Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee 12.4.20
Show Solidarity, Show Unity or Thali Bajao, Patakha Phodo
There has been lot of debates around the
PM’s call for 5 minute clapping on 22 March and 9 minute lamp lighting on 5
April.
There are basically two dominant strands of
arguments. One: the PM’s call clapping was to show solidarity with the doctors
and medical personnel and lamp lighting was a symbolic gesture of igniting hope
in the hearts of millions of people. At the time of deep despair- these
symbolic gestures provide hope and unite people in their fight against the
adversary- in this case the invisible one. Thus these were helpful and very
relevant. In fact one of my former student from North East wrote this in his
social media platform: “… I felt a sudden wave of energy passing through me in that
9-minutes. National unity moment. The spectre of lights from all corners merged
in the night sky was so powerful as if they were shouting out loud
“Together, we shall fight to our victory!” It was so overwhelming to see people coming together and expressing their genuine
solidarity with our government and the those who are in the frontline of
the COVID19 battle. The fight against
the deadly virus is no more limited to medical science, it
is psychological too. Modiji wanted us to realise the paramount
importance of fighting this Pandemic together.”
The second strand of opinions saw these as
mere gimmicks. According to this stand of opinion, these were just theatrics to
hide the inability of the clueless government and to hoodwink the gullible
people desperate to find a solution to the problem that has hit them hard. If
the objective was to show solidarity and forge unity- than it had badly
backfired. People missed the symbolism
and overdid their brief. As soon as the Janata Curfew time got over hordes of
people hit the roads and started sankirtaan, garba, even nagin dance. And on 5
April, people brusted crackers and decorated their home with coloured electric
bulbs- a Diwali redux.
My take on this debate is: when the PM of
the country announces something ata time of grave crisis, much more than the
literal meaning is read into it. People took the ‘thali bajao, deep jalao’ as
the short cut to escape from the situation that we are in. A video went viral
on social media of a middle aged women holding two candles and shouting ‘Go
Corona Go’ menacingly. A MP, no less- did the same surrounded by his followers
following suit. People thought probably this is how the menace will end. It
creates an atmosphere conducive for pseudo-science or at the worst
anti-science. We can ill afford that in the present situation.
English Literature in COVID19 Times
Wash hands like LADY MACBETH.
Seclude yourself like MISS. HAVISHAM
Postpone your tasks like HAMLET.
Wear Masks like BENEDICT.
Put up a brave face like DARCY
Avoid dancing with the LIZZIES.
Don't touch or steal others'
Kerchiefs like IAGO.
Unlike ROMEO, avoid meeting the
JULIETs who wait on the Balconies -- Let them wait till the Morrow.
Don't wander around like Ulysses.
Be wise and patient like BEATRICE.
And...
Let the West Wind blow by
Listen to the Nightingales
Admire the Daffodils
Stay Home
Stay Safe
(Courtesy: Social Media)
Tailpiece: Prediction
There will be minor baby boom in 10 months. Then on day in 2033,
we shall witness the rise of the QUARANTEENS.
(Courtesy: Social Media)
***
Journalist turned media academician Mrinal Chatterjee lives in
Dhenkanal, Odisha. He is presently editing a monograph on Jallianwala Bagh
massacre to be published on the 101 year of the tragedy.
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