Love and not hate, in the time of Corona.

The world is coming to an end. Or at least it certainly seems so this time.

For the current batch of world population these are unprecedented times. We had all heard rumors about 2012 and the much-anticipated world ending. While 2012 came and went no one really expected 2020 to be the fateful year that we go down. And certainly no one thought it would be a virus and not the usual suspects of global warming and climate change that would be accredited with doomsday.

COVID-19 has brought the world to its knees. Not one region, one country or one continent but the entire world. For all the might of the modern world one small virus managed to bring our lives to a standstill. From the strong to the weak, the rich to the poor, almost everyone has been affected by this virus. It didn’t matter if you were a developed nation or a developing one. The virus spread through the world like wildfire. We heard heartbreaking stories come out of China, Italy, Iran, Spain, France, United States and the United Kingdom. Even India was affected. And in more ways than one. I’ll come to that in a bit. In today’s day and age where we are more connected than ever before, it didn’t take long for humanity to be collectively affected.

On March 11, the WHO officially announced the corona virus outbreak as a pandemic.

At the front line of this battle with the Corona pandemic stand doctors, medical staff and healthcare workers around the world. They transformed when the need arose, to soldiers.  Soldiers who are fighting against this deadly virus trying to save lives. Our lives. Trying to ensure that there still exists a healthy world for the rest of us. But because the situation was unprecedented and large-scale, countries faced shortages in medical equipment, safety gear and health infrastructure. The most developed countries in the world were facing acute shortages of something essential. Imagine the plight of developing nations.

Doctors become soldiers but think of one without proper arms and ammunition at the front line. Highly unlikely that the soldier would come back alive. When the time came the world didn’t have enough medical resources to tackle this disease outbreak. There is also a popular social media meme that is doing the rounds that goes something to the effect of “Countries should realize and understand that they need to spend equally if not more on their healthcare as much as they do on their war efforts“. I can’t think of a more appropriate time than the current when the above statement makes most sense.

India was already reeling under a stressful economy when Covid-19 hit us. On top of that there was social unrest in the country on a myriad of issues. The biggest among them being the highly controversial CAA and NRC protests. The country had been divided on a host of issues since the last general elections. But it seemed that when the corona virus scare came, we were united. Alas it was momentary.

It’s no secret that India is not on the same playing field when it comes to healthcare as compared to the developed nations of the world. The World Economic Forum ranks India at 150 when it comes to healthcare. From the news that we were getting it was clear that we would be hit very hard if we didn’t take strong, effective measures to control the spread of the virus.

The GOI decided a lockdown would be our way of tackling the spread. But a lockdown in a country of 1.3 billion people is very difficult to achieve. To top it we were promulgating concepts of self-isolation/quarantine and social distancing. Again, the sheer number of our population makes this a very difficult exercise. Yet we were made to believe that this would be an effective method. After all, as a common citizen what else can you do but have faith in your elected system in such a time of a crisis?

This entire issue of Corona virus needs to be looked at from a unique lens when it comes to India. One needs to understand the majority of India lives in poverty. While people like me scoff at the Ambanis of the world for having too much money, we fail to realize that we ourselves are probably a hundred times better off than the average Indian out there. There is a huge majority of Indians who are daily wagers. Which means they depend on daily work to earn their wages and put food on their family’s table. Actually the floor because a majority of them wouldn’t afford a table for eating. Another point to keep in mind regarding them is that these are migrant workers. Which means that most have travelled far from their homes in villages and come to big cities in hope of a better life.

Then there’s another majority which comprises of our farmer workforce. Farmers too depend on selling their stock in the daily markets. And famer issues are something that has plagued our country for too long. Most of the youth in our country is also jobless. Not because they are too lazy to work. But because there are not enough jobs. In India people with jobs, substantial wealth and the so called ‘comfort’ of life are actually in the minority. The disparity of wealth in our country is abysmal to say the least.

Anyway, back to Corona and our dealing with it.

India tested waters with a nationwide lockdown initially with a 24-hour lockdown. This was soon followed by a 3-week nationwide lockdown. As I write this that lockdown has been extended to a further 2 weeks. The general definition of a lockdown is confining individuals to their homes and restricting mass movement in public places. It was also supported by shutting of schools, colleges, religious and commercial places. Which meant airports, railway and bus stations, cinema halls, malls, shopping complexes all would be shut.

What was funny in a dark comedy sense of the word was the way the entire exercise of lockdown carried out. The Indian government gave us almost 48 hours of notice before the first 24-hour lockdown. But only 4 hours of notice before the 3-week lockdown came into place. The prime minister came on our television sets at 8 pm and announced that from 12 am the following day the lockdown would be in effect. Naturally the next day pandemonium ensued. Common sense dictates that in a country of 1.3 billion people you need extensive planning and groundwork to see a lockdown executed successfully.

Very similar to PM Modi’s demonetization exercise the lockdown deprived people of a life in an instant. The daily wager was suddenly faced with the prospect of no work for the next 3 weeks. The farmer didn’t know how he was supposed to travel to the daily market to sell his produce. Even if he reached there, he wouldn’t have anyone to sell it to. The jobless youth grew more worrisome because they knew that this lockdown would lead to a further no jobs status.

