Pandemic Positives. Paradigm Shifts.

Its clichetic to say, that every coin has two sides; that every dark cloud has a silver lining; that there is some good in every bad. But, its true. Isn't it? In fact, the bigger emergency, the bigger & more positives emerge, as well. For instance, World War gave birth to an institution like United Nations (UN). Its another matter, that UN and its affiliate bodies have gone through the natural decay process and its just a name, now. The Covid-19 Pandemic is perhaps a bigger emergency than World Wars, in many ways. Its not just about number of deaths. In fact, when its about death, each one is critical. For a family, it could be a father or a mother or a son or a daughter. That just one death is a life-changing tragedy. This Pandemic seems to be reaching into each & every country and to each & every nook & corner in each of these countries. Also, it seems that its going to last longer. From early December'19, its already four months and it won't be a wrong to estimate that it may take another three to four months for it to be relatively - maybe never completely - alright.

The duration is important. For as they say, something practiced over a period of time, becomes a habit. So yes, this Pandemic is likely to leave behind a lot of positives and perhaps, permanent-changes and new-paradigms.

From an India perspective, which is a developing and an evolving world and not only from economic perspective, these changes and paradigm shifts could be rather profound. Apart from many day-to-day positives, which we have already started feeling, there could be many, bigger quantitatively & qualitatively. Am sharing the usual / day to day ones, though already known, as refresh and also as contrast to what I call as, paradigm shifts.

Some of the day to day ones:

• Adoption of Digital / Tech amongst everyone and not just professional types. For instance, Video calling with older parents.
• Desi Indian businesses too, getting to learn about WFH, Virtual Meetings and so on.
• Learning to plan & conserve essential items. Or, lets says, imbibing Frugality.
• For those who are holed up in solitude or without a member who can venture out, the value of being with family, the value of dependency and so on.
• Value of humanity, beyond pelf or power. The wealthiest are shit-scared. In fact, the poor delivery boys are still at it. Its the high flyers, which are at the centre of it all.
• Over a period of time, given such frequent interactions to inquire about each other, people getting closer, without physical proximity.
• The habit/etiquette/gesture of keeping in touch; asking about well-being.
• Habit of Hygiene.
• Knowledge & habit of recognizing the right kind of food for right kind of health-aspect. Like, what's good for Immunity!
• Value of Nature. Giving due space to animals. In fact, pollution levels have come down drastically. Maybe if it becomes a habit, like I said....

The everyday list itself could be unending. But I guess, we know. as to what are we talking about. I think from India perspective, there are some - which I call as - paradigm shifts, as well.

• Building up of perception/feeling that our country is perhaps safer & better and maybe good to travel around, than many so-called advanced nations around the world.
• As the western world, which relies on China for manufacturing, having to re-think, India could move in. We can't replace the prowess of China, but the quantum in question is so massive, that if we can get even a fraction, it will transform our manufacturing sector currently in slumber and change the economy. Come to think of it, companies are designing & manufacturing - even in the times of lockdown - things they have never ever manufactured or considered for future business expansion...masks, sanitizers, ventilators. Its not about whether these items will have demand in the future or not. Its about organisations acquiring the competencies of thinking out of box, of agility, of adaptability, of resourcefulness....We are certainly capable, just have to get into the habit.
• Politicians & Bureaucrats as professionals. Let alone intent, in terms of sheer skill-sets, the political class and the babu-class hop on to the high-chairs for various factors, but skill-sets. Am not trying to be vicious, but there's no education or managerial criteria for ministers; and, one can become an IAS by being a great scholar in - lets say - Sanskrit language or Ancient History or whatever. But he or she could still be a senior official in Ministry of Defence or Science & Technology or Health or whatever! The point is not about generalist versus specialist. Even Leadership & Strategic - should be the two critical/must-haves - virtues/competencies are neither assessed nor imparted!
• Respect, recognition and - hopefully - Monies, for the specialists. Of course, the professionals & workers in the Health sector. But also in Logistics, Construction, Industrial Production, Sciences including Data Sciences and so on. We already have many Indians at the frontiers of researching on vaccines/medicines for the virus, in apex labs & institutions across the world. We have a lady, who developed India's first testing kit. That too, hours before she delivered a baby. Truly a 'jagat janani'. It would indeed be a paradigm shift, if not who you all know, but divine humans like her, get the respect of being addressed as, Honourable Ms. Bhosale. There are several such great individual. Why should politicians, babus and those selling soap & toothpaste, like us, get a lot more than these professionals.
• Not just Law & Order, but poor ill-equipped, ill-trained, highly politicised and hardly educated police personnel have been braving the infections and managing logistics, retail management and so on. There could be a paradigm shift in our leadership recognizing the dire need for a real police force.
• Health Infra, Services, Practices, Manufacturing, Experience & Knowledge is set for a paradigm shift. And if not with this Pandemic, then....
• Valueless-ness of Religion.Value of knowledge, of science, of rationality. The Gold our Temples hold is a whopping 30%+ of our country's GDP. Churches & Mosques are perhaps the biggest land-owners in India, Religion is polarizing people. People turn fanatics in the name of religion. But, with all that divine power, has any priest/guru or religious leader of any religion/faith helped cure/save even a single person?! Barring the Sikh community and heartfekt salutations to them, Religious 'leaders' and/or institution have made no contribution to & in anything related to teh Pandemic. Sorry! They have. Religious practices have in fact, have been the biggest causes of the virus becoming the Pandemic, it is now. Infected people attended Puja, Namaz & Masses and infected thousands! In fact, even in the middle of complete lockdown, religious gatherings have continued and have continued to be the key virus-spreading-mafia. It would be perhaps the most significant paradigm shift, with Indians realizing not just the valueless-ness, but as to how ridiculous all this sham is and the country shifts to be a little saner, a little human!