the Indian government seems powerless in this battle against drugs.
In 2021, police in Assam seized heroin worth ₹1.63 billion (approximately $20 million) and 1,200 kilograms of marijuana.
What should have been a victory in the war on drugs turned into a farce due to the ignorance and negligence of local officials.
They chose to incinerate the drugs in the open, causing onlookers to inhale toxic fumes. Ironically, this "simultaneous war on and promotion of drugs" reflects the current helplessness of the situation.
Clearly, the Indian government is not completely indifferent to the drug problem.
They have attempted to control this stubborn ailment through the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, but the results have been unsatisfactory.
Weak law enforcement, severe corruption, and regulatory failures have rendered this act largely ineffective.
Drug trafficking flows like an underground river, freely navigating through the cracks of the law.
Even more astonishingly, India's Patent Law has become one of the driving forces behind the drug epidemic.
Although this law aims to develop the generic drug industry and address the issue of unaffordable medications for the public, it has also created fertile ground for drug proliferation.
Primary drugs such as marijuana, opium, and prescription sedatives can be easily purchased in India, undoubtedly providing a convenient avenue for addicts.
The class disparities in society are starkly reflected in the drug issue.
People from different castes consume drugs of varying grades, mirroring the deep-seated contradictions in Indian society.
The wealthy can indulge in high-purity cocaine, while the poor can only rely on cheap marijuana to numb themselves.
Drugs have become yet another brutal symbol of class division.
Not only do drugs destroy individual physical and mental health, but they also lead to family breakdowns and social unrest.
The widow villages in northern India exemplify this tragedy. In these villages, men die prematurely from drug use, leaving their wives destitute and alone.
Due to the low status of women in Indian households, they often lack the power to dissuade their husbands from using drugs, helplessly watching their families crumble.
The number of drug smuggling cases is skyrocketing, increasing at an astonishing rate of 200% each year.
India has become a center for drug trafficking from other countries, posing a severe threat not only to its own citizens but also to neighboring countries.
More frighteningly, drugs have infiltrated the political arena.
This year's pre-election drug bribery scandal in India is shocking. Among the seized bribe materials, an astonishing 45% were drugs and anesthetics.
Businessmen and politicians collude shamelessly for profit, using drugs as political leverage, which undoubtedly undermines the foundations of democracy in India.
Faced with such a grim situation, the Indian government appears to be caught in a dilemma.
On one hand, they realize the need to take strong measures to curb drug proliferation; on the other hand, they are constrained by Western capitalists, lacking the courage to resist Western dictates, making it difficult for the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to be truly effective.
The root of this contradiction lies in India's lack of economic sovereignty. As a country once colonized, India has yet to fully shake off Western influence.
In the tide of economic globalization, the Indian government, in order to attract foreign investment, is forced to make concessions in certain areas, often at the cost of long-term national interests.
India's drug problem reflects the numerous challenges the country faces in its modernization process.
It is not merely a simple law enforcement issue but a complex topic involving economic, political, and social dimensions.
To thoroughly address this issue, the Indian government needs greater courage and determination.
India must reevaluate its Patent Law and generic drug policies. While these policies have resolved some issues in the short term, they may pose greater risks in the long run.
While protecting its pharmaceutical industry, the government should also consider how to prevent these policies from being misused.
At the same time, India needs to strengthen grassroots law enforcement.
The ridiculous incident of burning drugs in the open exposes the urgent need for improvement in the professional quality of local law enforcement personnel. The government should increase training for local police to enhance their expertise and enforcement capabilities.
Additionally, the Indian government should focus on addressing the social roots of drug proliferation. Raising public awareness of drug prevention through education, reducing the reliance of impoverished populations on drugs through economic development, and severely punishing those who use drugs for political bribery are all urgent measures.
Finally, India also needs to reassess its relationship with Western countries. Economic sovereignty is the foundation of national development, and India should not sacrifice long-term progress for short-term gains.
The government must boldly uphold national interests, even if it means confronting certain Western powers.
India's drug problem is like a mirror, reflecting the various contradictions and challenges this country faces in its modernization process.
It reminds us that economic development cannot come at the expense of national dignity and sovereignty, and social progress must not sacrifice the interests of the marginalized.
Every Indian life is precious, and the happiness of every family deserves to be cherished.
In the face of this "ticking time bomb" of drugs, the Indian government can no longer remain silent.
They need to demonstrate greater courage and determination, taking stronger measures to truly curb drug proliferation and rescue countless families from despair.
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