The unseen foe – COVID-19

Rilanjana Talukdar

(The writer can be reached at Rilanjana.talukdar@gmail.com)

An unseen and uncertain foe is really hitting us hard. The entire world is now grap pling for life trying its best to evade the grasp of the camouflaged enemy.This pandemic has ushered in a tense situation globally and has become an unwanted threat to the humankind. Majority of the nations globally are being locked down and are turning into a quarantine and lazaretto.This unseen devil named as Coronavirus (COVID-19) has leaped from a Chinese seafood and poultry market late in 2019 has now become a global health emergency.

My beloved motherland Bharat is now at a critical stage battle against the dreadful coronavirus as fears of community transmissions is on the rise which might lead to a catastrophic outbreak, putting everyone at risk. Bharat is pinning its hope of containing the outbreak on social distancing and a complete lockdown through selfless workers starting from the doctors, nurses, police / army forces, health workers, and others who are risking their valued lives in the forefront and getting exposed every minute for the sake of saving others’ lives. It’s not a health crisis rather an economic and national security emergency aiming to strike at any moment.

At times I ponder to a frequently poked query… “Why did China do this? China lied and humble lives are biting the dust”. Many health experts believe that the new strain of coronavirus likely originated in bats or pangolins. The first transmission to humans was in Wuhan, China. Since then, the virus has mostly spread through person-to-person contact. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause disease in both animals. The new strain of coronavirus is called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This new coronavirus has spread rapidly in many parts of the world.

On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. But the first COVID 19 was reported in Wuhan City in December 2019. When China found about the existence of corona, it kept quiet for two long months. China was least bothered to warn the WHO or the world about its existence. In fact even the delay of the WHO (World Health Organisation) in declaring it as a pandemic carries many real stories behind its strategized chapter. Had China highlighted this matter right in the scratch rather than lying, today probably we wouldn’t have faced such pathetic uncontrollable scenario. Scepticism arises when news likes Dr. Li Wenliang, a medical doctor who whistle-blew about the coronavirus in December 2019 to the public, was stopped by the Chinese administration in leaking it out. His voice was stabbed forever by the police under the allegations of spreading false rumours. But now the world is witnessing his so-called rumours by sacrificing humble lives. Another doctor named Ai Fen in Wuhan City of China had spoken out after seeing several of her colleagues die from the virus, criticizing hospital authorities for suppressing early warnings of the outbreak in an interview which the censors erased from the internet. She was reprimanded by the Chinese administration in sharing the awareness. Dr Fen has clearly stated in an interview that “If I had known what was to happen, I would not have cared about the reprimand. I would have talked about it to whoever, wherever I could.”

Immediately all her interview speech was deleted from all Chinese social media sites. This type of instances and activities will push every individual to doubt China being wholly responsible for the deadly outbreak.

While the world’s economy is collapsing and countries with world class infrastructure and health care are surrendering, China is currently releasing its additional doctors and nurses and showing positive economic growth… but how, a matter of serious concern. During the two months duration (Nov-Jan) China knew corona and its mode of transmission, yet Wuhan was open for all international travels. People could travel around the globe but not inside other provinces of China…here serious question arises. American reports which broke the news to the world and lime lighted about Wuhan went missing the very next day after the release of their videos.

Undoubtedly this virus outbreak is massive, but Bharat is the land of Sankalpa (pledge) and Tapasya (meditation). Our worshipful Bharat is the land of Devabhumi and Punyabhumi, the land of the Gods, and as Tapobhumi—the land of austerity and penance. Bharat is the land of penance, austerity, serious spiritual practice, meditation and yoga, a land where people came with the sole objective of attaining God-consciousness.Definitely Bharat has its power to combat the unseen enemy and emerge victorious.

Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin.

In Bhagwat Gita, Shree Krishna advises Arjun to become detached from outcomes and simply focus on doing his duty. When he fights with the attitude of equanimity, treating victory and defeat, pleasure and pain as the same, then despite killing his enemies, he will never incur sin. Similarly, in this crucial period of crisis, we should keep Vrat or Upwash for the sake of our brothers and sisters by locking ourselves increasing social distancing and decreasing emotional distance. This is the only correct mantra for a beautiful dawn ahead and to incur the sin of getting affected the unseen devil.

Many people are panicking and facing anxiety and lot of concerns to keep their mind calm. It is seriously stressful to go through home isolation, but it’s a pandemic which we need to battle by showing some resolved restraints. This is the stage of crisis where we need to stand united and break the chain and flattened the rising curve. This ailment is such that it will not spread without our cooperation and support. The peak and speed to which this pandemic may rise is beyond our imagination. As Bharat is the land of Yoga and Meditation, we need to procure its benefits by practicing it and enjoy the benefits of staying calm, safe and fearless in the scenario of chaos. As the natural uncertainty of life has now magnified, we are definitelyanxious about catching the coronavirus, or worried about family and friends getting sick or dying but our only stand is to stay safe and stay lock downed. The entire country needs to come together to fight against the threat of coronavirus and emerge victorious.