CORONA is not a laughing matter – The lighter side – 10

CORONA is not a laughing matter – The lighter side – 10

In the run up to the fight against the Corona Virus, 21 days lockdown was to end today, April 14, but the lockdown has been extended by another 19 days till May 3, 2020 as declared by PM Narendra Modi in a address to the nation this morning. His talk was sober and focused as a statesman. PM Modi praised and appreciated the public cooperation in fighting a very difficult and invisible enemy, the deadly virus. He thoughtfully named Babsaheb Ambedkar and while paying tributes to the great leader on his birth anniversary, invoked “We the people of India” underlying the importance of unity and oneness. Our polity, our economy, our social structures are under stress. There is no other option but to remain in confines of our constitution to avoid “Grammar of Anarchy”, if we use “unconstitutional” means, as warned by Dr. Ambedkar. It would  endanger the very bases of our edifice – the federal structure and communal fabric. Let us stand with the authorities and fight the virus to save ourselves by abiding the advice of PM Modi:

Seven things the PM wants citizens to do:

1.  Take care of old people, senior citizens

2.  Use home-made masks sincerely

3.  Download Aarogya Setu App and ask others to download too.

4.  Take care of poor people, their food needs and other things

5.  Don't snatch anybody's job

6.  Respect people who are helping us in this tough time like healthcare workers, sanitation workers and the police.

7.  With all dedication, follow the lockdown till May 3. Stay wherever you are and be safe.

Coming to the lighter side, I will continue as encouraged by many of my readers. The idea is not to lower our guard and undermine the seriousness of the issue but to lighten the resultant grimness of

the lockdown. The daily needs of vegetables, fruits, milk, bread etc. are catered for nicely. The tipplers like me are disappointed as no relaxation to open the alcohol shops is being considered.  One of friends, Pooja Khanna, has sent me this gem:

दुनिया में जितने वैज्ञानिक Vaccine ढूंढ रहे हैं

उस से ज्यादा तो India में Whiskey ढूंढ रहे हैं।

Let us sit tight and please the lady at home by playing the gazal:

Yeh jo halka halka saroor hai,

 teri nazar ka kasoor hai;

Mujhe ik sarabi bana dia.

The ultimate resort is to sit at home as advised by Gulzar sahib:

"बे वजह घर से निकलने की ज़रूरत क्या है"

"मौत से आँखे मिलाने की ज़रूरत क्या है"

"सब को मालूम है बाहर की हवा है क़ातिल"

"यूँही क़ातिल से उलझने की ज़रूरत क्या है"

"ज़िन्दगी एक नेमत है उसे सम्भाल के रखो"

"क़ब्रगाहों को सजाने की ज़रूरत क्या है"

"दिल बहलाने के लिये घर में वजह हैं काफ़ी"

"यूँही गलियों में भटकने की ज़रूरत क्या है"