An unanticipated virus has held and halted the entire globe in a split second. This tiny organism that has the entire human race under its scary clutches, has left Nature free. Today, Nature seems to tell us, "Oh, boastful humans! You have a limit; don't cross your limit. Oh, arrogant humans! You are too haughty; bend your knees and bow your heads", and we are bound to obey Nature. There's no other way. There are visible signs and ample indications already, to show that humans have learnt their lesson. .
Now, the slogan is not merely "swachh Bharat" but "swachh Earth" with more effort towards cleanliness and hygiene. No more spitting and peeing on the road; no more coughing and sneezing in public; and, better civic responsibility. Lesser vehicles, lesser industrial effluence and lesser smoke. The visible impact is pure air and ultimately the ozone layer getting repaired. The Himalayas, after several decades, has thrown off the cover and lifted his head, to look around. To use Kavignar Vairamuthu's imagery, Damsel Ganges who used to have her periods throughout the month, is pristine now. After a perfect bath, Lady Ganges dries her wavy tresses, wears the foamy blossoms, drapes a glassy costume and winks her eyes.
During this period of purification, in politics and in religion, the fakes and the cheats have been exposed; the corrupt and the hypocrites have been identified; and, the exploiters and the manipulators have been recognised. In day to day life, people seem to have understood the deception, futility and meaninglessness of extravagance. Simple weddings and living happily ever after is now preferred to elaborate marriage ceremonies that often satiate and at times nauseate. In all fields, there is a pull - pull from modernity to traditional ideologies; pull from virtuality to reality; and pull from extravagance to simplicity.
In food habits shift is from junk and hotel food to home made, healthy food, consuming the available local produce.
For immunity building, we seek the right food with deliberate physical activities, in the absence of preventive vaccines and the presence of elusive medicines. For curing diseases, people's trust gradually inclines towards native concoctions.
In education, there's a paradigm shift, and the concept of teachers as facilitators and students as self-learners has come into effect. The old and the young have discovered new talents and come forward to share them in social platforms. Besides all these, there are umpteen incidents to show that there are still Good Samaritans on our planet and humanity does exist.
Above all these, this pandemic situation has served as a binding factor. Families that were too busy chasing the wind all these years, have been brought together, cabined and confined ... to realise the value of relationship. Even those who could never work together, when brought together in an inevitable situation, are finding and enjoying common grounds. All relationships so far taken for granted have gained new significance.
Not only the migrant workers but also the bonded labourers seized the opportunity to return home. Broken families have come together and enduring a common ordeal together has served as a gel to bind them. Couples who had decided to part their ways have got their chance to rethink or affirm their decision with conviction. Those still apart do ponder over the value of relationship. No matter how far apart people are, love and concern have only grown stronger than before.
At a time when corporates are shattering, political leaders are shaking, and economy is collapsing, corona takes the blame. Meanwhile, it poses a huge challenge to modern medical Science. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Humans who cannot be easily defeated are soon going to find an elixir to squash the virus. The lethal being will vanish, but the slap it has given human beings and its lessons will remain forever. Hereafter, we will adopt strategies to keep the sky, the earth and the air clean and unpolluted. Soon humanity will rise up, washed thoroughly and cleansed in the body, the mind and the soul. Humans will start living life with humanity. It is amazing that this spikey, spooky virus has indeed taught us more (in the words of William Wordsworth) "... Of moral evil and of good, Than all the sages can".
[Motivated by Sr, Mesmine. Written in the middle of July 2020]
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