Bengal fights back - Cyclone Amphan amidst Covid-19

What does it mean to have your back against the wall ?

Firstly, stop pushing the wall further backwards! Time to realize it ain't gonna go back any more.

Next, pick yourself up. It's hard, but so is dying. Now, try to look straight into the eyes of your adversary, your impending doom (remember, you got nothing to lose) and start fighting back. It won't be easy, probably you got a gun pointed at your head, but still, keep moving on, or at least keep trying! With just the first baby steps you take, you'd be amazed to see the plethora of positivity coming your way. Some door, somewhere will open up, it's bound to !

Recently Bengal and Odisha were devastated by  Cyclone Amphan, and this came right in the middle of the global Covid-19 crisis. With the existing pressure on healthcare and the impending economic crisis, our health & government officials looked perplexed and were at a loss for a survival plan. With 80 dead, 14 million without a power supply, and with almost negligible attention and coverage from relevant media circles, the citizens couldn't feel more helpless and left-out.

Just when the authority was gasping for a solution, the very next day, I started seeing individuals directly providing food and lodging help to others in need, neighbors coming out of their houses and joining hands to clear the debris off the streets, housewives in remotest villages taking initiatives to rebuild their homes - everyone taking matters in their own hands, without JUST waiting for external help. The netizens did their best to blast the national and international media and power centers, successfully diverting their attention to this crisis. All these baby steps together led to a wholesome community development - of financial, physical and emotional support- very quickly. The Indian Government, and several other foreign governments have declared economic relief packages for Bengal, several NGOs have started collecting funds from national and international donors to rebuild what’s lost, and give the unfortunates their shelter back.

Lesson learnt - What do you do when you have your back against the wall? Stop pushing back, get up and start the bloody fight! Once you take the baby steps, the world will collectively help you in your cause :)

Bengal is fighting back- one household at a time, and it all starts with a single baby step!