By Amba Batra
New Delhi, November 30 – There were moist eyes and grim faces in the group of women being held up as an example at the Majnu Ka Tila Tibetan colony today. They can no longer brew the traditional Tibetan beer, Chhang, which has been so much a part of their lives and a source of livelihood.
‘‘This business was giving their community a bad name,’’ said DCP North Rajesh Khurana. ‘‘It is not a part of their culture and it is illegal here. While the alcohol content of the drink is low, intoxication is very high. However, this initiative would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of these people,’’ he added. One woman sobbed as the others watched, sulking.
Nursing a glass of Chhang is considered one of the best ways to spend a cold winter evening. Over the past 40 years, in Delhi’s own little Tibet, the drink has been patronised by a heterogenous group of customers — from university students to truck drivers and rickshaw-pullers.
Today, 23 families, out of 90 in this business, were being applauded for voluntarily giving up their traditional business for ‘‘social reformation’’.
Khurana had been part of a delegation that met the Dalai Lama earlier this year over this issue. ‘‘The Dalai Lama has been the main supporter of this initiative and has given Rs 17.25 lakhs as a token of appreciation for this initiative,’’ said Khurana.
At the function, the 23 families were awarded Rs 75,000 each to start small businesses. ‘‘There is nothing wrong with the drink. It is a part of our tradition,’’ said an incosolable Prema. ‘‘It is because of a few anti-social elements that we have to give it up.’’ The 42-year-old woman has been in the business since she was a child. Now she is worrying about supporting her two children, jobless husband and an ageing father-in-law.
‘‘We are all worried but it is a message from the Dalai Lama and we must follow it,’’ says Pherbu Dolma. The MCD will give them tehbazaari rights for selling consumer goods.
‘‘Chhang will continue to be brewed for household consumption,’’ said Penpa Tsering, a member of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile.
CHHANG
* Chhang or Tibetan beer is made from barley, millet and rice. It is first boiled and then let to ferment for over a week before being served. It costs Rs 10 a jug and a Chhang seller can earn up to
Rs 400 a day * In Delhi, it was available at the Tibetan settlement near New Aruna Nagar, Majnu Ka Tila * Local Tibetans say the drink is not an intoxicant if taken in small doses as it has very low alcohol content * The ban on the sale of Chhang will primarily affect the Tibetan women as they are the ones involved in household production of the brew.
