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151. Evidence of BIJOYA RATNA SEN*, Kaviranjan, Kabiraj, Calcutta.
1. Myself being a physician, practising under
the system of Ayurvedic School, I am acquainted
with the qualities of hemp plants as with the
merits of innumerable other medicinal plants and
ingredients. Besides that, being acquainted with
the customs, manners, etc., of various classes of
people and physicians of different schools, and
having travelled in many districts in connection
with my professional calls, I have also gained
some experience in respect of the different kinds
of hemp plants and drugs. So my replies are
based to a considerable extent on my own experi-
ence in connection with my professional attain-
ments.
2. Yes. The definitions may be applied to
Bengal. The products are locally known as fol-
lows:—Siddhi or bhang, charas and ganja. The
latter is sub-divided into three parts, viz., flat,
round and chur.
3. Jessore, 24-Parganas, Nadia, and Murshi-
dabad.
In Jessore and 24-Parganas the plants are
abundant.
4. It is also known by the different names as
follows:—
Bhang, ganja, matulani, traylakya bijaya,
madini, jaya, tarita, sambida, etc. These differ-
ent names are generally applicable to bhang. As,
however, there is no separate mention of ganja,
some persons believe that ganja is another name
of bhang.
6. Scattered.
7. (a) The cultivation of hemp plant for the
production of ganja exists in Naogaon Sub-divi-
sion of the Rajshahi District.
8. There has neither been increase nor decrease
in the area under such cultivation, because it is a
Government monopoly. Private persons are pro-
hibited from cultivating hemp plant.
10. They belong to same class as the other
agricultural cultivators.
11 and 12. No.
13. The cultivation of the hemp plant for
ganja is restricted in this province to all the
districts of Bengal.
14. Ganja and bhang are prepared in Bengal,
in Naogaon Sub-division of the Rajshahi District,
but bhang is also prepared in Patna District.
15. Siddhi or bhang, ganja and charas, are the
productions of different sorts of plants, but gene-
rally of same kind.
The leaves are used as bhang for drinking
or eating purposes. Ganja and charas are only
smoked. The flowery parts are the best ganja,
called chur; the mixture of flowery parts and
leaves are made into flat and round ganjas accord-
ing to different modes of preparation.
The
glutinous or resinous substances, sometimes
naturally and sometimes artificially drawn, are
made into charas.
16. Yes. Bhang is generally prepared by the
people in their houses. Yes; it can be prepared
from the hemp plant wherever grown. I am
not aware whether ganja and charas cannot be
prepared from the wild plant wherever grown.
17. By common agricultural classes.
18. Yes, the drugs deteriorate by keeping.
Yes, it quite loses its effect in time. It keeps
good for one year with ordinary care. The cause
of its deterioration is exposure. They are kept
in tin-lined boxes to prevent deterioration.
19. Ganja and charas are only used for smok-
ing.
20. Lower classes, such as fishermen, culti-
vators and day labourers (4 to 1).
It is prevalent in dampy and marshy soils.
21. Chur is generally preferred for smoking.
Flat and round ganjas are also smoked but not
so preferred as they do not produce such effects as
the chur.
22. Charas, prepared in Nepal and Punjab,
is chiefly used.
23. No.
24. Bhang is drunk by all classes of people in
every locality, 50 per cent. in Behar, and less than
five per cent. in Bengal.
25. The use of ganja, charas and bhang is on
the decrease owing to the increase of its duty.
26. Most are habitual moderate consumers.
27. In Behar, i.e., Upper Bengal, 50 per cent.
of both higher and lower classes are in the habit
of taking bhang, but in Lower Bengal it is not
used to such an extent, rather much less. Ganja
and charas are generally taken by lower and
labouring classes, but certain people of the higher
and gentle classes, being mixed with bad com-
pany and following all immoral habits, are also
found to use them. These are not, however,
generally taken by the gentle class.
28. Half to one anna is sufficient for moderate
users. Even excessive consumers cannot take
ganja more than 6, 7 or 8 annas worth in a com-
pany daily.
29. The following ingredients are mixed with
bhang:—
Pepper, salt, souf, rose, cardamom, seeds of
cucumber, nut, sugar, milk, etc. Tobacco is
mixed with ganja to lessen its severity.
I do not know whether dhatura (nux vomica)
and cantharides are generally mixed with bhang
or ganja, but I have heard that wicked persons
sometimes mix dhatura with these drugs to
increase their severity or make them stronger.
The ingredients mixed with bhang, as stated
above, are known to be sold in the bazar as bhang-
massala.
30. About 50 per cent. of the consumption of
each of these articles is practised in company. It
is mainly confined to the male sex between the
age of 20 and 50.
It is not consumed by
children.
81. Yes; the habit of consuming ganja and
bhang is easily formed. It is not difficult to
break off. There is no particular tendency for
the moderate habit to develop into the excessive.
32. Siddhi is drunk sometimes, i.e., on the
occasion of Bijaya, for religious purposes. The
use of this drug in connection with such custom
is not regarded as essential. It is generally tem-
perate. It is not likely to lead to the formation
* Was invited to attend at a sitting of the Commission for oral examination, but failed to appear.
3 C 2