August 1939- Crowd in front of a liquor store a few minutes before the beginning of the prohibition, in Mumbai.
(Photo by KEYSTONE-FRANCE / Gamma-Rapho)
AI Overview
On August 1, 1939, prohibition was first introduced in Mumbai (then Bombay) under the Congress provincial ministry, an event captured in a famous historical photograph. Taken by the photo agency Keystone-France, the image showcases anxious crowds gathering outside a local liquor shop—specifically Jamshed P. C. Shroff at Pila House—just minutes before the law took effect. [1, 2]
Key Facts of Mumbai's 1939 Prohibition
- The Scale: At the time the law was enacted, the city of Mumbai housed approximately 850 bars and liquor shops. [1, 2]
- The Leadership: The enforcement was driven heavily by Dr. M.D.D. Gilder, the Minister of Prohibition for the Bombay Presidency. [1]
- Public Backing: The local government released widespread bilingual dry propaganda posters claiming alcohol ruined eyesight, depleted vigor, and caused moral collapse. [1]
The Evolution of the Ban
- Total Ban (1950): Following independence, the government enacted the strict Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949, declaring Mumbai a fully dry state on April 6, 1950, under Chief Minister Morarji Desai. [1, 2]
- The Rise of "Aunty Bars": The heavy restrictions gave birth to Mumbai’s famous underground speakeasies, known colloquially as Aunty Bars. Run primarily by Goan women out of their homes, these secret spots served locally brewed moonshine and fenny to everyone from daily laborers to wealthy businessmen. [1, 2]
