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156. Evidence* of RAM CHANDER GOOPTA, Kabiraj, Barisal, Backergunge District.
1. So far I know from experience and Ayurveda
Sastra.
2. Round ganja is not used in our district; but
in some places it is used. In our district we
have the use of flat ganja. Ganja is the only
name by which it is known here.
3. Hemp plant grows spontaneously in certain
places of Dinajpur District and in the tract lying
on the banks of the Bhoirab river in the district
of Khulna. Ganja is a certain form of bhang,
i.e., jata bhang (bhang flowers coated with resin)
is called ganja. Charas is the resin which exudes
from ganja. Also preparation of ganja mixed
with certain scented substances for the purpose of
smoking is termed charas. Charas is produced
from ganja. Consequently the cultivation of both
ganja and charas is the same.
4. The following are the different terms by
which bhang is used in Sastra:—
Bhanga, ganja, matulani (maternal aunt),
madini (intoxicant), bijoya, jaya (con-
queror). (From Bhab Prokash.)
Troylakya bijoya, (conqueror of the three
worlds), siddhisa, siddhi mulika, gyana
sambit
(knowledge), sambida, syama,
bhanga, rasayana, jogada, joginisebya,
jogamarga prakashini (guide to holy com-
munion), brahmani, brahma sambhuta
(born of the Almighty Father), brahma-
nanda prodayini (giver of celestial pleasure),
bagdevata (goddess of learning), basakari
(subduer of evil propensities), bijoya,
bijayaprada (goddess of victory), samadhi-
barada (goddess of holy abstraction), agya-
nanasini (destroyer of ignorance). (These
21 names from Acharasara.)
Bhang, ganja, and sabuja are corruptions of
the words bhanga, ganja, and shyama.
5. During the rainy season ganja may grow on
land one cubit above sea level. Ganja does not
grow on saline lands. It is for this reason that
hemp plant grows in Rajshahi, but it does not
grow in Backergunge. Cultivation is ordinarily
necessary for the growth of ganja; but it may
grow wild occasionally.
6. Without cultivation wild ganja may grow
dense or scattered.
7. There is no cultivation of ganja in the dis-
trict of Backergunge.
13. There is no cultivation of hemp plant in
our district. I do not know what sort of land is
fit for the growth of hemp.
14. Ganja, bhang, and charas are not prepared
in our district.
18. Without care ganja, bhang, and charas
deteriorate, but if carefully kept, i.e., if they be
not exposed to damp or water, they may remain
good for two or three years. But in my opinion
the longer they remain, the weaker they become in
the power of intoxication.
19. Ganja and charas are generally used for
smoking. People rarely drink ganja like bhang
(pounding it with water), or eat it. Those who
are in the habit of using jata bhang and are addicted
to drinking bhang, have sometimes recourse to
ganja drinking for want of bhang.
20. In this district the low class people, such
as boatmen, itinerant singers, and labourers, gen-
erally smoke ganja. Even among high class
people, some smoke ganja for mere intoxication's
sake; but they are considered as men of low habits,
owing to their bad tendencies. Charas is not used
here. I do not know whether any one uses it.
21. Flat ganja is used in our district.
23. Those who smoke ganja sometimes smoke
bhang for want of ganja. Where there is ganja-
smoker there is to be found the use of bhang
smoking; but to what extent it is used I do not
know.
24. In North-Western Provinces and in the dis-
trict of Cuttack, most of the people, high or low,
drink bhang, mixing it with milk and water.
Very few chew or eat bhang. In our district
bhang is generally used for medicinal purposes.
25. Formerly different classes had different pro-
fessions, but at present, owing to the development
of foreign commerce, restrictions of professions
to particular classes have given way. The weav-
ers (tantis and jugis), paper makers and kapalis, etc.
(weavers of gunny bags), all these having turned
up, boatmen and labourers, etc., have taken to
this pernicious habit of ganja smoking in the
belief that it alleviates fatigue and refreshes the
mind. Most probably this is one of the chief
causes for the increased use of ganja in this coun-
try; and the association of other people with these
excessive ganja-smokers has led to a certain extent
to the increase of ganja consumption.
26. Habitual moderate consumers are less in
number than habitual excessive consumers. Occa-
sional moderate consumers are fewer than habi-
tual moderate consumers, and the occasional ex-
cessive consumers are the fewest of them all.
27. All the above four classes of consumers
generally come from the low classes of the people.
29. Some people drink bhang mixed with milk
and cocoanut water, gur or sugar, but for want of
the above things, a mixture of bhang with water
and salt is made. Gur, milk, sugar, etc., are
used for the purpose of making the preparation of
bhang sweet and more intoxicating. Sometimes
ganja is mixed with prepared tobacco for smoking.
Probably this is done for lessening the intoxicating
power of ganja.
30. Regarding charas I know nothing. Ganja
and bhang according to circumstances are con-
sumed in solitude or in company, but to what
extent is not known. Males generally use these
two drugs. Among females, prostitutes probably
use them. There is no limit of age for the use of
these drugs, but most of the young and old men
use them. They are not consumed by children.
31. The habit of consuming any one of these
drugs is easily formed, if the consumers be of bad
character. It is very difficult to give up a habit,
specially the habit of taking intoxicants It is a
tendency of all the intoxicating drugs to develop
the moderate habit into the excessive.
32. It is a social custom in certain places to
use a small quantity of bhang after offering it as
a sacrifice to goddess Durga on the days of
Mahanavami and Bijaya Dasami. So far as
religious custom is concerned, bhang is used
by the jogis observing the principles of Tantra
Sastra, as it is supposed to help' them in
practising austerities, i.e., the persons having the
titles of Dandi, Abadhutatyrtha, and Paramhansa
are generally found to use bhang after purifying
it with mantras, and they only know its efficacy
* Translation.
3 D