By: Dr. Mohammad Aleem, Editor-ICN Group
NEW DELHI: The world is passing through a tough time. So far, it has taken thousands of precious lives. And still, its roaring debilitating sound could be heard on every continent.
But as it is being wisely said that with every calamity, there comes a joy of relief also. Only we need it to see it with that prism.
If we dissect the whole scenario with the compassionate eyes and empathetic hearts, then, the situation will look pretty good also.
Is it not the time to enjoy one’s own solitude within the confine of our homes? Has not this tragedy given us an opportunity to feel the power of togetherness and bonding with their own families and loved ones? Is it not that many among us used to live a life which was hectic and boring? In such cases, most of them used to suffer with many types of health issues also as anxiety, amnesia, diabetes and high blood pressure etc.
Our environment was so polluted that it had left us to choke with the deadly poisonous gases. At least, since the worldwide lockdown is in force, we have seen a considerable level of improvement in overall health of our environment. And as it has become clean and purer, it also helped in improving our health conditions considerably. According to one report from a Delhi hospital, that, at present, less people are reporting for their health problems which was much higher in any other days of this time of the year. Diarrhea and such other infections were common.
But there are other worries also. For example, every other day, we hear about loses of the livelihood, jobs and other means of sustenance because the workplaces have been facing unprecedented kind of financial crisis due to the long lockdown period and breaking of the whole business chain.
In India, around 400 million people work as a daily laborer in unorganized sectors. They have suddenly become jobless due to their work lose. They are on the brink of starvation and annihilation. However, the central and state governments are doing their best which they could in this time of distress, but, it is also a bitter truth that our governments can’t provide bread and better to every household for free for a longer period of time. In the poor countries, like India, it is unthinkable to sustain a life without work and job for any ordinary less educated person.
In India, the spread of the diseases is so far not so intense as we have seen in many other parts of the Western world, especially in America and Europe. For a population of one billion, if it spreads on the community level, which is at present not the case, the situation will not only be much worse but quite unthinkable and unmanageable.
The norm of social distancing has surely taught a lesson that despite of physical aloofness from one another, it has given the opportunity to communicate through the social media platforms and mobile phone. But this pleasure is not for all. For poor and deprived, who even has no means to get a simple phone connection with non-smart phone, can’t even dream of enjoying this life. They are forced to live in their own seclusion with the pain of grinding poverty and want.
However, I think the best time to receive the joy of love and gratitude is this! We can do that by sharing our best to others not only in terms of goods and other valuable things, but through our love and care for others. It will surely help in healing their wounds which have become suddenly raw and visible due to this crisis of uncertain future and devastating time.
Dr. Mohammad Aleem is an award winning novelist, playwright, scriptwriter and journalist.
You can reach to him through his email: mohammad.aleem1@gamil.com
