Coronavirus....The battle against fear

Dear readers,
A little lesser that two years ago, I began writing in this blog. A person who was considered "introverted" in the traditional and almost confining sense, I took to writing as a means of comfort and self-expression, a means through which I could reflect upon my thoughts, actions and ideas, and if I was fortunate enough, aspire change. Words were not so much as a means of communication, but a way of life. Although 2 years does not spur ample growth, I consider myself mature enough to reflect upon the past, and as I do so, I realize that my content and all that I wrote, were fruits I bore from the seeds of hope, a yearning for a better and more equal world. Nonetheless, as we face this the repercussions of the coronavirus lock down, I have been forced to face the stark realities of our world, and while I consider myself one of the most privileged people to be living such a comfortable life despite the situation, what little I have been exposed to, causes me to ponder upon the world's stark realities.

The value of human lives is not something that should be underestimated and it supposedly  this value for lives, that has caused our world to change over night, and caused a re-evaluation of economies, interactions and systems that have been prevalent for years, it has caused a re-evaluation of the word normal. Until now, the virus has claimed 378,119 who have died due to the absence of a cure, that science diligently hunts for daily. Nonetheless, while this might seem like a large number, in terms of crude mortality rate, the percentage remains at 0.28%, that translates to one in every 358 people. For those that fall into an age group below 65 years infected with Sars-CoV-2 the chance of fatal illness is 0.09%, which is lower than the mortality rates of other respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, which has a mortality rate of 5-10% and 30% among fatally ill patients.
Human lives indubitably have value, but by upholding such strict lock down conditions, we are not reducing, but causing an escalation in deaths, for fear clouds our judgement, and what we fail to realize is that while many of us are sheltered in our homes and are able to sustain our needs despite the lock down, there are others who are less fortunate.

As an Indian citizen, I can speak for the less privileged in my country when I say that coronavirus is not the killer, but it is fear and irrational judgement. A a semi-periphery country that has known poverty, India is currently home to approximately 1.38 billion people as of 2020 out of which two-thirds face the hardships of poverty. 68.8% of Indian citizens, are daily wage workers, who earn lesser that $2.00 a day.
To the privileged the lock down is nothing but a setback, a delay in our vigorous, bustling and animated lives, where boredom is perhaps our main concern.

Nonetheless, if we choose to not be so oblivious to the world around us, we will see the ineffable suffering that those less privileged have to endure.

In a nation wherein rural areas uphold traditional gender roles, males the sole providers of large families, are left stranded in metropolitan cities due to unavailability of transportation. Migrant laborers wanting to return home to their families, are forced to walk hundreds of kilometres on highways with not so much as a morsel of food, or a drop of water. Many have died due to the harsh weather, hypothermia, malnutrition and fatigue.

Daily wage workers, many young women with young children, have the burdensome onus of providing for their families and have chosen to end their agony by committing suicide, for which mother wants to see her children cry themselves to their end.

But their stories will never be heard, and these people will remain voiceless, people whose deaths will be reported as stray incidents. Their memories will cease to be more than numbers scattered in a meaningless statistic.

The situation is the ultimate paradox, is it not? Take a moment to think about it's sheer absurdity: Indians are dying due to measures that were meant to save them.

Individuals who are suffering from other fatal diseases, cancer, respiratory illness and life threatening diseases, are not gaining admittance into hospitals, and die of these ailments.  Yet again, we approach the classic situation wherein the rich survive and the poor suffer.

If the lock down continues in its present form, it is bound to kill more people — through starvation, unemployment, stigma, government indifference, and police brutality.

Had the lock down been better planned and more judiciously thought out, many of these lives could have been saved, but as human beings with hearts, minds and souls we must do our bit. Several non-government organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and working towards providing the poor with amenities, through fundraisers that raise funds to buy basic food items and amenities. I myself worked with this organization and there are several others, that seek to help those less fortunate. 

Another means in which I would urge people to contribute is to go local! While we all enjoy international brands and food items( and needn't stop buying them) we must try to support our local vendors in any way we feel comfortable, just until the impositions of the lock down are less strict, because by this simple act of confidence, you can support your local community and by extension your economy. 

If you know of anyone who is in need that has been there for you in a time of need, be a benevolent person and take the extra plunge to help them, because simple acts of kindness are the most overlooked gestures. In the end, instead of indulging in worry and selfishness, be more open-minded and think using your mind and your heart. Yes, it is important to stay safe, maintain social distancing, wearing masks and just taking extra initiative to remain sanitary, but more than anything else, we need to keep in mind our humanity, and remember that we shall bask in the glory of the sun again.