Caution Warranted
Sharad’s Sunday Sojourns (week # 455 | 3 Jan 2021):
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” … Alexander Pope.
While optimism is great, over enthusiasm may be counterproductive. For instance, with the advent of the vaccines against the deadly virus, the share market was somehow bolstered and the economy showed signs of (only) a feeble recovery. But then, outright demonstration of nonalignment and the willingness to shrug the trepidation off, will inevitably result in chaos, is not something we don’t know! And yet, if anything goes by the latest New Year’s Eve, and the attitude of people in certain corners round the globe, is perhaps a fake courage to show utter contempt to the contemporary situation! I respect the desire to break free and to annihilate the restricted life in general, but slight restraint and respect towards the strained healthcare system everywhere across the globe would probably help the cause. Is it that difficult to understand?
For instance, let’s take the case of Assembly elections in certain states in India. Okay, India is cautiously ‘recovering’ from the grip of the deadly pandemic! Says who? A ‘white-recently grown-bearded man’ who also happens to be the premier of the country. And how did he come to this conclusion? Based on the remarks of his board of advisors. Naturally! And yes, he thinks this year will mark the end of the pandemic. But then he advises also on being vigilant, despite the roll out of vaccines. The question is, such is the audacity of his party generals in particular, they respectfully decline the inclinations! The road shows to boost the party chances in a state like West Bengal (India), for instance, is a manual, which shows how to show the middle finger properly to peoples’ sentiments, as well as to discourage normal civic sense! Factuality demands rationale. What spectacular show is currently on display, defies all that!
Too much of discussion and too many cooks spoil the broth. I do not understand one thing, are we going to decide the course of the pandemic ourselves? The best we can do is to advance the technology to counter the menace and keep the curve flattened in a logical way, and in several parts of the world, we have been able to do that. And yet, with concomitant news of novel strains and mutations, countries are extra cautious, more to demand abominable and unnecessary restrictions. Where caution is warranted, for instance the basic year-end celebrations, is largely unscathed! And the lockdowns will be prolonged, and there will be speculations, and more hearsay, and yet more conjectures!
That is why, this year, no resolutions are required. Since like the age-old cliché, promises are made to be broken. But at least, let’s keep a vigil. What more to say? Let’s keep more shirts ready than trousers (since Zoom meetings will still be dominant for official purposes), and let’s try not to get despondent. Although it may sound abysmal and unusual, sometimes, civilisation desires to return to the primitive ways. I wish, for instance, that the media was not 24x7, so that I do not have to note everyday how the statistics are unfolding in my town, my state, my country and the world! Mark my words, we will not return to normal anytime soon, no way. But at least, let there be some room, some fresh air, some ordinariness. The equilibrium can be stretched, but with caution.
In a bubble of abnormality and extraordinaire for over 12 months, I may actually faint if suddenly one day, I learn that from ‘tomorrow’ everything is going to be ‘normal’!
(Image courtesy: https://bit.ly/38eCWaY )
