It’s not always bad to be a bit critic

ये कूचे, ये नीलामघर दिलकशी के,

ये लुटते हुए कारवाँ जिंदगी के,

कहाँ हैं, कहाँ हैं, मुहाफ़िज खुदी के,

जिन्हें नाज है हिन्द पर वो कहाँ हैं

This is an excerpt of one of the peerless composition of a very renowned poet, Sri Sahir Ludhianvi Ji, which though remained relevant through ages, has become more befitting in the prevailing medical emergency in India as the whole nation is in knots & the people with their jaw dropped & lips pursed rolling the eyes with quandary that someone will come forward and rescue them from the menace of this Covid apocalypse. The common people at this moment are in great grimace and becoming mad as hornet as they are finding hard to get relief and save their lives. But to their utter disappointment, nothing such miracles are happening.

The second wave of Covid-19 has been rampaging across the country since mid-April & testing people’s patience and their capacity to endure pain. People are scrambling hopelessly from hospital to hospital and going the whole nine yards in search of medical oxygen, a bed, a ventilator, a vial of Remdisivir or Tocilizumab medicine or convalescent plasma but finding nothing but only despair except the lucky ones who anyhow get it. With lakhs & lakhs of fresh Covid cases registering on daily basis, India’s health infrastructure is gasping for Covid resources.

The acme of desperation in people to save their dear ones can be seen from just a heart wrenching scene of a women from Agra who was trying to revive her husband by giving mouth-to-mouth Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an autorickshaw, parked right in front of a govt. hospital as he lay almost lifeless & cramped sans oxygen or a hospital bed. This was the kiss of life of a weeping women desperate to save her dying husband and also a defining image of this cruel pandemic, which has broken a million hearts.

Another disheartening viral photograph of a 70 year-old frail-looking bearded man from a village in UP, who was compelled to carry the body of his wife, who died due to Covid-19, for cremation on his bicycle as nobody in his village including his relatives offered any help, fearing that they might contract the deadly virus, shows the other extreme of helplessness of the people, especially of older generation.

The above are just two different stories of helplessness of people, one showing the fiasco of the health system while the other revealing the degeneration of family & social ties in the society. Such scenes of distress are innumerable which are quite perturbing & worrisome but the reality is that these are happening and that too on a larger scale.

कोई बेबस……कोई बेताब…….कोई चुप…….कोई हैरान…….

हर-एक इंसान यहाँ नजर आता है आवाक और परेसान …….

और आलम यह है कि वो बेबसी अपनी किसी से कह नहीं सकता ……….

आँखों में सैलाब रोक कर डटा है, जों अभी बह भी नहीं सकता ……

The affliction of people is at its zenith. Everywhere there is a long que and waiting period, be it for having an ambulance, getting entry into hospital, arranging oxygen cylinder, or for purchasing the lifesaving medicine for the patient. The worst occurs when one finds that his patient is sinking in front of him for want of treatment, but he can’t do anything to save him/her.

जिंदगी निकल गई सामने से मेरे और मै बेबस बस देखता रह गया I

It’s not the end of the suffering to those devastated & unlucky ones who finally lose their kin and have to again line up at crematorium to perform the last rites of the deceased.

This dreaded 2nd wave has really created a havoc across the country. This is the real test both for the Central & State govt as the healthcare facilities is in shabby state and crumbling amid the surge of Covid+ patient to the tune of 4 lakhs on daily basis & which may go up to 5 to 7 lakhs per day during the peak of this wave, most likely in mid-May’21, as per the forecast by the subject expert.

This demand a united political will & proactive action to combat this mammoth burgeoning problem. The leaders of the country, whether in power or in opposition, instead of indulging in making allegation & counter allegations on one another for the exponential spread of the disease, should focus on finding ways out to strengthen the healthcare facilities on war footing to deal with the emergency.

But the irony is that, instead of acknowledging the shortcomings, the govt. is trying to display that there is no such dearth of healthcare facilities and people are succumbing to the disease either due to non-follow of Covid appropriate behavior by them or due to late reporting to the hospital.

It looks quite ridiculous that whether or not a Covid patient gets a bed or oxygen in the hospitals but one thing is for sure that he will definitely find a big hoarding of smiling leaders right at every gate along with their hollow promises written in big bold letters which itself makes a mockery of whole system.

