Musings at the Beginning of a Locked Down Weekend

There is one forecast I genuinely wish that it is incorrect. It concerns life of thousands. In concerns livelihood of millions. In concerns poor being punished more. It concerns middle-class everywhere.

I write this because it also concerns the danger of a follower’s faith being lost on leader’s decisions. A doubt in the mind, that motivation behind such decisions is not the overall good of the followers, is creeping up. The forecast is that the next Covid 19 infection hotspots in India would be the five local election bound regions of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. I fear that the Covid 19 results would start coming before the ballot counting date of 2nd May. Haridwar, where Kumbh Mela is held this time, has seen about 1700 positive cases by this morning.

People have voted overwhelmingly, sometimes standing in queue for hours. Hope that the voters did not get swayed by the posturing of political leaders and do an intelligent job as usual. Hope the voters display the respect to the ‘new’ normal and the ongoing pandemic. The politicians have tried to woo them in a old style. Guess the leaders feel that masses don’t understand the ‘new’ normal ways! It is sad to know that that the leaders who particiapare in canvassing include political who’s who of India including the Prime Minister, Home Minister, leaders of opposition in Parliament, several ministers of Union Cabinet, Chief Ministers, regional chiefs of all major parties, etc.

With over 200,000 Carona positive cases for third consecutive day, the situation is grim indeed in India. Big cities like Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai are leading the way in infections. The healthcare infrastructure is stretched to the point of breakdown. No one is keen to talk about economics these days.

An average citizen is considering it as a matter of time when he/she will be Carona positive. He/she is resigned to fact that the Carona virus will catch up despite best efforts against it.

This leads to the Lockdown and Breaking The Chain efforts by the administration. While a lot of ‘politically correct’ measures are announced, the return of the daily wage worker to his/her home town has begun. Poor fellow, have a little choice during Lockdown period. If disease and hunger is a losing battle, it is better to fight it together with family.

The Wave 2 has not spared the youth and economically productive section of population also. As usual, the middle-class is ignored while planning for Lockdown and Breaking The Chain efforts. With little economic prospects in the near future, all that is left for them to do is save costs. Battling the infection involves a lot of costs. It makes a lot of economic sense for not getting infected! The elders, particularly, did not deserve this at the twilight of their lives. The middle-class in India, almost to the size of Europe, is left to fend on its own. Guess, it is natural in the poor and growing country like India.

In the meanwhile, I sit with my wife and daughter watching repeat episodes of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasma. Locked up!

Sushil Bahal is Managing Director of Raka Reputation Management Services Pvt. Ltd., a 21-year old, Mumbai based PR and Advertising company offering integrated communication solutions and maximum reach across 83 top media regions across India. Raka Reputation has experience across sectors, particularly Banking, Financial Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Education, Lifestyle, Manufacturing, Technology, etc. Raka Reputation has been associated as a communications partner to some of the most complex challenges and over 250 IPOs.

Sushil Bahal can be contacted through the email [email protected]