ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

No human endevour is an isolated exercise. Human intellect seeks

interaction and thrives in the participative environment. The effort of
understanding the phenomenon of alcohol abuse, particularly its manifestation in
Gujarat presented in the form of this thesis has been an aspiration which might
not have been materealized except for a variety of reasons and the inspiration,
guidance, supervision and assistance from a number of persons.
I owe a lot of my guide Prof. L.R. Yagnik who encouraged me to undertake
this study and provided constant supervision to the progress of my work. My
sincere thanks to Dr. R.K. Gunthey for he provided me with some scarce
material, tests and guided me in interpreting the data. I have no words to thank
Dr. D.J. Panchal, who was constantly available for guidance and direct
supervision. The effort he has put in, perhaps, matches the effort put in by me.
This study for whatever it is worth is largely due to him.
I express my sincere gratitude to Principal Dr. N.S. Patel of Arts and
Commerce College, Idar for his kind guidance and warm encouragement in this
research study. I am extremely grateful to the library staff of Arts and Commerce
College, Idar, particularly to Mr. G.J. Parmar, the librarian of our college for
allowing and helping me to use their department for the library work. I am also
thankful to Prof. Pranay Srivastav and Prof. Sanjay Rav for their efforts to make
the thesis as much correct as possible and free from errors linguistically.
My heart is overwhelmed with feelings when I remember what my beloved
mother Late Mrs. Pushpaben D. Shukla had done for me while this study was
being undertaken. Even though she had studied only up to Seventh, she always
dreamt that my daughter should touch the highest peak in her field. How can I
forget her loving care and constant inspiration without which I could not have
completed my research. I think myself privileged because I am one of those few
lucky children who both of their parents have guided and motivated. Apart from

(V)
my mother, my father Mr. Dalshukhram P. Shukla has always stood by me and
boostered my confidence in whatever I have done in my life. He also took a very
keen interest in this research work and puffed up my morale whenever I needed.
I feel greatly indebted to each of my family members who have adjusted
themselves in order to facilitate me during my study and have contributed in their
own way to complete this study.
It is high time for me to acknowledge my deep gratitude towards Late Dr.
Deepak Bhatt, Department of Psychology, Vidyanagar who initiated me to
indulge in this ‘unprofitable business’ as higher studies are usually called. Even
though he is not among us today, his invisible presence and encouraging words
have worked for me as a Light House throughout this journey.
Only when you have an elderly sister like Mrs. Daxaben T. Shah that you
realize the proverbial truth of what ‘a friend, philosopher and guide’ really stands
for. He support and contribution in completion of this study is very vital and
unforgettable.
I would like to thank Tejas Panchal and Satvinder Banvet for data
processing and printing with the computer. They are always ready, even at the
cost of their studies, to do my work. I am immensely indebted to the samples
without whose co-operation this study would not have been completed.

(VI)