2020: Nature strikes back

When the lockdown had begun in March, one of the most important things that Governments around the world had taken special emphasis on was to maintain social distance among the public. Of course, with no vaccines or proven drugs to combat the ailment  in sight, ‘social distancing’ was and even continues to be our best bet to fight this pandemic.

At that moment of crisis, when various thoughts were crossing my mind, as I am sure had been the case with a lot of you, one thought  in particular was what if we face a severe calamity, like an earthquake or a storm, may be. What will the already hapless people do? Already they have been subjected to so much of confusion and chaos. I was counting the days and thanking the God in my silent prayers that indeed He had at least saved us from that kind of a torrid situation. Yes, the migrant labourers’ crisis had still not occurred then.

Little did I know that on May 20th, I would be typing this down at around 10 in the night, trying to come to terms with the reality of the situation at this moment. We are already through with three sets of lockdowns, but still we are encountering with record number of COVID-19 infected patients every other day. Now under the Lockdown 4.0, with plenty of relaxations already in place, people have begun to step out of their homes. Thus, there are visibly more people on the roads, which consequently means there are more chances of the infection spreading further. So we were in a bit of doldrums already.

May 20th, 2020: Add to that the mayhem called Amphan. The thought that I had had in the beginning of this lockdown, about which I had written earlier in my post was just materialised and made alive by this monster from the Bay of Bengal.

Flashback to last weekend: I was just going through the headlines from the online version of a local Bengali daily when I had come to know of this thing called Amphan, which was said to be heading towards the Bengal-Odisha coast. The sheer strength of the cyclone was highlighted and that surely had made it into a cause of concern for the entire nation. Amidst the entire fiasco of maintaining social distancing while the lockdown is still on, the Government had to undertake an evacuation program to vacate all the districts which were in line for the hit by the storm. During this past couple of days, newspaper reports have been very active telling about such evacuation activities being undertaken in Bengal and Odisha. People have been relocated, keeping in mind all the social distancing norms. This is a great challenge, in front of the Government, one in which it cannot put its guard down, even for a minute.

Jump back to today, Wednesday. The sky was grumpy from the morning. As the day progressed, things worsened quite fast and by afternoon, the winds had started to gather steam. With it began incessant rain, which also picked up real vigour. Landfall happened at almost the exact time and place, as had been earlier predicted. Though I could manage to continue working for the better part of the day, thanks to my internet and power holding their way, but after evening, both of those suddenly gave way and we were engulfed in darkness, making my work short for the day (not complaining though).

It is then when I started to frame this post. And suddenly, this made me feel how merciless has Mother Nature been this year. Well, though the origin of the coronavirus is highly debated, the official verdict still stands out to claim that it is a natural virus. Even the staunchest of the anti-Chinese claims make the virus to be a naturally occurring virus, cultured in a lab in Wuhan. I won’t go into much details, without further proof. But as it still stands, the virus is naturally occurring. The way it has spread between the human beings is natural (though its alleged leak from the lab might not have been). It has already made itself a game changer in the entire path of the human race. The impact of the virus is in front of everybody to see. So won’t really delve into it much deeper.

When my nation was already under immense pressure in its fight against this virus, suddenly comes in Amphan. With this enormous evacuation process that has been undertaken, I just feel for the people who have been relocated. Just hope that all the social distancing norms and the necessary hygiene would be followed at their relocated places, to ensure that during this evacuation, they don’t start facing the menace of the Coronavirus. A humble request to the Central and State Governments to ensure that this be looked upon. Otherwise this might really lead into another big tragedy, something for which we are really not prepared for.

I would conclude by picking something I had written earlier in my post about the silent token of thanks which I had sent for the Almighty, earlier when the lockdown had been in place, as there were apparently no cases of natural calamities. But tonight, with Amphan raging in my state and throwing my country off balance from her fight against COVID-19, I’m sorry I can’t say the same for the Almighty. You have let us down, you really have! I am sorry, but that’s the truth! Hope we can tackle this and come out of this as well. But we are on our own. The help for which people pray sadly hasn’t arrived and by the look of things, won’t arrive, unfortunately.

War, a very long war...

