The Better Side of Lockdown

 Everything was normal. People were busy in their hard-pressed lives. Local trains were running ceaselessly making a clickety-clack sound. The cars were disrupting the silence and mantling the calm and clear blue sky as usual. The birds were dying due to our interventions in the environment. Everything was normal until…

"India begins 21 days lockdown as the number of coronavirus cases crosses 600"

-25th March 2020

( The Hindu Desk)

Suddenly, everything turned dead silent. The chirping of the birds was heard as never before. The sky appeared clear blue which was infrequent and extraordinary for our generation. Nothing stirred. The birds were finally happy to breathe and sing in the clear, fresh air.

Initially, people were scared and sceptical. Some also went into depression or stress. Everyone had become anxious about their future. The increasing cases of the COVID patients dreaded the whole world. Life was a mess

Well, there are always some positive aspects to the negative events. COVID also had some encouraging and enthusiastic outcomes. The virus affected people greatly in all ways - physically, socially and mentally. All three aspects of the definition of a healthy person were affected. But, the effect was positive in some ways.

Now, people are learning how to rest. We are living every moment as much as possible. Teachers are learning to befriend technology. The work-from-home facility is giving people ample amount of time to spend with their families. New fathers and mothers are living the best of their lives with their newborn little ones. Families are understanding each other. Everyone is engaging in their free time by playing cards, board games and especially ludo on the phone. 

Some people are improving their skills like drawing, reading, dancing etc. Some are learning new things like a new language or any form of art. The students preparing for the competitive exams are getting some extra time to study. People are polishing their knowledge and skills.

The people who live in and fancy the city life and its hustle and bustle have now realised the importance and pleasure of life in the rural areas. 

Every Time there was a pandemic in the past, it created history and brought about socio-economic, cultural and religious changes. Therefore, the COVID may also bring some good change or the other

After 'The Black Death' (1347-1350), a pandemic that affected Europe and Asia, many positive changes occurred. There was a shift of classes. The peasants, traders, merchants and other middle-class men shifted to the upper class whereas the aristocrats went bankrupt. 

People started to reason and question the authority. Before this event, the subjects blindly agreed to the king. But, after The Black Death, people acquired a new spirit of inquiry which gave an impetus to the Renaissance. People also agreed that they must live their lives to the fullest because no one knew when they would die. This made their way towards art and literature. Some nobilities patronized artists and writers which gave a push towards the Renaissance. 

Who knows? Maybe this unconventional virus might bring some conventional change in the world. We are creating history right now, living in this moment. We must wait and watch what positive impact this 'new normal' creates after the end of the pandemic. So, gather all your hopes, buckle up and fix your eyes ahead. We are about to encounter some sanguine alterations.