An unseen enemy. An air of uncertainty. Mothers helplessly looking on while their children breathe their last. Babies crying over their parent’s corpses. Youngsters staring at the chasm of darkness ahead. The strongest of persons breaking down dejectedly. People losing their entire life’s savings on medical expenses and still not being able to save their loved ones. A battle for breath and blazing pyres. And fear at its purest.
But, hang on! Is that the only picture this pandemic invokes in your mind?
If you are questioning the legitimacy and relevance of the above question, you are definitely failing this test.
This test is strange. Knowingly or otherwise, we have all appeared for this test. And dishearteningly, most of us have failed at some point or the other.
Leading those who have failed this test, at the vanguard, is the mainstream media; which is failing on so many levels, it’s disgraceful. The media fails when the number of deaths flashes across the screen in bold and confident letters while the number of patients who successfully made their recovery lurks in some small scroll at the bottom. The media fails when the smile of the octogenarian who has won over the virus does not make news but the pictures of funeral pyres make headlines. The media fails when they call for the public to stay ‘stress free’ while inducing anxiety into the masses themselves. And doing so, the media does not only fail this test, but also fails the nation.
Closely following this category, are the people who ironically have immense faith in the media. These people will see and preach about how many lives have been lost, but will not see how many lives have been saved. For them, recoveries are exaggerated but fresh cases of the virus are under reported. And they don’t just believe but also persuade others to believe in these ideas. Worse, one will find them in the guise of an educated and aware individual! Awareness is crucial. But why do we not understand that awareness that leads to apprehension is no awareness at all?
Then there are opportunists. Who are failing this test that test, the faith of the public— and a lot more! The only thing that can be worse than creating such a pandemic is giving rise to a fake scarcity of resources when they are needed the most, and that is exactly what these people do. Add the word ‘political’ behind these opportunists and you will get a new level of despicable who take it a step further by engaging in petty strife and communalisation of such issues. Tests asides, these people are betrayers of humanity; enough said.
But the ones who are failing this test most miserably, are those who think and strongly believe that this virus cannot be fought. And for the general reader’s information, these are people who question the credibility of the vaccines.
When my beloved grandparents along with two other members of my family, residing in Delhi, tested positive for Covid, it was hell for everyone back home. With our feet roped due to lockdowns, it was over a fortnight of anxious days and sleepless nights for us, before they emerged victorious over the virus a couple of days back. But strangely enough, while the others showed severe symptoms owing to the virus, the grandparents, who are both in their seventies showed minor to no symptoms. And not so strange, they were both fully vaccinated. One might argue that it was merely a coincidence. But if that can be believed, why can it not be believed that it was the vaccines that worked? The vaccines may not be unassailable. But to say that they do not work at all is sheer injudiciousness.
Agreed that there have been reports of people contracting the virus or dying even after being vaccinated. But look at proper data and you will know how negligible a percentage that is. When ruckus was created over the IMA reports of 269 doctors succumbing to Covid in the second wave, why was it ignored that less than 3% of them were vaccinated? If the vaccines can curb the severity of the disease in health care workers, who are always at the forefront, to such a spectacular extent, imagine how stunningly they can work for those who have the privilege of staying indoors! I was a skeptic of the vaccines earlier as well, but now, I strongly believe in their efficaciousness. And that is how I knew that I have successfully come through this test.
Get inoculated. But more importantly, believe that it can protect you. Stay aware but know how great we are doing in this battle against this virus. Don’t just accept the grief but also counter it with optimism and you will succeed in this test too.
Yes, this test is of positivity. And this is a test we must test positive in.
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Data just made public by the govt: Of the 11 crore Indians who got vaccinated (first dose) ONLY 21,353, or 0.019%, later became CoVID positive. The figure would be even lower if you exclude frontline workers.
This is stunning. The vaccines work spectacularly.
Get the jab. NOW. pic.twitter.com/gmpzEocgpz
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) April 21, 2021
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Don’t say the Indian Medical system has collapsed.. it is hugely overwhelmed but no hospital has shut down and no doctor has retreated from the front lines…we are fighting missiles with sticks but we are not leaving the fort…. ( quoted from a colleague )
— Esha Kaul (@EshaKaul1) April 28, 2021
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https://goachronicle.com/twitter-warriors/
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Why does the scenario depicted at the opening have to be our only idea of this pandemic? Why do we look past the hope radiating off the faces of the babies who have battled Covid bravely and have triumphed over it? Why do we turn a blind eye to the fact that despite all hurdles, not a single one of our real saviours, our doctors have given up? Why do we not see the instances of help and hope that are enough to restore anyone’s faith in life?
In these hours of peril, the existence of sorrow for what we have lost and that of fear for what we can lose is not something that can be denied. But isn’t it also true that holding on to hope and positivity can go a long way in making this struggle worthwhile?
Some claim masks to be an infallible weapon against the virus. While others say that the DRDO’s 2DG is the ‘brahmastra’ for this unseen enemy. All these are indeed true, another fact that can by no means is refuted is that the cheapest and most reliable technique that can counter Covid-19 is our optimism paired with a little consciousness.
This is why this is a test we must pass. For this is a foe we must triumph over. This is a war we must win. And when each individual tests positive in this test, it won’t be long until the entire world tests negative for Covid.
[author title=”Megha Satapathy” image=”http://goachronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_20210205_095950.jpg”]Intern, Goa Chronicle[/author]
DISCLAIMER: This article reflects author’s view point. Goa Chronicle may or may not subscribe to views of the author
