Innovation , Humane And Humanity

The country to-day like all other nations is in the midst of lock down. COVID 19 cases are gradually increasing . So is the number of death of victims. But the number is no where near US , Italy, Spain, France and UK. But who knows what the number of victims and the number of deaths when lock down in the country is withdrawn.

The effect of lock down on the people of the country is that all barring a few are forced to be at home. No one can come out of his home. While some are lucky to be working from home there are many who are sitting idle. No source of earnings. Sitting at on whatever resources they are having they are looking the Television to know what is going on. There are anxious moments all round. Each day the number is increasing at a great speed.

Suddenly life has become so insecure. There are reports of death everywhere. Suddenly the world seems to have come to a stop. It is the television and the internet that are keeping the world informed of the woos. All progress seem to have come to a halt. Distinctions are suddenly falling apart. People of advanced boasted of their progress, inventions, wealth, best of comfort, leisure and all above normal things that made life full of pleasure. With COVID 19, attacks on humanity, deaths all round the pride seems to have vanished. An advanced country like US had to threaten India for the malaria medicine, hydroxchloroquine which is a few decades old. US with all its progress through innovations, patent protection cannot find a medicine that can ward of the deaded virus COVID 19. It reminds me of an incident . I was then an employee of BBVL a CPSU specialised in railway braking system. At that time the company was gradually introducing developing air brake system with several foreign collaborations . A time came when braking system for steam engines stopped being manufactured. In such a scenario an order came to BBVL to supply braking system for a country in Africa. At that point of time only BBVL was the only dependable manufacturer in the world.

The medicine hydroxchloroquine is a similar story. It was once manufactured in Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceruticals Ltd., founded by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy in 1901. It was the first chemical factory established in India. It fell into trouble financially and was nationalised to be up for sale by the Central Government. The sale has, however, been stayed by the High Court at Calcutta. BBVL, however, did on survive, It was would up.

Man made strides with the invention of computers, internet , mobile phones and a host of other modern gadgets. Society progressed. World virtually became one to be divided by political boundries. Gradually citizen of one country went for livlihood to another country. Our habits changed. People started eating out instead of home. Work from home replaced work at factories and offices. Finally one day it was realised that something went wrong. Innovation came to fail. Modern medicines failed to counter a virus called CONVID 19. There is attack by the virus on human life. The virus did not care whether a human is rich or poor. A citizen of US or China. There is no medicine to counter the dreaded virus.Innovations, patents failed. Money lost its purchasing power. It is proved once again money cannot buy life. Life is life and money is money. They run in their own way. In the current scenario money seems to have lost its monopolistic power. Human race has realised that innovation can help to tide over the situation. Human beings have been reminded about the basics of life. It is realised that life can be lead differently and not only the way we were getting used. Markets developed throught the internet called e-commerce. But presently there is devastation all round Human being is made to re-think. Lives of Sages have come to the fore TV Channels are showing the epics, Ramayan and Mahabharat instead of the current serials. Mind set has changed in the last few days.

All are puzzled. A question is arising in the minds of the people whether the present sceanrio is a punishment meted out to the people. With work having to come to a standstill each one is worried of the days ahead. Digital and print media are reporting of stories. People are shedding their differences to help each other. Religious differences are also found ironed out. A newspaper reported that food packets were being supplied from a Hindu Temple to a Masjid in Maldah. Bodies of Hindus are being taken for cremation by Muslims. There are groups coming forward to feed the unfed. Street dogs and cats are being cared. Being at home mind set of the people are undergoing change. To save lives there is a need for innovations for invention of medicines to counter the menance of COVID 19 . This will of course take some time. All countries are on the job of inventing medicines to end the effectiveness of COVID 19. But nothing is above being humane. Humanity must be humane to each other. Difference of class created by wealth should be over looked. There is to be compassion and being humane. A human being must look upon as a human being. Not as a millionaire. It is necessary that human beings recognize each other as human beings and must once again inculcate the habit of being humane.

The human race must first be humane and then be innovative. Then only one can save the other. Life is precious once lost no one knows the fate.