Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee | 30.8.2020
75 Years of the Second World War
Seventy-five years ago, the most far-flung, destructive,
and lethal war in history approached its end. The Second World War ended on 2 September 1945 after the
Allies bombed the two cities of Japan- Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 August and 9
August, 1945 respectively. As a result, Japan agreed to surrender
unconditionally. The war had begun six years ago with the invasion of Poland by
Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and the UK on 1
September.
The Second World War pitted the Allied
powers—the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, China, and their smaller
allies—against Germany, Japan, Italy, and a few other Axis nations. Some 70
million men and women served in the armed forces, taking part in the greatest
military mobilization in history. Civilians, however, did most of the suffering
and dying. Of the estimated 66 million people who perished, nearly 70 percent—some
46 million—were civilians, including six million Jews murdered during the
Holocaust. Tens of millions more were uprooted from their homes and countries,
many of them living in displaced persons camps for years to come.
World War II changed the political alignment and social
structure of the globe. The United Nations (UN) was established to foster
international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. The victorious powers-
China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States—became
the permanent members of its Security Council. The Soviet Union and the United
States emerged as rival super-powers, setting the stage for the nearly
half-century-long Cold-War. In the wake of European devastation, the influence
of its great powers waned, triggering the decolonization of Africa and Asia.
India became independent. So did several other Asian and
African countries.
World War II showed the ugly side of the war- death,
destruction and human suffering at a never before unprecedented scale. People
sought peace. But history shows how elusive it can be.
Resurgence of Sanskrit
Sanskrit is one
of oldest languages of the world. It is an Indo-Aryan or Indic language of the
ancient Indian subcontinent with a 3,500-year history.
In 1786, English
Philologist William Jones, suggested in his book ‘The Sanscrit Language‘ that
Greek and Latin were related to Sanskrit, and perhaps Gothic, Celtic and
Persian languages, too!
Over its long history, Sanskrit has been
written both in Devanagari and various regional scripts, such as Sarada
from the north (Kashmir) , Bengali in the east, Gujarātī in the west, and
various southern scripts, including the Grantha alphabet, which was especially
devised for Sanskrit texts. Sanskrit texts continue to be published in regional
scripts, although in recent times Devanagari has become more generally used.
However, the
major problem of Sanskrit is that there are not many speakers in this language.
Therefore, many consider it as a dead language.
As per 2011
census Sanskrit is the mother tongue of 24,821 people in India and 1,669 people
in Nepal. If second and third language are
factored, then there are 2,360,821 total speakers of Sanskrit in India.
Though a fraction of India's total population speak Sanskrit,
the silver lining is that the number of people considering Sanskrit as their
mother tongue is growing. In 2001 census only 14,135 people had said Sanskrit
was their mother tongue. In the next census this number rose by 10 thousand.
The only Sanskrit newspaper in the world is titled
‘Sudharma‘. The newspaper has been published since 1970 from Mysuru in
Karnataka, and is also available online, given the fact that Sanskrit is said
to be the most computer-friendly language.
Anxiety
Corona-induced
long lock downs and restrictions on movements have forced
people to stay indoors and in many cases away from their near and dear
ones for a long a time. This condition
generates worry which in many cases turned into obsession. The concerned
persons start believing that they are infected with Corona. These cases are
called “Worried Well” by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro
Sciences( NIMHANS). NIMHANS has recently
come up with a guidance document on mental health during Covid-19 crises and has dedicated a chapter
on this condition.
The
documents states that the “Worried Well” are healthy persons with less severe
problems or those with intermittent concerns about their health. These individuals generally complain about
symptoms about a potential undiagnosed
illness. They may wonder if these vague/non—specific symptoms represent a
significant disease. The wonder turns into worry and worry turns into panic and
manic depression.
NIMHANS
lists out a protocol on how to manage the “Worried Well”. Don’t turn them away
or dismiss their problem, make them feel understood and provide them with
authentic clinical information about Covid-19. Efforts must be made to avoid
medication and manage them only with education about Covid-19, reassurance and
support. There should be timely referral to
psychiatrists for severe health anxiety.
Doctors say that for most people excessive worry arising out of the
pandemic will be short-lived if they are heard and given right information.
Tail piece: How to be happy
If u watch NDTV - You will think India is taken over by
Fascists, there is going to be civil war and China is about to reach Gurugram.
If u watch Zee TV,
Republic, News X, Republic Bharat, India TV- You will think India is the new
major Military-Economic World Leader and we will soon take over CHINA
If you read
newspapers, you don't know whether God or Govt. is running the country- or is
it on auto-mode.
If you watch stock
market, you don't know whether economy is sinking or reviving.
If you watch local
channels, you feel as though the world is going to end tomorrow due to corona
virus as there will be no population left. However, if
you go on the road,
you see so many people and traffic as though there is absolutely no problem and
Corona virus does not exist.
If you read
Whatsapp you will find the world is facing every conceivable problem, and also
there is an expert to provide solution to every problem.
If u read/watch all
of the above - You will be a confused man.
So don't read/watch
anything - spend time only with your wife/girl-friend - listen to her sermons,
lectures and follow her advice and do whatever she says - you will be happy and
at peace.
Choose your options
wisely.
(Courtesy: social
Media)
***
The
author, a journalist turned media academician lives in Central Odisha town of
Dhenkanal. He writes fiction and plays; and translates Urdu poetry into Odia.
***
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