Lockdown - The First Day...

Amidst all these depressing news, hopelessness, try to find positivity and spread optimism, if you really can. No point in spreading negativity and throwing criticisms at anybody during these trying times. These are unprecedented times, something which nobody has been prepared for.
We are just past the first day of the 21 day lockdown. Inconvenience will surely be felt, but the Government and the authorities are doing their bit. That’s why you are still getting the daily essential supplies. The grocery shops, markets are open with their stocks up. The general public have also started to come to terms with the concept of social distancing, maintaining a safe distance between one another while standing in queues for doing their grocery. Thanks to the local authorities for maintaining this strictly. However, this should be continued under strict vigilance in the coming days.
Let’s remember one thing! This is the first time India is facing a thing like this. And yesterday was the first such day. Even the Government has never dealt with such a scenario, so even they don’t have any past experience. But still they are trying to do their part and I am sure that they will bridge the gaps, which are emerging, in the coming days of the lockdown. They also need the time to prepare. So, let’s back them in these difficult times.
Believe me, when we will be past all these, all the difficulties and challenges we are facing now will make for a great story, if not a case study, for us and our future generations to get inspired. Let’s all play a positive part in this! Jai Hind!

Covid-19 reminds me of Chernobyl...

With all that is going on through out the world due to the Covid-19, it somehow, somewhere reminds me of so many scenes from the miniseries - 'Chernobyl', depicting the details surrounding the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. This is true, especially for cases like what's happening in Italy now and China, just a few days back. The procession of dead bodies and the helplessness of the human beings as a species in dealing with the situation is something, I can draw a parallel between the two disasters.

In India, we are relatively safe for the time being. But we are already in Stage 2 of the Coronavirus transmission and if we are not very careful, we can slip into the Stage 3 very soon. Often, while watching the 'Chernobyl' miniseries, especially during the flashback scenes, I used to feel, "Ah, if they only knew what was coming for them... If only they could head out from the town of Pripyat and the neighbourhood of Chernobyl, they could have saved themselves... But they weren't so lucky. They didn't have a chance. It was all too sudden, without even a warning!

But here, in India, we have a chance still. And to do that, we don't even need to travel to some place safer. Our country is more safe and our homes are the safest now. So what do we need to do to make ourselves safe? Nothing! Just stay indoors to stay safe! That's it! I know, there will be people who would need to go out, but please ensure that those cases are only on emergencies. Nothing else! That shouldn't be very difficult, right? In fact, sounds really easy!

So, why are we stopping! Can we even imagine, what will happen if the transmission enters Stage 3, in a densely populated country as ours? Now we are getting shocks by a daily increase of 65 odd Coronavirus positive cases. Can we even think about the situation if that number touches a 1000 odd or even more perhaps? That's exactly what happens in the Stage 3. Frankly, I don't have the courage to think about it and I am sure, you don't too. So let's get somewhere we don't have to think about it. Let's get Home and stay there. Because, as I have been telling, the unfortunate people at Pripyat (Chernobyl), that night didn't get the chance that night. No body was there to tell them. But here, I am looking from hindsight and telling what they could have done. Let's promise ourselves we don't have to do the same for us, sometime in future from our hindsight, then. Let's be safe! Let's be at home!