THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
Sandhya Vasudev
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned snug over the past few months as it nestles happily all over the world, playing the uninvited guest-and-pest role within the human body. The virus is ruling the world and humans are adapting to the change, some unwittingly, many voluntarily, a few forcibly and yet a few confusedly.
The online world is ruling the roost and businesses having online presence are patting themselves on their backs – albeit cautiously, as the shopping appetite is yet to pick up – even as thousands of offline business start-ups and other small businesses have sadly already downed their shutters or are bracing themselves up for the same. The bustling shopping streets seem like a dream of some past era even as travellers need to live with fond memories as it may be quite some time before anyone can pack a bag for a jaunt, either domestic or abroad. I remember the vibrant streets of Florence with artists flaunting their talent and ready to sketch one’s portrait for a few euros. The crowd around the Eiffel Tower or the leaning tower of Pisa showcased people from all over the world. The teaming swarms in the local trains in London or Hong Kong, or any major city, seem ghosts of the past. Nowadays travel seems synonymous with an open invite to the rogue virus.
At such times when travel and social mingling are to be shunned, online alternatives seem to be one solution, offering a ray of hope in the gloomy scenario. Online tutorials and skill development sessions have taken off in a big way. It is a win win situation for both tutor and the taught considering the cut in logistics costs.
Yet again work from home is simultaneously a boon and a bane. The initial relief of not having to get formally ready and commute along polluted roads has given place to, in many situations, a tiredness arising from the monotony of working within the confines of the four walls of one’s home, with no chance for a quick repast with colleagues amidst light banter, or a casual stroll around the office premises exchanging brief pleasantries. In turn, the managers seem stricter as they are not sure if they are able to get the most out of their team without the usual back patting or a warm gupshup at the canteen. Perhaps they need to know that sincere employees are untarnished gold. Anyway most teams in Gen Y organizations work as goal oriented, rather than time oriented like in government offices.
Celebrations, a markedly social happening, have gone online too. Birthday bashes as we knew pre-COVID were fun filled parties with the details varying for the toddlers, youngsters and seniors. But the post COVID ones are enjoyable too as my husband and I discovered during an online birthday celebration of none other than our precious grandson. Armed with a Zoom meeting id and password we joined the unique celebration arranged from the backyard of his US home, with grandparents, uncles and aunts showing virtual presence and the two-year-old enjoying every bit of it alongside his enthusiastic parents and five-year-old brother, who shyly displayed the elaborate birthday card that he had made himself. We would not have witnessed the celebration if not for the COVID situation.