It was an evening like this, I remember, three weeks back, when I had drafted a post where I said that the current (then) situation related to the COVID-19 crisis reminded me of the Chernobyl disaster. Little did I know that this was perhaps going to be worse, much worse than what Chernobyl was. This is the worst global disaster of the last decade is an understatement, to put it straight! In fact, this is the worst crisis, our developed society has ever faced!

With the lockdown in India extended for 15 more days, we can really understand that is going to be a long war, a war with no immediate victory. With the doctors, health workers, police and the entire administration doing all that they can, the situation is undoubtedly gloomy now.

But again, we should take note that these are are real trying times with unprecedented measures being taken. Never ever has the Indian economy come to such a grinding halt. Even during the four wars (three against Pakistan and one against China), the Indian industries and the normal life was normal in the country. Even during the 1975 Emergency, the Indians continued to do their day to day activities and the economy was rolling. But this time, it’s really different. It’s a full lockdown, with no exemption whatsoever.

For now, I can see hope in a number of things though. The testings have been ramped up, with rapid testings being carried out in the hotspots. This can only help us in identifying and quarantining the infected, keeping in mind the health of the entire neighbourhood and the immediate surrounding areas. Also, with this, the authorities have fixed hotspots across the country to ensure that people don’t come out or go into them. These will surely help in containing the infection to the zones which have already got affected.

But however, the most important and positive thing that has drawn our attention in the last couple of days is the Investigational COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Treatment. Without a viable vaccine in sight for at least the next six months, this is perhaps going to be the most potent weapon in our fight against the Coronavirus. The fraternity of all the researchers and the doctors are working on applying this technique to the COVID-19 patients and making them recover, like they have done in China and US. This gives me hope, speaking from the positive response that this treatment has seen.

But yeah, as I have mentioned earlier, the fight is a long one... A really long one indeed! Let’s look into this extension of lockdown as the time we need to fully recover. The time we need to flatten the curve. It will be hard, I know. There will be inconveniences, I know. But it is a war, we are fighting, right? Perhaps even something worse than a war... Hardships are bound to be there, isn’t it? So the important thing is - Do we have a choice? Lockdown was the only choice. Still, India is in a better shape, compared to many other nations, now with more tests being carried out. The numbers have risen surely, but still it’s within our reach. It’s high time we resolve ourselves to fight this unitedly, because it’s Make or Break Time, guys! And can we afford to break it? Think for yourself, guys...

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!

Make the most of it...

It's quite late now and after what the week has transpired I am not getting much of a sleep tonight. A bit of movie watching with my wifey didn't really help matters. Well matters? Nothing serious! Just my and my wife's humble attempt at unwinding ourselves. After a long time, went out with her tonight to watch the movie 'Badhaai Ho', but was unexpectedly disappointed. I really don't know where is Indian cinema heading these days. It seems people just love this thing called 'cliché' and are ready to shell out their hard-earned money just to watch some predictable boring pathetic family drama. Enough said about the movie, will perhaps catch with it some other time on some other post.

Coming to this particular post, the time of composing it rings a bell and also the mode of composing it, definitely. Yeah, on my mobile, that is. So as I was starting to say. Why the sudden urge? Why again this desire to bring something up by my words? May be, because of the recent events what has occurred... Or may be, because I am getting old and with that may be, I am getting more matured? May be, just may be. But not sure myself. Well, 29 is not a small number and I am definitely not getting younger.

You see, I have cherished this habit of mine from childhood. Trying to bring everything down which I really want in words. I have been a regular once, but professional commitments have kept me at bay of late for the major part. And believe me, by doing that, I have let myself down. I have upped my writing on Quora of late and that has helped me, but have never really got the opportunity to express myself by blogging, like you used to do. Just by thinking what I could have penned down and seeing what I have done in reality, have made me feel ashamed. I know fan following is not something that I deserve or that I really have. But believe me, this writing thing is my passion and in doing that I am pleasing no one but myself. It may sound selfish, but that's how I look at it. Those who have happened to read my posts and gave me your feedback are the ones who make me really feel that I should be writing more and to them I owe a million thanks. It's for you guys that this post will see the day of life, rather than being stored as a draft on my phone.

