Unlocked India – Week – 2

Unlocked India – Week – 2

The second week of Unlocked India in the fight against the deadly corona virus has ended with a scary note; if we simply go by the figures of positive cases and deaths – 3 lakh twenty thousand and 10 thousand respectively. Now India stands at number 4 in the world only after Russia, Brazil and the USA. The position in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Delhi is disturbing. On a single day on June 13-14, the count of additional cases was 12 thousand, so far the biggest in one day. The governments are doing their best. The reassuring aspect is that the number of recovered cases is also

almost half the detected positive cases with a good recovery rate of about 50%. But we need to be alert in the come weeks. It is a matter of gratification to note that more and more people from the general masses are getting aware of the need for segregation, social distancing and cleanliness etc. Governments are needed to be more attentive, responsible and sensitive in dealing with the emerging scenario as, suo motu, advised by the Supreme Court too. The glimmer of hope in getting a vaccine to stop and kill the virus is getting strong both of modern and traditional steams of medicine. Let us pray we get the antidote to the virus as quickly as possible.

Life goes on as Faiz Ahmed Faiz said:

और भी दुख हैं ज़माने में मोहब्बत के सिवा
राहतें और भी हैं वस्ल की राहत के सिवा 

The governments are, as visible from the print and electronic media, trying their best. But they are to cater for the problems of politics and vested narrow agenda besides fighting the deadly menace. It seems we are more obsessed with these negative aspects. It is dangerous and we must be careful and mindful of these trends. The father of the Indian constitution, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s warning given in his last speech in the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949 comes to my mind. He, while commenting as to how we lost our independence in the past said, “Will history repeat itself? It is this thought which fills me with anxiety. This anxiety is deepened by the realization of the fact that in addition to our old enemies in the form of castes and creeds we are going to have many political parties with diverse and opposing political creeds. Will Indians place the country above their creed or will they place creed above country? I do not know. But this much is certain that if the parties place creed above country, our independence will be put in jeopardy a second time and probably will be lost forever. This eventuality we must all resolutely guard against. We must be determined to defend our independence with the last drop of our blood. ” Both the ruling outfits and the opposition must consider these words of Dr. Ambedkar and mend their policies and approaches accordingly. The country is, as you all know, passing through a difficult time. Economy is badly affected. Production is down. Exports have dwindled. Unemployment is

becoming a big problem. Our borders are not calm. Our detractors, particularly China and Pakistan and now a new ally of them, Nepal, in a neighborhood are trying to fish in the troubled waters as per the professed policy of Chinese leader Mao – “China undertakes negotiations to ‘buttress its position’ and to ‘wear down the opponent’.” as quoted by a renowned geostrategic analyst Brahma Chellaney in an article in the Hindustan Times. India still hopes that the stand-off at the Line of Control in Ladakh will be sorted out through dialogue. Let us hope so but China is a cunning practitioner of deceit.

All said and done, India is a big country with big problems. So far so good but we are to go a long way to retrieve and save our position and honour – with cheer and ease, bearing with the mood of the joke manufacturers.

पप्पू: पापा मेरा बोर्ड का रिज़ल्ट आ गया!
संता: लाओ दिखाओ!
पप्पू: एक शर्त पे दिखाऊंगा! रिज़ल्ट देखने के बाद आपको सोशल डिस्टेन्स रखना पड़ेगा!

Yet another gem floating around – a corona virus affect on the Pradhan Sewak’s Jumla – Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas and Sab Ka Vishwas:

सबका साथ, सबका विकास;
अपनी अपनी बोतल अपना अपना ग्लास!

Let us see what is in store for us in the third week of the Unlocked India?