Now, a curious person might wonder why and how this chemical composition is so deeply entrenched in India, and is there any history behind it.
Well, there is an interesting history behind it which goes all the way to Tipu Sultan’s defeat. In 1799, when Tipu was defeated by the British, the whole of Mysore Kingdom with Srirangapatnam as Tipu’s capital came under British control. For the next few days, the British soldiers had a great time celebrating their victory, but within weeks, many started feeling sick due to Malaria, because Srirangapatnam was a highly marshy area with severe mosquito trouble.
The local Indian population had over the centuries, developed self immunity, and also all the spicy food habits also helped to an extent. Whereas the British soldiers and officers who were suddenly exposed to harsh Indian conditions, started bearing the brunt.
To quickly overcome the mosquito menace, the British Army quickly shifted their station from Srirangapatnam to Bangalore (by establishing the Bangalore Cantonment region), which was a welcome change, especially due to cool weather, which the Brits were gravely longing forever since they had left their shores. But the malaria problem still persisted because Bangalore was also no exception to mosquitoes.
Around the same time in the 18th century, European scientists had discovered a chemical composition called “Quinine” which could be used to treat malaria, but it was yet to be extensively tested on at large scale. This malaria crisis among British Army came at an opportune time, and thus Quinine was imported in bulk by the Army and distributed to all their soldiers, who were instructed to take regular dosages (even to healthy soldiers) so that they could build immunity. This was followed up in all other British stations throughout India because every region in India had a malaria problem to some extent.
But there was a small problem. Although sick soldiers quickly recovered, many more soldiers who were exposed to harsh conditions of tropical India continued to become sick, because it was later found that they were not taking dosages of Quinine. Why? Because it was very bitter!! So, by avoiding the bitter Quinine, British soldiers were lagging behind on their immunity, thereby making themselves vulnerable to Malaria in the tropical regions of India.
That’s when all the top British officers and scientists started experimenting ways to persuade their soldiers to strictly take these dosages, and during their experiments, they found that the bitter Quinine mixed with Juniper based liquor, actually turned somewhat into a sweet flavor. That’s because the molecular structure of the final solution was such that it would almost completely curtail the bitterness of Quinine.
That juniper based liquor was Gin. And the Gin mixed with Quinine was called “Gin & Tonic”, which immediately became an instant hit among British soldiers.
The same British soldiers who were ready to even risk their lives but couldn’t stand the bitterness of Quinine, started swearing by it daily when they mixed it with Gin. In fact, the Army even started issuing few bottles of Gin along with “tonic water” (Quinine) as part of their monthly ration, so that soldiers could themselves prepare Gin & Tonic and consume them every day to build immunity.
To cater to the growing demand of gin & other forms of liquor among British soldiers, the British East India Company built several local breweries in and around Bengaluru, which could then be transported to all other parts of India. And that’s how, due to innumerable breweries and liquor distillation factories, Bengaluru had already become the pub capital of India way back during British times itself. Eventually, most of these breweries were purchased from British organizations after Indian independence, by none other than Vittal Mallya (Vijay Mallya’s father), who then led the consortium under the group named United Breweries headquartered in Bengaluru.
Coming back to the topic, that’s how Gin & Tonic became a popular cocktail and is still a popular drink even today. The Quinine, which was called Tonic (without gin), was widely prescribed by doctors as well, for patients who needed a cure for fever or any infection. So, that’s how the word “Tonic” became a colloquial word for “Western medicine” in India.
Over the years, Quinine was developed further into many of its variants and derivatives and widely prescribed by Indian doctors. One such descendent of Quinine, called Hydroxychloroquine, eventually became the de facto cure for malaria, which is now suddenly the most sought after drug in the world today.
And that’s how, a simple peek into the history of Hydroxychloroquine takes us all the way back to Tipu’s defeat, mosquito menace, liquor rationing, colorful cocktails, tonics, and medicinal cures.
Latest Updates
- Navigating GST Changes: 5 Essential Updates on E-Way Bill and E-InvoiceNavigating GST Changes: 5 Essential Updates on E-Way Bill and E-Invoice As we step into the new financial year 2025-26, businesses must gear up for key compliance changes in GST, particularly concerning E-Invoicing and E-Way Bills. These aren’t just procedural formalities—they’re critical documents that validate tax liability and the movement of […]
- Pros and Cons of Presumptive Taxation Scheme for ProfessionalsPros and Cons of Presumptive Taxation Scheme for Professionals To reduce the compliance burden for small professionals, the Income Tax Act introduced the Presumptive Taxation Scheme under Section 44ADA. This scheme is especially useful for professionals like doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, and others specified under Section 44AA. What is Section 44ADA? […]
- Understanding Form 3CD Amendments: What Changed from April 1, 2025Understanding Form 3CD Amendments: What Changed from April 1, 2025 The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), via Notification No. 23/2025 dated March 28, 2025, has introduced key amendments to Form 3CD under the Income-tax Rules, 1962. These changes come into effect for all tax audit reports signed on or after […]
- GST Compliance Checklist for Financial Year 2025-26GST Compliance Checklist for Financial Year 2025-26 Strategic Review & Action Plan for Businesses As the new financial year 2025–26 begins, businesses must undertake a comprehensive introspection of their GST compliance framework. This includes both substantive law changes and procedural reforms. With several amendments becoming effective from April 1, 2025, aligning […]
- Mutual Funds and Stocks: Understanding Capital Gains Tax Implications in 2025Mutual Funds and Stocks: Understanding Capital Gains Tax Implications in 2025 Investing in mutual funds and stocks is a time-tested route to building wealth. However, returns from these assets attract capital gains tax, and staying informed about tax rules is crucial to avoid unexpected liabilities. As of 2025, the tax landscape for investors […]