WHAT COVID19 TAUGHT US

World history will henceforth be written in two parts; pre Covid era and post Covid era. The coming generation who may go through the history will find amazing difference between the two periods in the family, society, religion, education and above all human habits.

In most houses men have picked up culinary skills. Women in the neighborhood is found in their normal figures as the beauty parlours remain closed. Children were scolded by parents for watching TV prior to Covid.

After Covid children are scolded for not watching TV as teaching is now online.

Spitting at public places was a common thing in India but, for the first time, the fear of coronavirus has changed it totally. This could be a significant moment in public health. Political news do not hold importance now. All that people want to know is about science; virus, vaccine, prevention, sanitizer and such umpteen things. We will probably stop behaving in a servile fashion when we are in the presence of white people. This may stop soon and for reasons which are not actually fair but will hopefully, be a kind of correction. As the coronavirus is widely believed to have come from outside India, there is a certain reticence today in getting too close to white people.

Further to these coronavirus has already helped us slow down, to stand still and ultimately reach a balance in our lives. It has also given us time to ponder upon, reflect on and start valuing what really matters in life, without having to read any self-help book. Until little time before there has been a surge in self management guides, spiritual gurus and pursuit of happiness. Now we are looking for what is essential for a good life. We could easily find that it is health, peace and survival is to be focused than materialistic pursuits. We ask now, what is right?  Do we become obsessed with the fear of Covid 19 or do we have a blind faith that nature will save us? Is it a divine plan or will science and technology come to our rescue? The questions are simple for those who believe in balance. The pandemic however, proves that nature is the most powerful and yet we have to depend on science and technology to be rescued.

The last few months have also taught us the world will never be the same again, no matter what anyone's nationality, colour, gender, creed and faith is.

(Indebted for having gone through the articles of Dipankar Gupta of The Print and Gurvinder Kaur of Hindustan Times, Chandigarh.)

KV George

kvgeorgein@gmail.com