Coronavirus Part 30, Pandemic Revolution and Seizing the Moment

 

             The days of lockdown are upon us. This decision to impose lockdown has been delegated to the states in the second wave after the countrywide lockdown by centre last year.  The entire country is operating in restricted mode since the past many days. The states should feel the responsibility since one rule for the entire nation might not fit every one. Even my residing state imposed restrictions this week despite low numbers in order to further limit the cases. With this, the entire country is staring at some form of stay-at-home orders without wandering outside and in groups. Despite the country wide lockdown the average daily cases are hovering around 3.5 lakh in the last week. The restrictions should go on at least till the number comes in few thousands or within manageable limits. We are staring at an unknown tenure as far as the extent of lockdown is concerned with the current caseload.

             The country is in desperate straits as far as the suffering of the people is concerned. Crores are suffering with the disease, lakhs of people are getting infected daily, thousands are unable to breathe and thousands are dying. The agony is a collective shame and need to be shared by everyone to lessen the pain. SOS’s are emanating every minute to save the near and dear. I am hearing stories about many of my relatives, friends, colleagues who contracted the virus, hospitalised and few of them dead.  In these prevailing circumstances, I have been warned seriously about going out and acting as I wish. Many loving fathers, brothers, mothers, grandparents have departed leaving the families broken. The virus is no longer acting outside your network of people but penetrated into every group possible.

             The whole population and the entire country is mourning in these difficult times at every connected individuals suffering and the loss of many grown-up people who have great future ahead. Even if the person is alive, many poor and middle class people are enduring financial burdens after getting hospitalised and treated for so many days. The entire life’s savings have evaporated or lives turned upside down financially. There are countless people who are silently bearing the loss inflicted upon them in so many forms. This is the hard hitting reality, be it negative or anything. Indians bear anything and tolerate all the struggles, suffering silently but time will take its own course against the perpetrators and do justice to the innocent souls. The curse of these crores of people will reach everyone else and the society at large. It will take many years to heal the wounds of the pandemic. Destruction can be swift, but recovery and rebuilding will take a lot of time.

            How can we justify the pain and suffering of these multitudes? There are two angles to look at it. One is to imagine some cloud of wretchedness or some misfortune or something inauspicious has spread its shadow over the country. Only negative results will emanate, pulling the country on a slippery slope and pushing it into downward spiral. We are the biggest losers of the pandemic and see destruction everywhere. The country needs to get rid of this ominous demon for harbouring auspiciousness and good fortune.

             Another angle is to believe we are on the correct track and their suffering will not go in vain. The point of some positivity is to note that the pandemic and its spread is a result of various good factors accumulated over time. It slowly built up over the last decade or more to reach us to this point. Revolutions do happen when there is a huge correction or the world is taking a turn in its journey after factoring in many years of background work. This is the tipping point of these days. The country has been on a burner since past many years and the silent revolution has seen the full bloom. With this revolution, the country will be directed into the path of glory and greatness. Remember, revolutions in any country are accompanied by lot of violence, upheavals, suffering and death. This is the most soft revolution or change in course with limited damage or no violence. We do not deviate from the principles of satyagraha or non-violence in the largest revolution after independence.  In the struggling journey towards growth, development and righteousness we are shedding very little to gain a lot. The country needs a lot churning and a lot of revolutions from its people in its iterative journey towards fulfilment and progress. There is no gain where there is no pain and suffering.

             One of the metrics of success amid the pandemic is how well we have capitalised on this evolving state of affairs. Every situation gives an opportunity to seize and grow. Coming to me, I had seized the moment with or without my full knowledge and did lot of things for my evolution. I had started to write weekly blogs, distributed ration kits, free meals, participated in lot of surveys, packed medicines, packed relief material, got married and such good things happened in this pandemic. I was able to spread happiness and cheer the nation with my actions in the midst of gloom. The pandemic has shaped me into this individual without my complete control. Incidentally or coincidentally, it provided me with opportunities of work and I rise to the occasion. If I can do so well, it is my strong faith and belief that the country will also do well at present and in future.

             There are many positive stories which emerged out of the response to covid. The Sardar Patel Covid Care facility in Delhi is the worlds largest covid care facility with 10,000 beds constructed in just 10 days. It has been an example of the determination of the people to defeat the virus. There are many such examples across the country who seized the moment and gave new hope to the suffering people. Actions such as these should augur extremely well for the country in evolving itself.

             I had outlined two opposite outlooks emerging out of pandemic. Let us work and make sure the second one prevails. As mentioned, the days of lockdown are here. There are two sets of people who are affected by these lockdowns -rich and the poor. One group does not bother much about these lockdowns. These are rich and middle-class people who are not impacted by the lockdowns. I would suggest them to enjoy the home-stay and recharge the batteries. The second group are the poor people who have to work for their bread and butter. It is the responsibility of the government and those concerned to give them money, food and everything required for them to stay afloat.

             The stories of poor migrants should not repeat this time and the Government seems to have well prepared this time after the lessons of first wave. Let these poor people also given some days-off under the guise of lockdown by giving them all the necessities. Even the deadly virus which shut down the country has only infected 2.5 crore people which is just 3% of population. The remaining 97% should utilise this time period to stay happy, safe, positive and get energised for the future. Because, the hard work is being done by the covid warriors like us. Our hard work should lessen your workload. To say again, let us keep the poor people in good spirits by providing them with food, money, shelter etc.

             To reflect back on my last post, vaccination is the need of the hour. But the options are very limited which are covaxin and covishield. There is a new addition – sputnik and let us wish everyone gets vaccinated as soon as possible. In this context, let me tell you a story about Bharat Biotech or covaxin. I did not mention about Bharat Biotech or covaxin in my last post due to two reasons: 1. The volume of covaxin is very low despite coming into use at the same time as covishield. 2. Its availability is very low even in its home state of Telengana. I felt proud when our PM was vaccinated by it. But what about the common man. I took my Mom for vaccination and surprisingly there is no covaxin available in Hyderabad. If it is made just few yards away and something else is present for vaccination, I felt disappointed.

               The founder of ISKCON said – no one should go hungry within ten miles of ISKCON centre. But no vaccine is available even within 1 mile of its presence. Leave alone 1 mile, even 50 employees of Bharat Biotech contracted the virus. Is it that they are not given vaccine because they don’t fall under age group. How come employees of vaccine company not given vaccine. Leave someone else. The state of Telengana doesn’t have enough vaccines and has to defer vaccinating my age group till month end. I am yearning for my shot as well.  Despite these shortcomings, I feel very proud at this Indian-made home state vaccine. The vaccine is great and the company is a class act. I had huge respect for scientists and I admire Indian scientists way too much. US invented desktops and laptops are present in every household across the world. Chinese made mobiles are there in every hand. Likewise, Indian-made vaccine should inoculate the entire world. It should at least begin with inoculating entire India. It is time for everyone else to help reach covaxin to every household across the country. This should be the spirit with which we need to tackle the pandemic and rise to the occasion.