‘U’ home delivery service

Free Thinker
During this pandemic it is really practical and logical to start home delivery of ‘alcohol’. For the last few days we have been curiously reading the news of initiating home delivery service of whiskey in Delhi. Earlier we thought it was not feasible and futile. Now it sounds like a great idea. Even the judiciary is endorsing the idea. Perhaps the concept of home delivery is already in the excise law of the Metropolis as early as 2010. But it was never implemented; and nobody took it seriously. Now, the requirement of home delivery is felt because of the social distancing norm during the pandemic. It is strange but true, home delivery of alcoholic beverages will be taking place in no time in the Capital city.
One Excise expert told me that there is no prohibition in the hill districts. I didn’t argue; I thought he must be right. In the valley districts also practically there is no prohibition. People are getting the drinks even during the pandemic, though it is much more costly as compared to the earlier rates of pre pandemic era. Now only the rich, thieves and rovers can enjoy foreign liquors. The common folks follow the tradition, enjoying the lovely ‘Yu’.
Home delivery service has become so popular in many parts of the State particularly in this pandemic period. Everywhere we are flooded with home delivery services. I am told that even the oxygen cylinders are also delivered (of course with O2). Here, my humble point is if ‘Yu ‘ is not a prohibited thing in many districts, it may be included in the list of home delivery items. But the quantity must be checked. Ordering a tanker of ‘Yu” for a wedding reception is uncalled for. Even a jerrycan of  20 liters for a funeral is objectionable. District authorities may kindly fix the quota or quantity.
The oldest alcoholic drink was discovered in a pottery jar (9000 years old) in Jiahu village of Henan province, China. It reveals that the drink contains grapes, honey and rice. Perhaps it is the oldest rice based alcoholic beverage of the world. Another existing oldest alcohol is the Speyer wine bottle (1700 years old) found at a Roman tomb in Speyer , Germany. Most of the ancient alcoholic drinks are starch based or fruit based. The oriental drinks are generally rice based. For the Chinese, the Tibetans, Japanese, Koreans and Manipuris , their popular alcoholic drinks are mostly rice-based.
One interesting facet of ‘Yu’ is that the name itself sounds like the Chinese ‘jiu’ or ‘tsu’ (same meaning ). The pronunciation is more or less the same and these names identify the same alcoholic drink made of rice or starch. Whether Chinese had learnt the art of ‘Yu’ making from us or vice verse – something is intriguing. Some kind of research work may be initiated for academic satisfaction.     
One must be very proud to be a drinker in this difficult time; his/her contribution to the revenue of the States and UTs is humongous. Despite steep hike in the liquor cess in some places the patriotic drinkers never stop buying the drinks. They know that their Government is in dire need of money.  We really feel proud of our regular drinkers. We feel sorry for the Dry States. They are the biggest losers in this pandemic. On the other hand the black marketers are having a gala time in these dry States.
Some months ago I received a video clipping showing the delivery of a Scotch bottle by a drone. It was just like a science fiction movie; but it was real. Perhaps inspired by the idea someone in our neighbor-hood started doing it. But that was struck down citing security reasons. However we are convinced that drone delivery is bound to happen in the near future. Till then human based delivery system shall continue. Till then let us encourage delivery by humans, just for the sake of our tottering economy.
Again let me remind, we are losing enormous revenue/income which we can easily earn through a thorough commercialization of ‘Yu’. It is already late. Japanese ‘Sake’ and Chinese ‘Baijiu’ are minting Yens and Yuans respectively in the international markets. We are still stuck here with an outdated mindset or in the web of some powerful black marketers. I still believe once our ‘Yu’(Sekmai type) is launched  in the global market  these ‘Baijius’ or ‘Sakes’ will be seriously threatened.
By allowing home delivery of ‘Yu’, in non-prohibited areas of the State, we may give a fillip to the local economy. It will provide employment as it requires more number of delivery boys (by bicycle or by motor bike or by pony or on foot). The local seller will be able to sell more and at the same time the brewer will multiply the earning by augmenting the brewing capacity. The excuse of local rice (shortage) is frivolous as we are now increasingly consuming rice from outside (cheaper & less starchy).
The kick, the price, the comfort, the color, the smell, the tradition and the pride associated with ‘Yu’ is amazingly incomparable. Sekmai Sekmai Sekmai Chamelei…the whole world is waiting for you.