August 4: Self-conscious in their bright birthday attires, the birthday girls and boys beamed with pride as a huge gathering sang in celebration of their term of sobriety. At the 11th anniversary celebrations of the Alcoholics Anonymous Merciful Group last week, at the Mafatlal Centre, four former addicts joined in, in jubilation over their `sober' birthdays. The celebration was preceded by a memorial service for late Padmanabh Mafatlal, founder of the Merciful Group.

Fifty-eight-year-old Sandra J, who celebrated 11 years of sobriety, notes, "This event is not for enjoyment, but mainly to thank God for keeping us sober." Her friend Rita S adds: "For if we return to the bottle now, it would be disastrous". Rita should know, for she had been in and out of hospitals eight times before she finally quit drinking six years ago.

Says the 52-year-old mother of three, "I entered Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) along with Sandra. But I lacked the desire to stop drinking and kept going back to it, following which I experienced terrible withdrawal symptoms. I would vomit violently, but swing back to the drink again. I lost my husband, there was no money to care for the children. But drinking would offer temporary relief from routine problems."

Ditto for Sandra. Having worked as a doctor's assistant for 20 years, she had savings which she mindlessly spent on liquor. "I had to quit my job as I couldn't go to work drunk. Ultimately I became a pauper. My family and friends disowned me. The last time I drank, I intended to kill myself, but God saved me," says she.

Today, two of her sisters and a nephew (who she now lives with) are at the AA meet with her. For 33-year-old Shailesh, a clerk in a government office in Mumbai, life is peaceful at last. Having given up alcohol after 12 years, Shailesh is now married and has a 14-month daughter. Shailesh did not disclose his past to his wife, until he was at a party where he met some of his friends from the past. This was soon after their wedding. Says he, "My wife was curious as to why I was studiously avoiding them and they too were keeping out of my way. Then, I brought her to an AA meeting where I spoke about my past at length. Now, she is convinced I'll never resume drinking."

Though Sandra and Rita developed their habits from social drinking, Shailesh's story is startling. "When I was a child, my father used to offer me a few sips from his glass just for fun. The taste remained with me, and I took to drinking as soon as I started earning. Later, I was disgusted to see my mother start drinking as well, but I couldn't stop. I built up a foul temper and my entire personality changed. My mother committed suicide and I finally joined AA four years ago," recalls Shailesh.

(Names have been changed to protect the identity of the people concerned.)

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.