Lockdown in India - Few Aspects Worth Appreciating - Time to Change

With COVID19 giving tangential cut to evolving societal set up of Human beings, one thing which has been exhibited across is ‘Willingness and adaptability to Change’. Change always hits hard on the iron wall of psychological inertia but this is one aspect where Humanity has really matured - to adapt change, though there can be some deviations. I am really proud of my fellow Indians who exhibited the same largely to an extent which entire Globe would have ever dreamt of !

Change was well accepted & adapted by Indians even before a complete spin of Planet Blue. Around 30 secs of the words by our Hon’ PM (A bold decision well taken) even confused the Flora & Fauna who are now likely awestruck with no carbon around, no honking sounds, reduced rubber wheels rubbing tars. Believe me, stray animals in cities will definitely improve upon their health as sweet shops, restaurants are shut and the only choice of food being grass, fruits or vegetables. Even many of those had become fast food addicts:). Birds would be confused and there might be chats amongst them as where would have those high flying fish toys gone which used to frequently climb up & down specifically in metros.

Family members are better accepting each other and to our amazement concerns of relationship issues between daughter in law & Mother in law have been taken over ones between Husband - Wife - Children who never lived so long & closely with each other. Many men are learning to cook and Chefs are being born across various homes. Many of us are having tough time and steep learning curve over how to handle children and manage cleanliness at homes.

People engaged deep in professional fences now recognize how a raw vegetable looks like & are learning name of various lentils – Funny but Truly Inspiring – Gaps of inequality being bridged! Don’t you all laugh out when you eat a new dish prepared by member who seldom goes to kitchen. Are you not having experiences in domains of house management, personal engagement and so on..

If not! You are missing this opportunity!

Few thoughts went around saying that we are stuck back in Post Medieval period in many aspects but let me correct that we are globally connected by technology, medically advanced, matured cross culturally & in acceptability of races. Confinement/ Containment is only towards human & discretionary Goods movement, public gatherings, industrial production which is largely affecting circulation/flow of money. This does not imply retrospective count on human evolution.

On the contrary, there was a heavy cost which Living beings had to pay for this development and the outcome is clearly witnessed in countries like India where population is a challenge despite diversities in culture. While India gained heavily on fronts of technology, infrastructure, Industrial production, education, employment, per capita Income, food security, medical science; aspects of Migration with lack of Infrastructure readiness in cities, sluggish rate of agri growth, sunset policies in judiciary & public dealing judicial policies, outdated solid & liquid waste management methodologies, corruption has led to situation where Delhi NCR, Mumbai are not having fresh air, clean water; Bangalore is the worst affected city by traffic congestion and so on. This does mean that we have done a good show but have badly managed aspects of natural existence so far.

COVID has given a blackout period which indeed hits the planned economic progress but also opens a window for new thought. Thankfully, Govt of India has done a fabulous job not only for containment of this pandemic but also on the aspects of Supply chain for necessities, human bonding, communication, creating social (not public) awareness and boosting morale of larger group. The way our Prime Minister is leading is exemplary and a role model for many across globe. Adoption by self and then making it public has been a vital governing strategy of this Govt which must be saluted.

While there is an economic windfall but the depleted Ozone layer over Antarctica is back again which would in turn help being survive safe & long. Key pollution hot spots of Delhi, Mumbai & Other Indian cities already in green spots as far as Air pollution is concerned, indeed a blessing where our basic right & gift of clean air is restored. But this time we all will have masks loaded not for pollution but… Through the holy water of Ganges, the bottom is visible at many places which was shadowed by immersed byproduct suspensions. The same have been the case elsewhere across Indian States. The God is indeed pouring blessings on Mother nature while Humanity is being punished for reasons all known to him. Light, Water & Air is the life principle of existence and is the core of food synthesis in Flora & Fauna. We do have advanced but there has been a very heavy cost to not only human beings but also by Birds & Animals for this human development.

One may laugh, but that awful odor of our public utilities specifically at our bus stands, Railway stations would have been gone :). You would relate to those Open Air Urinating Hubs (Largely male) in particular corners of a street, locality, Public places where majority used to blast their bladders day in & out. Most of us who has visited those sites can relate to pungent odor these places throw which is capable of burning nose hairs or making sense of smell vanish. That experience will go thus giving a relief to even air passing through those coordinates and definitely for the ones who operate and visit those vicinity often.

 You would also recall those red spit painted spots where ‘Gutkha & Supari’ have done their show. Leave apart color, the smell can block even pollens entering the nose tunnels. Let us pray those red mouths also get clean and disinfected sooner.

This is a time just not to be an Individual (By following social distancing) but explore Individuality and its subsequent extrapolation to larger world. We can start afresh post Lockdown by at least contributing to preservation of restored surroundings by all possible ways – Transport pooling, Public transport usage – Avoiding personal cars, avoiding littering waste in surroundings as well in water channels – water springs, rivers, oceans (Let us support Swachh Bharat Mission more loudly). May industrialists also think their honest thoughts through on aspects of waste recycling, adopting Green practices and exploiting limited natural resources. Let policy makers (specifically bureaucrats) also align themselves for effective Public Policy drafting & efficient implementation (Using AI, BD , connected technology) where Win - Win state is created in all areas of national development.

Be sure, Living has come to a standstill just as an iota drop in timeline of existence BUT Life will go far beyond than what one could ever comprehend.

Let us change, open up horizons of selfless thoughts and be positive always!

Krichh Ponders…