Never has the current generation witnessed a calamity of this scale. The Corona virus has instilled fear in our minds. It has changed our lifestyle and our mindset. Masks, sanitisers, social distancing and quarantine have become part of our lives. The world as we know it, has changed. The new normal is something we all have to get used to. The situation is really testing our mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and economic faculties. These are crucial times when we should be looking out for each other’s backs. The number of suicides have gone up. It is disturbing to know that cases of domestic violence too have risen. As people are confined to their homes, they are becoming, more confined to themselves. This is alarming! As being self-centered and selfish is a bigger threat than the pandemic. So how do we change things around? How does the world learn to look through altruistic lens?
The frontline soldiers who are battling this virus are our medical professionals, and law & order enforcement authorities. Our doctors, nurses and other medical staff went above and beyond their call of duty to serve us. They have been working around the clock: giving care to the sick, in spite of the threat of contracting the virus themselves. These angels in disguise cannot even be with their own family for weeks together due to the fear of possible spread of the virus. People in distant places were unable to return to the warmth of their homes. Senior citizens who are living on their own faced numerous problems.
They struggled with their routine chores, as the entry of maids and domestic helps were restricted in most places.
God-willing, we will have a vaccine soon, till then, don’t you think a little generosity from all of us, will go a long way as we survive and take each day as it comes.
Our law enforcement officials have been working endless shifts. Reports of generous citizens offering hot tea and biscuits to them made news. In Kerala, the family of the police personnel who could not go home for weeks were supplied with essential items, free of cost. Videos of medical professionals being given a hero’s welcome as they came back home after long stay in the hospital went viral. They were showered with flowers and greeted by clapping and cheering. All these sweet gestures lift their morale up and give them the courage to keep going on! It feels great to be appreciated, right!
People suffering from COVID-19 are generally put in quarantine. Another subsequent consequence of this is, their immediate family too has to self isolate themselves. We as neighbours can step in to help them, with due precautions in place. We can provide them with food or essential items. Though meeting people face-to-face is not always possible in these times, we are all just a phone call away! So stay in touch with your near and dear ones. Keeping the channels of communication open to all, we can be God’s little helpers. Probably one kind word from us is all what a depressed person needs; to pull himself together and know that someone cares for him/her.
Our children are learning online, as schools are yet to reopen. Teachers have to learn to teach online and conduct online classes. This is entirely new to most of them. Many of the teachers are middle aged with little or no Internet experience. Earlier teachers had to handle a class full of students; but now its students and their parents. Teachers are unable to give individual attention to children; and online learning has its limitations. So, a little kindness on part of parents in understanding this will go a long way in helping the teachers to adapt to these changes.
Domestic helps and daily wage earners are facing a tough time making ends meet as they are out of work. We could contribute a bit to help them in these tough times. If possible we could help them financially. If that’s not possible, at least we could sponsor a month’s ration for them. A warm reassurance that they would be hired back when the lockdown ends would be music to their ears.
Last but not the least, a simple but most important thing we all can do is -be generous in our prayers for everyone!∎
Shiny Praveen, a chemical engineer in Mumbai. She loves reading, singing and listening to music.
