Título: Anna Hazare
Seção: Prohibition of alcohol
Background: Kisan Baburao Hazare was born on 15 June 1937 (some sources say 15 January 1940) in Bhingar, near Ahmednagar. He was the eldest son of Baburao Hazare and Laxmi Bai. He has two sisters and four brothers. He later adopted the name Anna, which in Marathi means "elder person" or "father".

Conteúdo: Hazare and the youth group decided to take up the issue of alcoholism to drive a process of reform. At a meeting conducted in the temple, the villagers resolved to close down liquor dens and ban alcohol in the village. Since these resolutions were made in the temple, they became, in a sense, religious commitments. Over thirty liquor brewing units voluntarily closed their establishments. Those who did not succumb to social pressure were forced to close their businesses when the youth group smashed their premises. The owners could not complain as their businesses were illegal.  Once 3 drunken villagers were tied to pillars and then flogged, personally by Hazare with his army belt. He justified this punishment by stating that "rural India was a harsh society", and that  Doesn't a mother administer bitter medicines to a sick child when she knows that the medicine can cure her child? The child may not like the medicine, but the mother does it only because she cares for the child. The alcoholics were punished so that their families would not be destroyed.  Hazare appealed to the government of Maharashtra to pass a law whereby prohibition would come into force in a village if 25% of the women in the village demanded it. In 2009 the state government amended the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 to reflect this.  It was decided to ban the sale of tobacco, cigarettes, and beedies (an unfiltered cigarette where the tobacco is rolled in tendu also known as Diospyros melanoxylon leaves instead

user: Why did he support prohibition?

assistant: Hazare and the youth group decided to take up the issue of alcoholism to drive a process of reform.

user: Did the close down any bars or drinking establishments?

assistant: Over thirty liquor brewing units voluntarily closed their establishments.

user: Did they resort to violent means to get people to follow their rules?

assistant: establishments. Those who did not succumb to social pressure were forced to close their businesses when the youth group smashed their premises.

user: Did Hazare get into any legal trouble for doing this?

assistant: The owners could not complain as their businesses were illegal.

user: What laws were passed due to Hazare's group and his beliefs?

assistant: In 2009 the state government amended the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 to reflect this.

user: Did he project his influence onto any other groups?

assistant: village. To implement this resolution, the youth group performed a unique "Holi" ceremony twenty two years ago.

user: What is the Holi ceremony?

assistant: The festival of Holi is celebrated as a symbolic burning of evil.

user: Were there any other things he wanted banned aside from alcohol?

assistant: It was decided to ban the sale of tobacco, cigarettes, and beedies (an unfiltered cigarette

user: How did he justify his actions during this time?

assistant: Doesn't a mother administer bitter medicines to a sick child when she knows that the medicine can cure her child?