The Hindu : New Delhi News : An ex-smoker reveals his magic mantra to quit smoking

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Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008
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An ex-smoker reveals his magic mantra to quit smoking

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: For someone who smoked cigarettes for 14 years before kicking the habit, Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar has admitted he was not really the most suitable person to kick-start a “Tobacco-free Campus Signature Movement” initiated by the Delhi University Students’ Union.

“I have been a sinner as I smoked cigarettes for 14 years continuously from 1961 to 1975. Then I got married and my wife is responsible for my quitting this habit. It was her persuasion that forced me to stop smoking. And now it’s been 32 years since I have touched one,” said the Minister amid applause from the students at the DUSU office on Monday.

Addressing the gathering in Hindi, Mr. Aiyar remarked in a lighter vein that he began smoking when some people told him that it would help him acquire a girlfriend. “These people were accompanying me when I was going to England for further studies But today I know that manhood has nothing to do with smoking. People must begin to understand that cigarettes can bring no good.”

Elaborating on the initiative, DUSU president Amrita said the campaign would run for three days till January 31 when they will “declare the North Campus a no-smoking zone”.

“The DUSU team will take the banner to all the colleges in the next few days. Whoever signs it will undertake a pledge that he or she will not only quit smoking or consume tobacco but also banish the company of people who are into such activities,” she added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Devesh Srivastava announced that that anyone caught smoking on the campus would be fined Rs.100. “On Thursday we will declare a deadline after which challans and fines will be implemented. There will be a strict enforcement of existing laws against smoking. We will begin with the North Campus and then move to the South Campus colleges,” said Amrita.

The campaign started with the signatures of Mr. Aiyar, followed by Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental, Dean of Colleges Nayanjot Lahiri, DUSU Staff Advisor Jaswinder Singh and DCP Srivastava.

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