(Re)Building Trust-The Batman Way (Part-2 of The Trilogy)

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself becoming a villain.” – Harvey Dent

Pause and behold the profoundness of the statement above. There couldn’t have been a better time to pen down part-2 of my trilogy (link to part-1 https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/embracing-fears-batman-way-part-1-trilogy-manish-sharma/) as the entire world is fighting with an unprecedented, common yet invisible enemy, in destructive metaphorical sense, a lot similar to the mythical creature Kraken from Norse mythology. The time has come to unleash the prince of Gotham in all of us.

The Dark Knight commences with the super heroic journey of young Bruce Wayne aka Batman as he encounters an unprecedented enemy of mankind – Mr. Joker. The Joker can be characterized as a lunatic man who firmly believes that the entire society is either already completely corrupt or can be easily corrupted for materialistic gains, devoid of any moral values and hence doesn’t deserve to survive in its current shape or form. This thought manifests so deep in Joker’s mind that he makes his mission in life to turn humanity against each other. In the words of Batman’s trusted confidante Alfred: “Some men just want to watch the world burn”. Lets replace "men" with "virus" for all practical purposes. 

 It doesn’t take two to tango here to decipher that the COVID19 Corona Virus pandemic has an uncanny resemblance to Joker’s mission. The virus has also manifested in our world with an intent to cause an irretrievable damage to the consciousness of the society by turning mankind against each other thereby causing hunger, misery, depleting resources and anger to name a few.

The virus doesn’t differentiate but just attacks. In many ways, lot of Pundits have already started calling this as a World War 3 albeit with a discernible difference that the arch-rivals here are not countries, regions or society factions but something which by definition is neither living nor dead.

Returning to the Dark Knight Saga, this time Batman finds a support from an unexpected quarter by a person named Harvey Dent, who happens to be a young and successful District Attorney in the city of Gotham. In a short time span, Dent establishes his image as a no-nonsense kick ass lawyer on a mission to wipe out the mafia criminal brethren from the map of Gotham. In his first meeting, Harvey tells Bruce that whosoever Batman is, he would not like to continue doing this for the rest of his life and will eventually look for someone to take on his baton. This idea tremendously intrigues Bruce and he starts seeing Dent as someone who can become epitome of goodness and role model for Gotham.

In the meanwhile, Joker ups the ante and declares full-fledged war against Gotham and starts targeting Dent who he sees as a harbinger of change inspired by Batman. His imminent aim becomes “to corrupt the incorruptible, ipso facto, breaking the psychological backbone of Gotham”. His only clear grave threat – The Batman.

In many ways, our front-line workforce – Healthcare professionals, law enforcement agents, sanitation workers represent Batman of contemporary times and standing between “us” and vir”us”. Their relentless sacrifices and indomitable courage at the time of adversity has been deeply respected in the entire world.

The climax of “The Dark Knight” has an uncanny resemblance to the scenario that we are grappled with today. In this quest to inflict a collateral damage to the city of Gotham, the Joker creates a pandemonium by creating a unique existential crisis like situation turning the affluent class of Gotham and incarcerated criminals against each other. However, Joker’s real modus operandi hinges upon brainwashing Harvey Dent by somehow convincing him that the society has been unfair to him. As diabolical and conjured up as it may sound, Joker becomes successful in his devilish endeavor. This creates a double whammy situation for the Batman as Joker’s impeccable insinuating plan could jeopardize and sabotage the generations of Gotham. The Batman with his sheer grit, perseverance and skills parries off this dual blow and yet again saves the city of Gotham.

Similarly, and unapologetically, the Corona Virus has tried to create a mistrust between nations by creating a chaotic environment. The asymptomatic nature of the disease along with the mystery of super spreaders is also a double whammy situation for the entire world. The situation has the potential to disrupt the current social and behavioral fabric of our society in the times to come.

Apropos, the time is ripe to unleash the Batman in each of us by thinking about society before ourselves. This new avatar of Batman would believe in rigorously following the social distancing norms and believing in helping others in the society by helping them embrace the new normal. Like the original Batman, this superhero would also demonstrate enormous compassion towards others in the society especially for our front-line workforce. Imagine the plight of the Corona Virus if all the three segments – front-line workforce, global leaders and all of us transform ourselves into Batmen / Batwomen. I have got only one-line answer for that: “its days will be numbered”

Finally, will conclude with what Batman said to Joker “This city just showed you that its full of people ready to believe in good”

Do share your thoughts and I will see you soon with the Part-3 of the Trilogy.

Best,

ms