" I was a chain .smoker " by Syed Bux

ho says you can't give up True to my word, I stopped smok­ rachi . One evening we discussed in­ ? it's supposed to ing; but I felt completely lost and de­ grained habits and particularly smok­ W be easier to overcome alco­ pressed. I seemed to have lost all in­ ing . As usual, our discussion soon holism and even narcotic drugs ad­ terest in life. Within a couple of days, drifted to other matters. But a germ diction than to give up confirmed my love must have regretted what of an idea had started to tickle my smoking. But nobody can tell me she had done to me. With a smile, brain and fire up my feelings. I decid­ this-because I did give up smoking, one evening, she suddenly produced ed to give up smoking once and for 18 years back, after being a chain a packet of very costly scented ciga­ all, more as a test of will power than smoker for almost 40 years. rettes and said, " I can't bear to see the desire to get rid of a bad habit. should rightly be classed you quietly withering away and look­ This time there was no outside influ­ with dangerous drugs. it contains ing so crestfallen and woebegone." ence; no compulsion other than my , a lethal drug. A pin dipped In no time at all, I was my old jolly own determination to do it. in pure nicotine can kill a dog within self again, puffing away like a A few days later, when the craving seconds. it keeps stealing on you un­ chimney. got too strong, I bought a packet of awares. Yet smoking has been good and caught hold of a viewed for over a century as some­ friend who was only a casual smok­ thing of a status symbol. Offering a Mr Syed Bux is a retired pro­ er. I made him sit before me and was seen as instrumental fessional journalist living in smoke as many cigarettes as he in breaking the ice or as a prelude to Karachi, Rakistan. could at a time. He agreed only pleasant talk. when he was assured that it was % "" I was introduced to smoking in my merely as a test of my endurance early teens by a childhood friend as a The second interruption came five and will power. Having mustered the mark of freedom and self-assertion . years later. I had found a very special strength to watch him smoke, and After the first two or three disas­ friend in Naseer, the son of a rich having enjoyed the familiar aroma in trous experiences, I was on the road landlord and silk merchant of my the atmosphere, I felt a sudden eas­ to becoming a regular smoker. Until I home town. He made me give up ing of the urge to smoke myself. had graduated from high school, I smoking. But he too relented in two From then on, the urge gradually was compelled to smoke surrepti­ or three days time and released me died down until at last, I began to tiously in respect for social taboos. from my promise. This time my dislike tobacco smoke. So, you see, I But once I joined the University col­ chain smoking continued up to the gave up smoking JUST LIKE THAT, lege in a distant city and lived in a end of 1969. after being a chain smoker for so boys' hostel, there was no restraint I strongly believe in the marvellous long. Every one of you can do it if on smoking . I could smoke boldly powers of the human brain and the only you can summon the will to and openly to my heart's content. human will . During the 1960s, I used do so. As Socrates said : "Nothing Soon I became a heavy and regu­ to hold heated discussions on this is stronger than human determi­ lar and at last a chain smoker, puffing and related topics with a friend in Ka- nation . " • away and burning ever-increasing amounts of money, heedless of the anger and remonstrance of my par­ ents. In all this time, I never for a moment thought of giving up smok­ ing . Why give up? it looked so natu­ ral, like breathing. I had seen many of my friends giving up smoking doz­ ci ens of times. Some took to sucking CO peppermint lozenges when they felt m Olc an urge to smoke; some used to CO "'c chew cardamom and aniseed while CO others resorted to chewing 'pan.' All '=) (jj Q_ of them returned soon enough to CO that tawny weed, tobacco. Q_ "'3

WORLD HEALTH, October 1988 13