Now about what brought me back at such wee hours. Of late, I have been thinking that when you really enjoy something, why you shouldn't indulge in it. Lack of time can't really be an excuse. God has bestowed you with something which has made you like that particular thing, have a flair for it and given you a headsup to may be excel in it. In my case, leaving the last bit, i.e. excelling in it, I can relate to writing as that thing which God has helped me get a liking for. But I have realized I have wasted way too many days in the middle. I was way too regular in my college days, something which I so miss, as I have told you already. And sadly those years that I have missed happened to be the most colourful days of my life yet. Alas! Stupid me! But hey, why not give it another chance? I might be 29, but I am not 'old' yet... Hahaha... I know this adventure called 'Life' has many more surprises up its sleeves, which will be worth sharing with you guys through this medium of mine. You know as they say, it's never too late to start. So, I can definitely, file my case in that and start it right here again. What's gone is gone. But what's left is what matters. And hopefully, with everything falling in its place, I can really make up for the lost time. Let's make most of the time we have got left. Because a day missed in doing what you love, is really a day lost! With that note, let's conclude this 'Welcome back' post of mine. Expect to hear back from me soon. 

Hit and Stay...

If you are in India, though you might not be getting an idea about the title of this post, you definitely have got a hint about its meaning… ‘Hit and Stay’, well what can you make out? Very little, right? So let me be a bit more precise. Actually the term that is prevalent is ‘Hit and Run’, but in India is it really the case? I mean the last part. Do you really need to make the effort of running after you have ‘hit’ somebody by ramming your posh SUV into someone killing them in the process? Well, if you happen to be somebody as general as me, you have got to run (only if you do happen to go drunk and drive and then hit, of course, by mistake) because the police will be after you, like they should be because of the crime that you have committed. But if you do happen to be somebody from the so-called ‘elite’ class, you just don’t have to run. Why will you, when you don’t need to?

Well, you drive and mistakes do happen. But punishment? Oh no! You don’t deserve any. Why? Because you have a high profile; you are from the upper strata of the society; you are a VVIP! Hahaha! That is the exact situation of the nation, I am afraid! Since our childhood, such cases are really not uncommon, in fact quite regular. Many a time, such cases of a millionaire ramming his BMW into people on the roads of Delhi or a drunk actor doing the same to innocent street-dwellers on the pavements of Mumbai or a spoilt son of a wealthy industrialist killing innocent people, travelling on a motorcycle, by smashing them with his luxury car have been heard. Things happen, we accept. But so should the punishment that must always follow. But does it really? Statistics will go so against it. In those cases, I mentioned above, which I know you can relate to so well, can you recount what was the fate of the accused? Yes, please, anybody? All of them were made free to roam about and drive again, taking the steering on their dreaded hands. Well, these were just three incidents. We have countless more to recall and feel bad about. These people do just kill and by the might of their power and the muscle of their position they can just evade everything.

You might be from the Film industry. Whoa! You can run free. You might, at the most face charges. But that’s it. In no time you will be out with your fans cheering up for you and even shedding a tear or two for that emotional speech you just gave out after leaving the court-room.

You might be from the ruling political party and you happen to commit the same ‘mistake’. Oh, the entire ministry will start batting for you and at the end of it, you will start calling the victim responsible for getting killed in that ‘accident’, you had committed. You will run free, of course with the aid of your government and the funniest part is that you will again win in the next election. Huh!

You might be one spoilt brat of a rich dad. You have just got the license to do anything, including killing innocents on the road. After that ‘mishap’, your dad will use all his wealth muscle to save you and you will run free, rearing up to take the next drive and telling that those unfortunate victims of yours deserved to die, just because they were sleeping on the road, as they don’t have a shelter. Poor soul, what pain do you understand of crisis. Come out of that posh villa of your daddy and you will feel it.

So basically this is the situation of the present society. It reminds me of those days of the Vedic Age cast system, where those Brahmans had got the power to do anything. These ‘Brahmans’ of today’s world are just thinking in the same way, I guess. Human life is just at their mercy. They can take the wrong lane, they can get on the pavement and drive, but you, the real ‘aam-admi’ have to be careful. They ram the car into you; it’s your fault, because ultimately you are paying for it by giving your life and they? They are out, driving again in search of their next victim.

