How COVID-19 has impacted lives: A journey

May 26, 2020 | New Delhi.

Humanity has been slapped with a pandemic of extreme severity and magnitude in terms of incidence, penetrance, and mortality in such a short span of time. Global standstill, thy name is COVID-19. Having claimed more than 346,000 lives (Johns Hopkins University, CSSE data, 26/5/2020, 18:12:25, IST) [1], this pandemic has affected the lives and times of nearly every human being. Blessed are those who have shelter over their heads, food to feed on, family to go to, and money to, well, it can move mountains. Essentiality is a subjective conjecture. It varies from person to person. However, I would like to narrate the changes this pandemic has brought on a personal level. For a Ph.D. candidate, going to the lab on a daily basis is a routine. Once life comes to a standstill, suddenly you realize how this otherwise monotonous routine has halted your hopes. You miss the corridors of the department, greeting people in the morning, casual conversations with the lab-mates, mentored by the supervisor. You don’t plan for such a hold. It comes to you, totally uncalled for. You feel good for a couple of days, but then it starts growing on you. With time, I have been more reserved with a limited circle of friends and well-wishers at the workplace. The dearth of already inadequate people in professional life challenges emotionally. Food has been an issue. Under these difficult times, the chef in me finds utterance with regular assistance from mom/dadi. Being away from home bugs. Especially parents who are constantly keeping a check on their son, whether he is doing okay? One interesting pattern being witnessed during the lockdown is a great surge in over-the-top media services, social media, binge-watching, etc.[2] In the solace, I have found it difficult to assimilate with the new lockdown trend. This sort of vacation is not worth cherishing, though. Wreaking havoc on the biological clock, this pandemic-induced lockdown has been challenging so far, physically, mentally, and emotionally. People are losing precious time being locked down. Academic courses are being delayed [3], jobs are on hold [4], medical services are being sidelined [5], and the economy is under turbulence [6] [7]. My heart goes out to the people who, in the summer of April-May, are migrating homes, walking hundreds of kilometres, starving, losing near and dear ones, and struggling to make a living.

*Migrant worker carrying his 5 yo son in the nationwide lockdown/ Photo: Danish Siddiqui/REUTERS*

Migrant workers are the nation builders, a sidekick in the developmental progress of the country are at the suffering end the most. Their inexpressible grief and misery will haunt the generations to come.

Hum dekhenge!

*The image that shook the nation/ Photo: Atul Yadav/PTI*

There are always bright sides to a story. This pandemic has catered to the needs of children working or studying away, spending plenty of time with family, bonding with siblings, and honing culinary skills, to name a few. On a personal note, I advanced my cooking skills. Taking a few courses online from Coursera/edX and other platforms. Continuing my studies in other courses as well. I utilized this opportunity to learn some artistry in Adobe Illustrator, clinical statistics, and reviewing scientific articles. The human-made disasters in terms of pollution, global warming, and aggressively competing with the interests of the wild are in check. Suffice it to say, Mother Nature is healing [8]. Adversaries teach us unity. We will stand together in the fight against the coronavirus and defeat it. Once again, the people will hang out with family and friends, shop, watch a movie in the theatre, dine in a restaurant, and do whatever they wish to. Is that too much to ask for? The pandemic has shown us our true selves. It has dragged the developed world to its knees. Perhaps this is the time to look beyond the narrow surmises of borders across the countries. Nuclear warfare may help to establish military supremacy over the other country, but not against the tiny invisible enemy that lies in a virus. World, we need to invest heavily in education, healthcare, STEM. Are you listening?

And as Aristotle would have it, “Hope is a waking dream.” Let’s aspire for the best. This, too, shall pass. Om Shanti!

May 26, 2020

New Delhi