It’s like being ruled by an exceptionally smelly little wand. It dictates where you go, what you do, who you hang out with.
Being a smoker must be exhausting. Tearing off every long flight, so you can charge into one of those dreadful little gas chambers to get your fix. Or sneaking out of the office at regular intervals to smoke in the traffic. Or being unable to enjoy a party without lighting up.
Fortunately you can always quit. With ‘World No Tobacco Day’, which is on May 31, just around the corner, this might be a good time to literally kick butt. Arjun Rangarajan, co-ordinator of Can Stop’s anti-smoking campaign, says research has shown that most smokers really do want to quit. “Right now everybody who smokes is at least thinking about quitting,” he says, “I think there’s a lot more awareness, there’s more of a social stigma attached to smoking, and attitudes are definitely changing.”
It helps that it’s getting tougher and tougher to light up, with smoking banned in public places, and most restaurants and coffee shops discouraging smokers. “It makes it harder for people to smoke: giving them less room,” says Arjun, adding, “At the end of the day you can’t pull a cigarette out of their mouths. People should realise that their smoking affects everyone around them.”
As part of Can Stop’s campaign, Chennai photographer Sunder, will be participating in a photo exhibition alongside Sharad Haksar. “For my series for the exhibition I decided to go with pictures of an extremely fit and inspirational, non smoking dancer in his forties, jumping above cigarette smoke and beating age and time,” he says, adding that he doesn’t want to just scare people into giving up smoking, but would much rather try a more positive route.
The photo exhibition will be on at the Sathyam Cinemas on May 31 and June 1, after which it will move around the city as a travelling exhibition.
Meanwhile Can Stop is launching the ‘Quitter’s Club.’ Stating that the idea behind it is to put people who want to quit smoking in touch with each other, Arjun says that a recent survey they did at a rock concert indicated that about 90 per cent of the 200 people who filled their forms were smokers, out of which a large number said they wanted to quit. About 25 actually signed up for the club.
“It’s going to be need based,” he says, “There’s no point just giving lectures.” They’ll help with strategies, motivation and technical needs such as procuring nicotine patches, or gum. (For more details call the Can Stop helpline 26284256.)
SHONALI MUTHALALY
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