Disaster is a centennial visitor to our earth and this 2020 Visitor bearing
a bright , brilliant sunny ringing name
Corona is a globetrotter. The difference this time is that its reception is in
isolation, social distancing, hiding from other creatures wearing masks, gloves
and silent fear all over inert bodies. A shrinking sense of uncertainty
paralyses man and his institutions. Industrial production is at almost a
standstill. The flights, national, International and chartered, get cancelled
moment by moment. Daily wagers wait for Roti to fall from heaven. And man is no
more manly. Science, civilization and culture cower under a surrendering logic.
Paradox- mongering is now the new Avatar of rationality.
Those who said that the world is
one family, the earth is our greatest monument which holds us together now retract,
if not in words, by action. Deglobalization, isolation and aloneness have now become our insurance against death.
Togetherness, mankind dancing ceremonially holding each other's hand, is now forbidden. Corona ,
this unseen microbe has challenged all Gods of all faiths. The temples are shut, isolating
gods to their lonely contemplation over creation. if anyone still believed that
creation is purposeful, now thinks way differently. Man is born through a natural biological process to fend for himself and finally die if not by
Covid 19, by some other thing: For man is born for death. Man's quest for
immortality through spirituality or science is
a mere life-spending exercise. If this is pessimistic so be it. All our optimism
has masked us, defaced us. We stay away masked and sanitized in our individual
worlds of death contemplation. If the virus dies, leaves the body and a sense
of life returns, it is temporary. Now we know, all our towers of excellence are
show pieces of bubble reputation. Our
efforts to ward off death are
consolatory measures for a brief while. If the plague or cholera is mastered
some H1n1 is waiting at the wings; after its fatal performance it goes . But
the play is not over. Many characters , seen unseen, expected unexpected are
still there.
Man has always won battles but
lost the war. Society , togetherness, humane behaviour, embracing others to
conquer by love, poetry, fine arts and civilizational values have won battles
of hate, enmity, jealousy and such other
negatives. But after winning battles we march with pride, show off our triumphalism in many masquerades of
festive cheer. But the moment the paint is washed and royal mask are hung for future use some unseen arrow pierces
our hearts and we measure our length on
the ground. We thought of family, society, festivals and community fellowship
to stave off such invisible arrows. We
smeared colours of love on dear faces making
those unrecognizable; we launched wars on "others" calling them
enemies and thought of saving culture, territory, country in the name of
patriotism or the less charming, nationalism. But after victory we used
patriotism as abuse and after defeat resolved
to shed our blood for the country as true patriots. But the enemy as well as
the friend lost their identity and started mutual cooperation for business,
partnership and also joined hands to fight a more powerful enemy. This process
has gone on. Corona too will go as it is also like us. At the moment it is a
proud victor but its days too are numbered. After a year when corona gets
weakened man will start his old games.
The Sensex will rise again.
Some people arguing quoting those
oft quoted lines from the Bhagabadgita-
Yada, Yada... sambhabami yuge yuge- that man has been punished by the
new Avatar, a mini precursor of Kalki. But if god can make humans behave
humanly- whatever it means- only by killing them as Krishna did in Kurukshetra
war God is the most fickle minded creator. He does not know how to manage his
creation. If someone argues, Yes they do, that non-vegetarianism is the cause
of Corona they will soon realize that even lifetime vegetarians too have been
attacked. The rationalist will argue that there are certain things beyond
logic.
But corona has taught us one
lesson which all great men, Gandhi and others, had tried to teach -Swacchata. This swacchata is not mere
cleanliness of the home and office or your transport system. This is the idea of what the ancient
Hindu thinkers called Dharma. This Dharma
is not religion. This means doing your duties, in the context of the society,
following ethical principles; taking responsibilities for others who are less
fortunate. Doing things selflessly and keeping the earth, heaven, mind and body
clear of all dirt- moral, physical or psycholigical. If Corona can enforce this strict observance of Dharma
on mankind it will have fulfilled its Avatar Dharma.
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