In the turbulent times of Covid-19, there is an acute shortage of everything. There are no beds, no oxygen, no ventilators, no medicines for treating the ever surging number of Covid-19 patients. Such a scary situation doesn’t warrant the luxury of indulging in political squabbling. There should be no blame game. The time is crucial for saving human lives. And saving lives is also in our hands to a great extent. If you are using a single mask, start using a double mask and if you have not used it, put it on immediately. Follow the guidelines. Help the government. Cooperate with the government because the government is doing what it can, but it cannot do more than this. Today every person needs to become a ‘chowkidar’.
Of course, the blame game that is going on is not in anyone’s interests. States are blaming the Centre and the Centre is blaming the states. This blame game must get over fast. We all are Indians. All of us are children of Mother India. Neither BJP nor Congress and not any other party for that matter can be greater than the nation. Everything belongs to Mother India. This is not the time to practise discrimination.
None of us had ever imagined such a difficult and sordid time in our dreams. We were told that when the epidemic like Spanish influenza and plague had spread, several villages were wiped out in many parts of the world. And today, we are seeing loved ones struggling for life. My Lokmat family is very large. Everyday news comes from my HR department that Mr so-and-so is gone or Mr XYZ is gone. This is happening every day. Similar news is coming from every part of the country. If biggies in top positions are not able to get beds, imagine the condition of the common man? The rich and powerful who have oodles of money have left the country for treatment abroad. Many have taken shelter in Maldives and Dubai. Some people have gone to the hill stations but then this kind of system is suited for a handful of super rich people. They don’t represent the bigger picture of the country. The common man who is the soul of the country is struggling with horrific tragedy.
It is good that Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the seers and finally the Kumbh Mela concluded. Actually, this mega event should not have been allowed in the first place. Better late than never! It is estimated that about 49 lakh devotees have taken a dip in Kumbh. Thousands of devotees along with hundreds of sadhus also got infected with coronavirus. Two prominent saints lost their lives too. Now imagine if thousands of people reach different parts of the country by becoming carriers, how many will be infected? After all, it affects the administration. People who work in administration are also human beings. That is why I am saying that we should cooperate with the government. It is necessary to follow all the protocols of Covid with complete restraint and discipline, otherwise the situation will get worse. Just remember how a hue and cry was raised about the Tablighi Jamaat in the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic! Remember that small sparks cause deep wounds. It is our responsibility to keep this country intact. Massive political rallies are being organised in many states where elections are going on and the Election Commission should ban them immediately. If the Election Commission is not able to prevent these rallies, the Supreme Court should take cognisance and stop them. These rallies and gatherings are just corona bombs!
As of now, the government is leaving no stone unturned to stop the spread of corona infection. There is a steady increase in the number of beds for corona patients in the country, but the question is, from where to bring doctors, nurses and paramedical staff? Certainly, lakhs of families have lost someone or the other. Hence it is but natural that people should get annoyed with the system, but we have to understand that this is not the time to fight with the doctors. It is time to boost their morale. The kind of spirit that doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have shown in the turbulent and uncertain times is commendable indeed. Doctors cannot be held responsible if there is a shortage of beds or lack of oxygen. What is the fault of the doctors? Do not forget that they are humans too.
Let me remind you that the first wave of coronavirus was fiercely confronted by India through lockdown and earlier in the year it seemed that we were winning. This bred complacency and subsequent negligence made the people to start organising weddings and celebrations which provided a fertile ground for coronavirus to flourish. It turned the tables! Taking a lesson from the first wave, the government also had to make arrangements like the US or Europe did, but we displayed utmost negligence. Today we are suffering its adverse effects. Even now, if possible, we can prevent future losses. Our ancestors had seen a worse time but they managed to get out of it. The cholera epidemic that began in Bengal in 1816, along with lakhs of Indians, also swallowed 10,000 British soldiers. Nearly 1.70 crore Indians were killed in the Spanish flu that spread in 1918.
At that time, the population of India was less than 32 crore. Science was not so advanced at that time, so deaths occurred more and it took a long time to get a vaccine. This time, many vaccines have become available in less than a year to fight the coronavirus. But don’t expect the coronavirus to end with just the vaccine! It will still take a long time for everyone in the country to get the vaccine. Even after taking both doses of the vaccine, it is not clear whether the vaccine will have to be taken every year or every six month. Therefore, avoiding corona is the best option.
We are witnessing how people are stressed, fearful and worried. Covid-19 scare is taking an emotional toll too. The resurgence of the virus has caused public anxiety. But this does not mean that we lose courage. Bear in mind that we can defeat this deadly virus only with the weapons of restraint, discipline, courage and alertness!
The author is the chairman, Editorial Board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha.
On one hand, the patients are running from pillar to post in search of medicines and hospitals with beds, oxygen and ventilators, and on the other, a disgusting round of accusations and counter accusations continues. The squabbling and blame game should end now! And yes, you too should follow the Covid-appropriate guidelines and support the government efforts. For, the government is doing everything it can, but don’t expect it to give you more than what it is dispensing now.