A disturbing video from Morbi, Gujarat has shocked many across India. In the video, a young boy sitting in public in the style of a so‑called “Cigarette Wale Baba” is seen smoking cigarettes as people around him watch him, and even throw money at him. What some may consider entertainment or spectacle is actually child exploitation.
The boy, who is a teen, is taught to act like a spiritual figure. Instead of prayers or wisdom, he is encouraged to smoke cigarettes all the time. He takes the audience’s hands and smiles and gets a standing ovation every time they throw money at him as if it’s all a show. This is not spirituality; this is not harmless fun. It is a malignant act that promotes smoking for children and exploits a minor for public amusement.
Children are vulnerable and easily influenced. Not only is the boy who is allowed to smoke in public at risk of ill health, but it also sends a bad message to other children who might take this as acceptable behavior. Cigarettes are addictive and deadly, and exposing a child to them is a violation of his rights. Turning it into a spectacle strips the boy of dignity and reduces him to an object of entertainment.
This incident indicates a much larger problem in society: the acceptance of exploitation when it comes in the form of tradition, spectacle, or spirituality. And the crowd encouraged the child instead of protecting him. They are not taking responsibility. Child labor, child abuse, and exploitation are all happening in plain sight, but we can’t see them because they are normalized or covered up.
There must be strong action against those who encourage or exploit children in such a manner. Public awareness campaigns are needed to convince people that children need protection and educational opportunities, not cigarettes and exploitation. Communities must learn to see that such acts are harmful, not spiritual. It is everyone’s job to protect children, and silence or passive enjoyment is complicity.
The Morbi video is not only shocking, it is a wake‑up call. A child was exploited in broad daylight, and people treated it as entertainment. This is unacceptable. Children are not actors, and shouldn't be exposed to harmful substances for the enjoyment of others. These exploitations must be stopped, and society must protect and give every child an opportunity to develop in a healthy environment to have respect, safety, and a safe environment.
