39. Evidence of BABIT NOBIN CIIIINDER SEN, Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Ranaghat

1. None except what I have had as a member of the Subordinate Executive Service.

2. Siddhi is same as bhang. It is not applied to dry leaves of hemp plant, but to dry leaves of a separate plant. lt is known here as siddhi. Subji or patti is not known here.

3 to 13. I have no knowledge of the questions put in this chapter.

14 to 18. Nor have I any knowledge of the questions put in this chapter.

19. Only for smoking.

20. Lower classes of Hindus generally, such as Bagdi, Duleh, and Goalas. Above 30 per cent. smoke ganja and 10 smoke charas. Ganja is smoked in all places-largely in Santipur and Ranaghat,-while smoking of charas is wholly confined to these two places.

21. Only round ganja.

22. Gorakhpur-made charas is imported from Calcutta.

23. No.

24. Higher classes drink bhang. About 10 per cent., especially in Santipur and Ranaghat. Lower classes take it very little.

25. Consumption of siddhi and charas is said to be slightly increased owing to the abolition of the outstills and the rise in the price of country liquor.

26. They are nearly all habitual moderate consumers in the case of ganja and charas. There are very few habitual consumers of siddhi. It is generally taken occasionally on certain festivals, and as a medicine very often.

27. Labouring classes. I am not aware of any special habits or circumstances which lead to the practice.

23. Ganja.    Siddhi.    Charas.
(a) '2 pice    1 pice .    . 1 pice.
(b) 4 pice    . 2 pice .    . 2 pice.

29. No ingredients are mixed with any of these drugs here. I do not know of any preparation.

30. Nearly always alone ; occasionally with a fellow friend. In the female sex only prostitutes use these drugs. Their use is not confined to any time of life. Children never use them.

31. (a) Yes.
(6) Only when the habit is old.
(c) No.

32. (a) Siddhi is used as a custom on the Bijoya Dasami day, the fourth day of the Durga Puja festival. The Tantrik religious sect and Sanyasis use ganja and siddhi religiously.
(b) No; it is not essential.
(d) Yes ; it leads to formation of habit. Ganja is injurious to both mind and body.

33. (a) and (b) Public opinion regards it with hatred and contempt, though it is powerless now
Banaghat.
to check it. Use of all narcotics are generally held in disrepute, as it is interdicted both by the Musalman and Hindu religions, only a sect of the latter excepted.
(c) No.

34. Yes, to confirmed smokers of ganja, both laymen as well as sanyasis (ascetics). They will suffer in health, at least for a time. About 5 per cent, of ordinary smokers.

35. (a) I don't think. (b) Very likely.
(e) Very difficult to enforce, as ganja grows wild.
(d) Discontent only among the small number of confirmed smokers.
(e) No; not at all.
(f) Yes. Cheap liquor and opium.

36. None. Reverse is the case as stated in answer to question 25.

37 and 38. Not noticeable.

39. Never saw any one drinking or eating any preparation of ganja.

40. (a) Ganja and siddhi-Yes.
(b) Ganja--Yes.

41. Not aware of any.
(a) Siddhi is used sometimes as digestive. (b), (c) and (d) Don't know.
All classes use siddhi occasionally as digestive or for bowel disorders.

42. No. Even their moderate use tells on the body and mind.

43. Yes, they are ; but ganja smokers are generally men of irritable temper and get easily angry and violent. The word ganja-kbor or ganja smoker is therefore a term of reproach, meaning angry and violent.

44. (a) Stated above.
(b) No.
(c) Yes.
(d) No.
(e) Yes, in the case of habitual consumers.
(f) Lasts two or three hours.
(g) Don't know.
(h) Yes.

45. (a) Yes, of all kinds.
(b) Ganja does.
(c) Yes.
(d) In some cases ganja does
(e) Yes. Causes all these.
(f) Sometimes ganja does, and siddhi in still rarer cases, both permanent and temporary. I am unable to answer the remaining questions.
(g) I have not come across any such cases. 47. No.

49. I am not aware of. 51. (a) No.
(b) Violent crimes, such as severe hurts and murders, are induced by excessive ganja smoking.

53. It does. I know of one case where a murder was committed under the influence of too much ganja smoking by a fakir.

54. I have had no such cases.

55. (a) Sometimes they do.
(b) Yes, M case of persons who don't use them habitually or at all.

56 and 57. Don't know.

58. Working well.

59. No improvement appears to me possible. 60 and 61.. Not produced here.

62. Only wild bhang plants grow here rarely in places. They are very inferior, and require scarcely any more control than what at present prevails.

63 and 64. No.

65. Yes.

66. They are already differently taxed. Question not understood.

67. and 68. No.

69. Yes. Excise Sub-Inspectors or Police consult the people. Local public opinion ought to be considered.

70. None here.