There are
decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen – Lenin
When I
called people in Italy, UK, Australia and America, they had three words to say:
‘It’s not good’. The news has been about infections, deaths and recoveries. An
invisible sub-microscopic agent stops the mighty and haughty China and America
and halts the unstoppable global industrial machine. The evolved and progressed
homo sapiens finds himself under house arrest.
The
pollution in Mumbai in the first seven days (since the lockdown) is down by 40%
(AQI PM 2.5 levels from 118 to 70). Clear skies, fresh air, zero noise. As I
write this, I can hear the Tibetan chimes playing in the breeze outside my
balcony. A Dutch client wrote that nature has put humans on notice. Earth,
which was on ventilator, seems to be breathing again, taking a break from human
disregard, entitlement and greed. On the other side there is pain and loss – of
lives and livelihoods, of wealth and income, and displacement and disarray.
The wise
must have had a thought as to why this is happening to us. The word virus
phonetically sounds like why us. What is all this telling us
individually and collectively? What is happening? Here are some immediate
reflections:
One focus: The distorted and fragmented humanity – in thought and action – was
never so cohesive in focusing on a single agenda. If one took the ‘point of
focus’ out and just became aware of the ‘focus’ itself, it is astounding.
Imagine working with such focus together on an issue like climate change that
affects every single person. (About 12.4 lakh people die in India and 16 lakhs in
China each year due to pollution). But can we? The past has shown that we are
just as likely to carry on as before. Someone wrote that perhaps the virus will
save as many or more lives of people dying from pollution and road accidents as
it takes away.
Leveller: Royalty to movie stars, all fell prey to the virus. The virus doesn’t
differentiate between rich and poor, known and unknown. Humanity as a whole
never seemed so vulnerable, overpowered and scuffling to keep its mortality
away. Each one, despite every manmade division, feels equally susceptible.
Decision,
action and speed: Economic leverage seemed less critical,
whereas action and speed are the real levers! Those who acted faster fought
better, those who were casual are trapped. The decisions India took wisely put
life over economy, survival over everything else. The PM pleaded with gentle
persuasiveness, with folded hands, to stay indoors. The administration brought
out extensions in compliance deadlines with speed and sensibility. Food, cash
and waivers for the marginalised came out with care and clarity. The central
banker was emphatic and reassuring and put money in the hands of the banks to
lend. Governance, the health care system and social capital are at their
ultimate acid test.
Illusions: Albert Einstein said that Reality is merely an illusion, albeit
a very persistent one. Many illusions we loved and lived with are busted.
Someone wrote: Coronavirus has proved that most corporate jobs are just
exchanges of emails, texts and calls and nothing else. Everything – from
‘values’ and ‘ways’ – will be subjected to deep inquiry. Many narratives could
stand on their heads. The hypothetical is now the reality. Washing hands, which
was difficult to enforce even in hospitals, is more important than shaking
hands. Social distancing is more important than bridging distances.
Mathematically put, namaskar > hugs, and social capital >
capital market valuations. Eighteen million people have viewed the TED talk by
Bill Gates on a pathogen attack, in October 2019 John Hopkins Centre for Health
Security gamed a germ war, America ranked at the top in Global Health Security
Index and today it has highest infections. Context changes everything,
including ‘reality’!
The next few
months, the end game and aftermath will be long and difficult. It won’t be a
balance that we can write off with a journal entry.
I will leave
you to complete the reflective thoughts of Anand Mahindra in your own words:
‘After the pandemic, we will …….’
Meanwhile, may you remain free from affliction 
Raman Jokhakar
Editor
