When Nature presses
the PAUSE button
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| PC: Google Images |
2020- man went on with his job, in a hurry to reach
somewhere, he has never known- possessed by greed and want, like he has always
been for millennia- until unknowingly, unprecedentedly, a novel virus as tiny
as 70 to 80 nanometre (a human hair is about 80000 nanometre) locked him inside
his own house, shunning all his routine, developments, throwing all the
administration, governments of the most powerful states in a limbo. Largely, it
punctured the man’s ego, showing the most intelligent and condescending
creature how diminutive he is and that he is not ‘indispensable’.
In this catastrophe, what travelled faster than the virus
were myths, rumours, misconceptions, and never-ending theories. Soon,
literature and movies intrigued us with doomsday works referring to the virus
and the apocalypse thereby. In inclusion were ‘The Eyes of Darkness’- a 1981
novel by Dean Koontz allegedly predicting the pandemic, prediction in The
Simpsons and even not spared was 16th century French astrologer,
Nostradamus. People went as far as terming it a biological warfare by China and
that it was lab-made. However, an analysis has shown that there is no such
evidence, and it is a product of natural evolution.
While we all know this, and a lot could be written on the various
aspects of corona outbreak, I would like to choose a utopian account on this.
Isn’t it an opportunity for self-reflection? To pause and look inside- to
introspect what we have been pursuing all the while? To connect with one and
look up to the greater power- nature! Angela Fischer, Global Peace Initiative
of Women said, “When outer borders are being closed we can begin again to open
up our inner borders... We can devote ourselves again to the feminine wisdom
inside all of us that shows us how to communicate, to be in relationship to
each other and to the inner worlds.”
1. De-cluttering and
social distancing: When the world was all about networking, we wanted to be
in touch with everyone- with the world around; the corona outbreak introduced
‘social distancing’ and isolation. Indeed, a way to detach yourself from the
world and look within- for small things that matter. With even worship places
being shut, man is learning to connect with the Supreme Being that has been
inside him. It has given him an opportunity to de-clutter the materialistic possessions.
Though hesitatingly, he is learning to spend quality time with family (that
matters the most), enjoying without theatres, malls and restaurants and online
deliveries! He is after a long-long time, learning to be minimalistic- cooking
staple and eating home food, doing domestic chores and learning to be
self-reliant!
2. An opportunity to
do something you’ve always longed for: Often, you and me, everyone has
complained of paucity of time, busy schedules for not having pursued our
interests or for learning something new. This has come as a generous dividend
to let you do exactly that. But as have been engineered to work on obligations,
moving away and doing something of your own, on your own can also be a
challenge. But then, let’s chuck the laziness and make the best of this rare
opportunity.
3. Unity in
Adversity: “Adversity allows us the opportunity to find out what we
are capable of, to develop our strengths, and to access aspects of ourselves
that we did not know existed and inner resources we didn’t know we had.”-
Jennifer Lehr
This global adversity brought forth the humane face of
many. People, celebrities, individuals- in their own capacity are coming
forward to help the needy. A septuagenarian has been sending meals to the
police even when her mess is shut, temples are helping to provide meals to the
slogging doctors and hospital staff, while police are feeding the poor and
hungry on streets; yet others are lining up (with the set rules) to donate
blood. People took out time to laud the efforts of the community workers in
unison.
Virologist Dr. Meenal Dakhave Bhosale designed the first
India indigenous testing kit, giving the fastest results, just a day before her
delivery!
Adversity, indeed, teaches us to be selfless, sharing and
a little more caring!
4. The
Earth is healing: We were too busy to pay heed to nature. But the pandemic
has brought us to the realization that “Nature doesn't need people-
people need
nature”. While today there is no good news for us, humans, for our
Mother Earth there is. The very vital ozone layer is finally healing, dolphins have
made an entry into the Mumbai sea shores (apparently due to drop in fishing
activity and ship movements) and finally, global pollution is seeing a decrease
for the first time ever in over two decades.
While the world looks gloomy today, with deserted streets and
places, we need to keep hope that things will turn better, and they will, as
man has overcome many such deadly epidemics in the past. The world will be
teeming with people once again; but what we need to be sure is- to take a
lesson from this global crisis, stay grounded, stop taking things for granted,
stay balanced and emerge wiser.
xx
