Page 6 - Seniors Today June2020

First Person
Unlocking Value
in Lockdown
Across ages and socio-economic groups, by and large there has been a
spirit of positivity in facing the pandemic, writes Nagesh Alai
The pervasive pestilence of the year has
snatched the corona of existence from
humans and driven them to the confines of
their four walls variously called as homes,
hovels and huts. The lockdown in our
country since March, as all over the world,
to move social closeness to social distancing
may have at best temporarily stemmed and
deferred the spread of the pathogen, but
has not stopped it from afflicting millions
and tragically ending lakhs of lives.
Another tragic fall out has been the plight of
stranded migrant workers in Indian metros,
forced to plod pack and back penniless
to unwelcoming hometowns. The recent
truncated reopening of cities and countries
has been a Hobson’s choice forced by
economic compulsions rather than human
concerns or cures.
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If ever a leadership was lacking, it was
now as many governments were knee-
jerk, reactive and insensitive in their
responses. The global politics being played
out in these dire circumstances is another
sordid story altogether. The palpable fear
of Covid 19 spread and affliction, with the
reopening, notwithstanding the much touted
rationalisation of herd-immunity, is sure to
keep people in their homes for a long time
to come. Hospitals and healthcare resources
are woefully inadequate to treat the patients.
A potent pathogen mix that!
Having said that, the human spirit rose to
the challenge of the century old Spanish flu
in 1920 and the same human resilience will
see them rising again to the occasion and
beating Covid in 2020.
Outlier situations also have a positive