Does anybody even remember what had happened, roughly a month ago, on Red Road, Kolkata? Same case! Another spoilt brat of some ‘super-dad’ had just knocked down a young IAF personnel, killing him on the spot. My heart, really goes out to him and his family in Surat. Those tears, his mother was shedding that day, after the tragic incident, who is going to answer for that? I still can't forget that scene. And mind you, he wasn’t an ‘aam-admi’. He was in the Air Force, getting prepared for the 26^th January Parade. If he could have met such fate, can you really think of what is waiting for us? The next time, you go out of your house, are you sure that you are going to come back, with these ‘criminals on the loose’ around? A big interrogative that one should be!

Indian Politics – justified with its negative image? Sadly, I have to go with the affirmative…

Indian Politics, I presume, has perhaps reached its lowest level in history. Well with time, the downward slope has only got itself steeper and with the current trend, I can only see it going steeper and steeper. This is a gloomy phase. Oh, why am I am calling it a phase? This is nothing temporary. A sense of permanency has long set in and its sharp teeth are piercing more tightly with the passage of time. Surely, you can’t deny the youth from the lack of interest they have in the current scenario, as far as politics is concerned and this perhaps is significantly the most important cause behind the lack of good able leaders from the youth in the entire ecosystem of Indian politics.

All the great leaders of this nation who had won us freedom will be definitely disappointed by the current scenario that we are in. Well, disappointed seems a bit soft on them. They should be petrified. I mean really, where are we living! These people, whom we bring to the helm of things, do they really deserve to be there. Just consider this! They say they are in Politics, or in other words, they do ‘Rajneeti’ (Hindi for the word ‘Politics’), which literally means ‘King’s Principles’. But are they even close to it? Forget Kings, do they even follow any kind of principle? I fail to observe. For me, things are straight! See, if you are from a particular party, you must be adhering to a particular set of principles, morality, rules or whatever you call it. So these particular set of principles will definitely vary from party to party. So, just think once, every five years how do these basic sets of differences bridge themselves bringing two parties together? I mean they are not some kind of magic, for sure. People, who are members of two parties, with opposite notions, bring themselves together. That’s the fact. This is how Grand Alliances have formed and will always be formed. Don’t you think, it is a bit too much to ask for too parties to do so. At least, not with the elections around, it surely seems so. But when the bells of elections ring, they just forget their differences and jump on with each other, like nuclear fusion (only thing it radiates negative energy) to become the best of buddies! Two parties, again I repeat, who have opposed each other through out, do this, just looking at the mathematics of the vote-bank. If I don’t call this hypocrisy, then the definition of the word will have to be changed, I’m afraid!

In the past, India has had its fair share of good and noble politicians. Great strategists, who had formulated such grand plans enabling us to snatch independence and also post-independence, such figures who had united us into a single entity, amongst all the diversities. ‘Unity in Diversity’, as it is so fondly called today, was possible only because of them. But the sad part nowadays is, having such a glorious past, makes this current generation of politicians so very unbearable. They promise and speak so very much and in return what do we get? Five years of falsehood, five of getting misled, five years of walking back, five years of total corruption. It is my belief, those greats who had crafted India as a nation would be tremendously sad looking at their successors.

But people have belief, common mass have trust. That’s why the largest Democracy still exists. It is only that hope that yes, good days or in other words, ‘Achchhe Din…’ will surely come one day. That is why we still stand in queues and cast our vote. Only thing we don’t want is this hope to die down. Let them, in their AC chambers, at least have a look at this common lot, the real Indians, what we together can promise to do. Let them just feel it. Only then can they think one more time before taking that cheque, under the desk, or for that matter, shake hands with their opposites to just win votes. They should understand, they are only winning votes, they are not winning our hearts…

 P.S. – In the beginning of this post, I wanted to write only about the negativity of the politics, but you see, you can’t live in negativity. Thus, had to end it on a positive note. As I totally feel and will always continue to feel that the true power lies with us. Just imagine the total number of politicians, compared to the total number of common people. The ratio will indeed be so minute. So the power rests on us. We are the true Kingmakers. It is we who decide, who will rule us. If we change, the system will change. Though this seems pure daydreaming at present, I am sure we will do this and Indian Politics will again be heightened to all its glory and our Democracy will not only be the largest but the proudest one also. Jai Hind!