In search of silver lining amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

India has lost approximately 3000 children per day in the last week taking a total death toll to over 2 lakhs. These are official estimates but it’s anyone guess now; the crisis is much deeper than these numbers. Bodies are piling up so fast that crematoriums have run out of space. The gravity of the situation can be understood by this incident only- a municipal corporation in India’s capital has made piers in a place that was once a crematorium for dogs. The Bihar government has also added two more crematoriums in Patna to accommodate the rising dead bodies.

The heart-wrenching images of people running from pillar to post begging for beds, oxygen cylinders, drugs are posing a stark question on the efficacy of the incumbent government. India which was striving for Atmanirbharta (Self-sufficiency) and eyeing a more significant role in geopolitics is now receiving aid from all Her friends and foes in the world. It will definitely dent our aspirations of becoming a world leader in the long run. But that can be talked about later. Right now, shouldn't we ask ourselves who is accountable for this devastation? Is this really a God’s plan and we will forget the pain and anguish for some ‘bigger cause’ like we did before?

Some people may find solace in spiritualism – as everyone has to die one day. But this line of thought doesn’t hold water in the current situation- God has not sent us down to come in front of a speeding car and say one must return to God. The answer, I believe, lies in our nature of creating a demigod.

The cult worshipping nature of Indian masses has been harnessed by our current dispensation wisely with the help of media. A healthy democracy doesn’t run on blind faith. It is the blend of the independent legislature, executive, and judiciary holding each other accountable for their deeds. We were following our messiah so religiously that we didn’t even question the rationale behind beating utensils for eradicating the virus. How can we question our own messiah after all?

So, when the Central government gave orders to delete the tweets highlighting the plights of health infrastructure in the country, it didn’t come as a surprise. I wasn’t even baffled at the Uttar Pradesh government’s order of seizing the property of those asking for help on social media to save their near and dear ones. According to the government, there is no shortage of oxygen and people are burning themselves on the pyre just for the sake of defaming the government - what hogwash!

This is what happens when you leave someone unaccountable for so long. But amid the sudden loss of our near and dear ones and in the moment of disenchantment, people have awakened and started questioning the present dispensation. They are asking about the lack of facilities in the hospitals, their preparedness or rather unpreparedness to deal with the second wave of the pandemic which was for sure to come.

This time, there is no Muslim card, so it is getting difficult to build a narrative to tame the dissent. By conducting Assembly elections in West Bengal and Panchayat elections in UP, the government has cornered itself. Dead people coming back in the form of their living relatives are asking questions and the dead can’t be muzzled. People are fed up with false narratives being spread from air-conditioned studios. It’s quite horrible that we as a society have to go through this to get back to our senses. Having said that what is in store for our future.

The cat is out of the bag now and pseudo-nationalism has taken a back seat for a while. Our society is witnessing unprecedented solidarity where people from every social stratum are doing what they can do to mitigate someone else’s loss. Be in the form of an auto driver- Javed khan who has turned his auto into an ambulance by selling his wife’s jewelry or Gurudwara providing oxygen to the needy or NGOs performing last rites or the elderly people, providing a bed for the younger men; every effort is priceless in its own way.

Had we strived earlier for our basic entitlements as a citizen- education, health, infrastructure, nutrition, etc. we would have been better positioned to deal with this virus. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment has said that taking action against those airing grievances regarding medical facilities will be considered contempt of court. This type of affirmative action from the supreme court was missing for a long time.

So, this is the silver lining in this moment of pain and despair. My heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost their loved ones and salute to the doctors, medical staff, and police personnel, and all those who are not in the limelight but serving the country and humanity in this crisis. I hope this new-found realization of the importance of holding the government accountable will remain with us and we will not shirk away from asking questions to whosoever in power and not be a mere devotee anymore. That will truly be the path to attain self-reliance.

Views are personal