Nobody is sure of the many ways exactly the spike protein multifunctional molecular novel Covid-19 virus spreads to the host cell and thereafter how it is going to behave as the world rushes to find a safe vaccine and permanent cure. Once it enters the respiratory system, many after affects follow, those cured getting re infected, its virulent infectious mutative nature has most people scared locked up at home or venturing out with limited activity (but not at election rallies and festivals)! Right from China to the WHO and the dominant powers, did we handle this epidemic properly or were all nations led to false beliefs that brought the world this socio economic catastrophe?
At time of writing it is scary that there are reportedly 44 million corona related cases worldwide with 32 million recovered and 1.17 million deaths and increasing. The only sure way to prevent catching/spreading it we are told is wearing a mask, strictly keeping to what is known as social distancing and washing hands frequently with soap, avoiding crowds and working from home hygienically, keeping body, mind and immune system strong as far as possible. There is no individual in the world, or activity be it industry, entertainment, hospitality, sports, religion, travel, you name it; that remains unaffected! This has severely affected families, professions and jobs to different extents and brought most world economies to a grinding halt. Some jobs may be lost forever or unable to recover. Musicians, actors, entertainment, hotel and tourist industries etc are severely restricted and doctors, surgeons, dentist, barber and beauty fraternity are at great risk in their profession. Prostitutes no source of income, beggars and poor migrant labor plight is most pathetic! Worst of all is fear of touching another human, being confined most time to home and winding down of all normal social activities.
We learned that our inactivity befitted the environment, the flora and fauna. Covid stopped all unstoppable activities, all religious functions, shut down all commercial activities with all people voluntarily imprisoned at home! This in itself forced everyone to live comparatively frugal lives, find that in fact made them healthier and reassess their priorities. We cannot fix the economic stagflation pandering to few industrialists and millionaires enabling rise of stock of few companies taking average indices to a high, printing paper money with widespread and prolonged inequity and social unrest, especially in a large and complex country like India where there are island of prosperity and literacy in a vast sea of poverty and illiteracy. Loss of livelihoods and worsening food security due government faulty policies, will lead to malnutrition with serious consequences for the nation! With Covid virus not going anywhere in a hurry, a belligerent China and Pakistan threatening our borders, there is no option but first do everything to unite our deeply polarized nation so social tensions ease and law and order with justice prevails. Instead of working towards a world of love, joy and peace there is vast disparity between the haves and have-nots, dirty and cut throat politics, suicides, rapes, horrific crimes, human trafficking, child labor, drugs, thriving vice, mafias doing illegal gambling, money laundering, prostitution, arms smuggling and “supari” or killing as a business?
Megatrends emerging in Asia are shifts from market driven to government driven, labour intensive to Hitech, export to consumer driven, rural to urban, welfare driven to self independent, women in the economic forefront and Chinese dominated to atmanirbhar. India is dominated by one of the most powerful governments we ever had. They seem to be able to do anything without transparency and accountability and topple all standing in their way. In the Bihar election the BJP is fielding 72% declared criminals with 45% hard core. In this current first phase one third are reportedly millionaires. Among the major parties nearly 80% are crorepattis! The courts and EC appear helpless. We are not going in the right direction. Our democracy is in tatters and Constitution being mangled. Drastic laws like UAPA beat the banned POTA and being misused with impunity! The adage “innocent until proven guilty” is now under this Act “Guilty unless proved innocent”. The State can incarcerate anyone without FIR or sufficient proof and violate all human rights under the guise of national security using all agencies. The mood of the nation is propagated openly “Hindutva” and a deeply polarized nation seems aiming to be ruled by majoritarian Sangh Parivar fascist political doctrine “you are either for or against us” and will be treated accordingly! Under the guise of Covid and national security, they are determined to mould India as per their ideology! The biggest lesson we don’t seem to be learning is that we must never return to the old normal which is basically dirty politics, polarization of the nation, violence, unsustainable development, pollution and corruption. Will this pandemic be enough to change our lives for the better? There are fanatics, traditions and rigid dogmas, social and political divides and current politics all trying to override rule of law. Trump declares his best scientists and health experts as idiotic and our PM can say and do whatever he wants with plenty of slogans, good event management and people generally must live in hope and swallow the consequences. I wonder what the next slogan will be and will it reflect the truthful reality.
(The author is a retired naval officer, freelance writer resident in Porvorim)