Many of the leaders even in such a dire condition don’t hesitate to make publicity of every action being taken to contain the disease, knowing well that the action which are being taken now is too little & late and of no use to at least those ones who are suffering presently or who have already lost their loved ones. They are not going to benefit in any way from their hollow promises.

The leaders must be sensitive & empathetic enough & should not do politics at this deplorable situation. It’s not that the citizens of this country are too naïve to understand the astuteness of these unscrupulous politicians, but they are devastated at this moment and so have surrendered before their misfortune. The plight of the people who have already lost their battle for want of Covid resources can be best summarized in few lines of the acclaimed poet, late Sri Rahat Indori , which is quite appropriate for the situation:

मेरे हुजरे में नहीं, और कही पर रख दो,

आसमान लाये हो, ले आओ, जमीं पे रख दो,

मैंने जिस ताक में कुछ टूटे दिए रखे है,

चाँद-तारों को भी ले जाके वही पर रख दो,

अब कहाँ ढूढने जाओगे हमारे कातिल,

आप तो क़त्ल का इल्जाम हमही पर रख दो,

हो वो जमुना का किनारा, ये कोई शर्त नहीं,

मिट्टी, मिटटी में ही रखनी है, कही पर रख दो I

It’s a harsh truth that we failed to anticipate a second wave and did not prepare for it even knowing that it is inevitable as 2nd waves have happened in almost all European countries and the US and been far worse than the first wave. But we declared ourselves winner before reaching the finishing line and started patting our shoulders for winning the race. This myopic approach to anticipate the magnitude of the impending problem coupled with sense of hubris and megalomania is costing a lot in terms of loss of thousands and thousands of lives and suffering of millions & millions of people.

Though, the ship has sailed a bit far & got stuck in a storm from where its safe return looks obscure, but it’s also not that it can’t be rescued yet. Amidst all these hopelessness & looming dark cloud, there have been numerous traces of silver lining too which is giving a ray of hope to take the cake.

Amid the prevailing despair & gloomy state of affairs, one thing is very satisfying that so many people, especially the youths of the country are coming forward to extend help to the needy by creating voluntary help groups or Covid help Apps at social media to answer the urgent SOS pleas 24x7 with respect to Covid resources. Some of them have even gone one step ahead & extending help by reaching to the needy physically and helping them in arranging bed, oxygen, vital medicines, etc. required by them. This really gives a huge satisfaction that there is no dearth of such good people in our country who are great in number and can outweigh the bad ones.

Many philanthropist groups, NGOs, religious community have also risen to the occasion & assisting the patients and their kin in all possible way. The Oxygen lunger being organized by Sikh community near various Gurudwaras 24x7 free of cost to the patient gasping for oxygen is doing wonder & saving millions of lives.

Another remarkable positive thing which occurred during this 2nd wave is that the Hon’ble Courts have come on heavily on the governments and exercising their power to review the executive action being taken by them to deal with the pandemic. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, taking suo-motu cognizance of the deteriorating situation emerged due to the pandemic, ordered Central Govt. to submit an action plan to deal with the crisis. Further, the Madras High court castigated the Election Commission over the Covid-19 second wave in the country, holding it singularly responsible for the spread and called it the most irresponsible institution and even warned that its officials may be booked under murder charges. The Courts are acting as watchdog to safeguard the public interest and forcing the govt to expedite the help which will certainly help in improving the condition in the coming days.

The third good news is that the sinking healthcare system of our country has started getting support from foreign nations. Numerous offers of help from abroad are pouring into India. Nations like Britain, USA, Germany, Israel, France, UAE, Pakistan, etc. have sprung voluntarily into action, pledging to provide full support to India in fighting against the Covid pandemic. They have started providing empty oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cryogenic tank, diagnostic tests kits, protective gears, vital medicines, vaccines, etc. to take India out of the prevailing situation.

Further, both Central & State Governments have recognized the magnitude of the problem & trying everything to control the situation. All the three wings of defense i.e. Indian army, Indian navy and Indian air force are being deployed to deal with this national medical emergency and they are working day in and day out to build the healthcare facility and providing oxygen and all other sorts of help required by the countrymen.

With all these positive things turning in our favor, it’s now being hoped that things will improve expeditiously and suffering of persons will be reduced very soon.

However, it’s important that we learn from our mistake so that such Covid catastrophe do not repeat in future, especially in view of the fact that the threat has not ended and 3rd wave may knock our door anytime.

The purpose of writing this article is not to portray the dismal condition or to blame any government or held anyone responsible for the pitiable condition, the country is facing right now but something more relevant which I consider important to share with you.

