IS THIS THE NADIR?

Is This the Nadir?

Sitting at home, one wonders if things can get worst? Even if the answer to the question may be 'Yes, people have given up. It means it doesn't matter anymore. That's the thing about pain. Once the threshold is crossed, it doesn't pain any more. What it means is additional pain doesn't cause more pain than what the body is already feeling. Collectively we seemed to have reached the pain threshold. This piece is not about criticising a set of people; It is about owning up. I firmly believe we all are responsible. It is the entire nation that is responsible. Even today, there would be individuals who could be saying Corona is a hoax, and it doesn't exist. It is a big conspiracy. Somewhere we need to question the collective character of India? Did we as a nation take the entire pandemic seriously? No, I think not.

There has been no shortage of warnings issued in public about the dangers the pandemic poses to us. We have seen it, read it, and heard about it. But only those who were personally hit or their near and dear ones, were the ones who cared. Rest all had a gung ho attitude. Mask wearers were scorned upon. Visiting the market without masks was the norm. No sooner than the restrictions were lifted, for us, life was back to as if nothing had happened. Sanitisation was only a word, not an act. We, as Indians, did unbelievable things. Somewhere there was a sense of false confidence that the virus will not affect Indians; we have strong immunities or a gung-ho attitude, most of which comes out of ignorance. When the worst was over after the first wave, most of us thought this is the end; we have conquered it. Not realising that the virus has a much longer shelf life than most products 'Made in China.

If the governments across the country failed, the people supported them. Maybe going to the Kumbh is far more essential for a few than the lives of millions who they would meet thereafter. Farmers agitation was given a covid free umbrella by an interested few. Election rallies happen because people attend them. To blame others for the deeds we did is living in a fool's paradise. And then when there are no oxygen cylinders, there is panic. It is not the intent of this piece to belittle the suffering of the hapless patients, who are lying outside without a bed or an oxygen cylinder. But for a second, ask own conscience, would not the tragedy of a lesser proportion if we had been more circumspect about the happenings. When the vaccine was rolled out, there was a vicious campaign against it. Educated and self-interest groups were at the forefront. If the casualty count is what it is because a section of those affected has been vaccinated. But for that, the count would have been much larger.

But do people even today understand the sentiment which is being expressed. I believe that in this tragedy, the people who have suffered have not been all guilty of carelessness. They have suffered on account of careless near and dear ones. Understand the fundamental nature of the pandemic. It affects the old more than the young. How many are guilty of passing it on? Introspection is necessary because there is going to be a third wave too. Would we be any better despite this experience? Only time will tell. But millions would fall because of the same follies committed today if we don't learn. Is it not time we ask ourselves and our representatives to be more accountable to the collective health of society? Ask oneself if you did anything to mitigate the crisis. If you did, you are a hero; if you didn't, there would still be opportunities in the future. Blaming others is a modern-day pastime in our country. It takes courage to become a solution and not the problem. This writing by no means exonerates our elected representatives. Their crime would be answerable to a higher force. For karma does have a nasty habit of catching up.

Wake up and make a difference. The first step in this direction would be to take an undecided person with you for a dose of vaccine. A small effort such as this can be as strong as gale force at the end.

So, have we reached the nadir? Only time will tell. If we learn from our mistakes and make a sincere effort, this would be the nadir. If not, it's a bottomless sea. Thanks for reading. Stay safe and keep others safe too.