Covid Conversations.

Day 1.
Although the lockdown officially began all over India at 9pm on March 24th, I've been mostly indoors, only stepping out for any essentials since March 16th.

Staying indoor isn't something new to me; I spent most of last year either in an AC lecture hall or inside my room, preparing for PG. In fact, I was just beginning to go on long walks to another area, play badminton in nearby courts, attend gym amd aerobics when slowly but surely, a clamp down was enforced, across the city, state and eventually the entire country.

Covid-19 is something none of us planned for, none of us had any leeway for in our airtight plans for life, so it does come as a sudden displacement of all our carefully crafted plans. Promotions, retirements are postponed, competitive exams; the great way of determining the path to be taken by Indian students have been derailed indefinitely and so has every other plan that people have made for themselves. For once, we are at the mercy of a microscopic entity that scientists once fought over as being living or non-living; a Virus.

It makes you wonder, how fragile life really is. But it also makes you realize that life does go on, through deviations, detours and sometimes roadblocks. That's the beauty of creation.
Countries rebuild themselves, economies will slowly but surely rise and families will tide over the crisis with strength of the human spirit.

Until then, things are changing, yes, but this too shall pass. :')

Day 3.

So how are families as a unit coping with the lockdown ? While it's easy for individuals to busy themselves in social media challenges/ workout sessions and other ways of productivity, when you look at the entire family being together for extended periods of time, you'll begin to realize that it requires a team effort for smooth functioning of day to day activities. We also begin to realize how we depend on so many individuals for our day to day activities; be it the milk man, flower seller, vegetable vendor and pourakarmikas. 

Yes, there is a lot of uncertainty over when things will get back to "normal" again but it's also a time to reflect on how much "In control" we really are. Mankind has always believed in progress and we believe that as the superior species, we have tamed the forces of nature, but clearly, we were mistaken, as is evidenced by the raging spread of this nanomolecular virus.

As I walk across the now empty park to get some milk, I see the growing carpet of dry leaves on the pavement, a layer of flowers lies untended across the park while birds seem to have made a comeback with their daily chirping. While one species grapples with this virus,the rest of the planet, is strangely, re-emerging from the shadows that we've pushed them to. Perhaps, this is a wake up call to care more for the planet that has given us everything.

Another interesting thing is the amount of conspiracy theories, memes and forwards that are bombarding the internet these days. I think my dad has successfully completed a course from WhatsApp University.

And lastly, the Painting that I began almost 3 months ago is finally completed in a way (there are a few more things but that'll have to wait until the lockdown has ended...) and I'm filled with relief, more than anything else. I'd still recommend anyone interested in Tanjore Painting to learn it from a teacher, rather than on YouTube, because all said and done, there's nothing like learning the finer details from someone experienced.

Day 30.

It's been a month of lockdown and we're nowhere near the end of this. While the US and Europe have had larger numbers to grapple with, the economic price we'll have to pay for this extended quarantine isn't hard to imagine. While I sit at home and think about what activity to engage myself in, many others (including my dad), are figuring out how to keep the business running with minimal contact and travel. This hits hard especially on the industries that require human interactions, on factories that depend on manpower and any sector that involves travel and social interaction. 

Nevertheless, "learn as you go" kind of process as most countries learn by trial and error and each others' mistakes while trying to establish an evolving protocol. While the Spanish Flu of 1918 (coincidentally, I also found a reference to this in the British period drama Downton Abbey) surprisingly affected the younger population more, it was also partly overshadowed by the military activities of World War I. The name Spanish Flu does not refer to its Spanish origin but it was more prominently publicized in the Spanish media, since Spain was a neutral party in the ongoing war.

The foreseeable future will probably have us cautiously walking back towards normalcy, at every step, taking precautions that we don't create a resurgence of the untamed virus. Perhaps, this signifies that our efforts need to be better channelized; medical research over nuclear policies, vaccine development over artificial intelligence and affordable healthcare over high-end medical facilities. 

For now, we only know that the curve must be flattened in order to reach a manageable state. Surely, these times too shall pass and we shall look back and wonder how we made it. :)

Day 63

Honestly didn't expect that the lockdown would be extended as far as this but to be honest, is this really a "lockdown"? Most stores are reopening with "maximum safety measures", buses are operating on supposed limited capacity and flights have resumed amidst chaos on the ground! Not far from all this,patients are multiplying everyday while the government resources are being stretched and the private hospitals are charging exorbitant rates to provide a standard level care. Does every individual have a fair chance of surviving the pandemic? The answer is, an uncomfortable but resounding NO!

Why?

Because I've realized not everyone can afford the highest level of care provided by the best corporate hospitals. 

Which would leave a disproportionate number seeking the facilities of the government set up. 

Which obviously is not equipped with sufficient ventilators or support staff to help every sick patient. 

Which would mean they would use their limited resources only upon those that are likely to recover earlier, thanks to their younger age and absence of comorbidities. 

Which leaves an uncomfortable silence about the rest.

The way forward is uncertain but we've got to bounce back, one way or the other. We can't wish the virus away, but we can take caution in our social interactions. In a way, it puts into perspective how "cohesive" our social structure actually is. So bringing about this distancing on a longer term,is a challenge but perhaps we will find innovative solutions to connect despite the distance. :)