My first & foremost purpose is to appreciate and thank all those people who are selflessly coming forward and working tirelessly to bring India out of this medical crisis. Their efforts are adorable and they all deserve huge appreciation. It really gives immense pleasures and chest of every Indian becomes 56 inch wide with pride that such people are there and that too, not in small number but in large numbers. It gives contentment that our country has bright future in the hands of these youths & noble people who can excel in adversity and have the ability to change the destiny of our country. I just want to express my deepest gratitude & thankfulness to all these self-effacing people who are trying their every bit to bring India out of this crisis. They all deserve a big salute.

It is also to appreciate the Nations who are extending support to our country despite facing similar cataclysmic Covid crisis in their own country. It strengthen the belief that humanity is the global religion and serving human is the paramount purpose of human life. It also re-affirms the relevancy of a very old but famous quote ‘United we stand & divided we fall’’ as working together globally is the only way out to tackle this dreaded virus. As alone nation, we can do little but together we can do a miracle. We all may have come on different ships, but we are in the same boat now, so let us not split into factions which may destroy that union upon which our whole existence hangs.

It is also to pay tribute to our brave soldiers, who as usual, are always ready to provide their services with great sincerity 24x7x365 for the sake of the nation, society and people at large.

It’s also to cherish and admire all the Doctors, Nurses, healthcare personnel & sanitary personnel, who keeping their life at stake are serving incessantly for the noble cause. They are the front warriors on whom the destiny of this war against pandemic rest. They deserve a big clap for everything they are doing to save the precious life. They are the people for whom someone has rightly said that:

‘As God cannot be everywhere, so He sends Doctors & such good people on earth to serve humanity with pure excellence and selflessness.’’

However, it’s also a bitter truth that some hospitals are charging exorbitantly high price from the Covid+ patient. In fact, medical oxygen, Remdisivir & other Covid lifesaving medicines have become a white elephant today, too costly to be in reach to a common man. The rampant black-marketing of oxygen cylinder, vial of Remdisivir or Tocilizumab medicine & other Covid resources has made condition more murky & miserable for the people. It’s shameful that in such a drab circumstances, some people are indulged in such nefarious activities. It’s the high time to serve the humanity & not to make money. Such people must understand that:

‘’What you do now will come back to you in the future;

Life has a funny way of making you deal with what you make others go through’’.

So, it’s certain that what such nasty people are sowing, shall reap the same because God’s mill grind slowly but surely.

At last but not the least, the purpose is also to cajole our inner selves not to be biased with any government or leader, whether voted for or against them but judge them with righteousness of their actions and not by pre-occupied notion or blind faith in any government. we must appreciate the govt or the opposition if they do any good things but at the same time we have to inculcate guts to condemn them if they are not on the right track.

As democracy, in Abraham Lincoln memorable phrase is ‘’government of the people, by the people and for the people’’, its system of checks and balances must also remain in the hands of unbiased netizens, otherwise democracy is bound to trickle down into oligarchy or autocracy.

Politics has never fascinated me and it has always remained in the Gods for me. I even restrain myself in making any comments on the political matters in any social media platforms or anywhere else. But like others, I am also feeling tormented & petrified with the somber state, the country is undergoing at this moment and none can turn a blind eye to what is happening at this moment.

It’s harsh truth that people here are not dying of Covid-19 but due to not getting treatment for Covid-19 in time, which is quite painful. I wish we will come out of this crisis very soon as we did in the 1st wave. Nevertheless, we all must learn lesson from this crisis and prepare ourselves to deal with any such type of emergency in future.

I would like to end with a positive note:

कुछ सिखाकर ये दौर भी जाएगा, फिर एकबार इंसान मुस्कुराएगा,

मायूस न होना मेरे दोस्तों, यह बुरा बक्त भी गुजर जाएगा I

Yes, it’s true that this time shall too pass and our long and perplexed faces will beam with joy and happiness very soon with the phasing out of this pandemic. Nevertheless, it’s also true that the people whom we lost and the kind of agony we suffered can’t be replenished with anything for sure. So It’s totally upon us how we react to this whole unfortunate episode of second wave, should we adopt let’s go attitude and become oblivious of everything which occurred during these days or should we a bit critic of all those things which went wrong and caused this disease to turn into Tsunami? I firmly believe that ‘’Everything in our life is a reflection of a choice we make. If we want a different result, we have to make a different choice’’.