The PM had urged businesses and employers to not terminate their employees. He asked us to stand together and support each other in these difficult times. However experts knew that job losses had to come. The study of economics told them so. And true enough reports of job losses and pay cuts have started flowing in. Employers and landlords paid almost no heed to the PM’s request. Within a day or two of the lockdown stories were coming in of how millions of migrant workers across the country were walking back homes. With no money and no food these guys didn’t really have any other option but to return to their homes. ‘We have no money. We have no food. We are destined to die like this. It’s better to die with our family members in our own homes than dying over here’. This was something that I had heard in a news report covering this migration. Lines like this are enough to break anyone’s hearts. Anyone with a heart that is.

The GOI showed some more hope by releasing details of an economic relief package that they had worked out. While some experts welcomed it and some criticized it, most of us were relieved that the government was thinking of the poor and downtrodden. Most of the media houses at this point were doing routine coverage of the crisis that was unfolding. In India many media channels off late have been under the fire for reporting that suits the government more than the principles of journalism. But it was heartening to see that they were focusing on spreading vital information regarding the virus and how to beat it.

It was all till the episode of the Tablighi Jamaat of Nizamuddin in Delhi happened. An Islamic congregation that ideally shouldn’t have happened did so in fact happen. A huge group of Muslims comprising of both national citizens and foreigners had gathered in Delhi before the lockdown came into effect. An irresponsible leader of the religious group and the organizers were at best the people to blame. Almost immediately though the faithful government watchdogs of media started putting the blame on the entire Muslim community. It was truly a ‘Carpe Diem’ moment for them.

Yet again the actions of a few were used to vilify an entire community. Not a new thing for Muslims if you ask me though. We’ve been used to this since 9/11 now. No matter how many sensible Muslims themselves condemned the acts of the Jamaat, the media continued to pinpoint the entire spread of Corona virus in the country on Muslims. The community was accused of engaging in terrorist activities. Terms like ‘Corona Jihad’ and ‘Madarsa Hotspots’ became the norm. As a result, self-appointed law holders of society started targeting the common everyday Muslim. Stories of Muslim fruit and vegetable vendors being vandalized came to the fore. Notices were being put up denying entry of Muslims in certain areas so that they don’t bring the deadly virus with them. Lynching and public beatings of suspected Muslims who attended the Jamaat surfaced. The entire onus for this lies with a very special segment of the Indian media who earn their daily bread by such vilification. I wonder how they get their dose of daily sleep.

There were also reports of how doctors were assaulted by their society residents because of the fear that they could be carrying Corona virus. How they were stopped and assaulted by cops who thought they were in violation of the lock down. A group of doctors physically assaulted and attacked by a mob in Indore when they had gone to carry out their responsibilities. All the above humiliation in spite being asked by our PM to show solidarity with the medical fraternity.

Today another incident happened which can hurt India’s efforts against the corona virus. Thousands of migrant workers in Mumbai gathered at Bandra station hoping that the train services would resume, and they could ho home. It seemed that no one had told them about the PM’s morning address where he extended the lockdown by a further 2 weeks. Surat too saw a sit in protest by migrant workers. Their only demand, to be allowed to go back home.

The current atmosphere in the country is quite tense. There is a lot of fear in the system. A fear of not knowing what the future holds for us. As mentioned earlier we were already reeling under a strained economy. If proper battle plans are not formed, then the economic backbone of India can break. I am no expert but from whatever one reads and hears from the experts it is being said that it’ll be a long time before we can bounce back from the aftereffects of this lockdown. The government will truly need a miracle to infuse confidence into a downward spiraling market.

To add to the economic fears, we also have a social fear. A social fear that the country will be run to the dogs if the current acts of discrimination against minorities continue. One of Corona’s main characteristic is that it doesn’t discriminate. It will kill you no matter who you are if you’re not careful. Similarly, as a society we should learn not to discriminate. Ideally in any time but especially in times such as this.

Because it’s quite clear that the world is going to change after the Corona episode. Our lives the way we’ve known it is going to change. Many would scoff saying that once this scare lifts everything will go back to normal. But sane minds know that it’ll take the collective might of us as a country and a species to take things back to normal. Statements like we’ll come out stronger together will only be possible when we truly work with each other. Humans generally are selfish, self-centered, hinging on evil beings. At least humans of the modern world.

All hope is not lost though. Corona virus has also brought out the best in many people. With all stories of gloom there are also stories of how people are going out of their way to help in any way they can. Either by making monetary donations or becoming volunteers, hordes of people are helping. But that number is not that big. Many more will need to come forward with a helping hand if we are to successfully come out of this crisis.

The need of the hour is to learn kindness, compassion and empathy. Just these few values could and will ensure that the human species survives and thrives. Till date we’ve not believed in the fact that all humans are equal. Maybe it’s time to believe so. Concepts of rich and poor need to go. Concepts of I’m superiority and inferiority need to go. Bottom line the concept of class divide needs to go.

Because only when we are united like the popular adage can we stand, otherwise we all know what happens when we divide. Hopefully this is the one key thing people takeaway after the Corona episode. To end, I would like to state a popular pop culture dialogue – “Remember hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies”.