Random knock

Where does the human race rush? 

To wake up only for the sake of selfishness, 

To concern only when it bothers in some ways, 

Blaming others for their indifferent attitude 

And act as if they are right to raise voice  

Against not only the new norms of living 

The principles of humanitarianism 

The countless losses to covid 

Become casual and corpses as firewood 

Economy burns on the altar 

Respect, as if that belongs to ancient 

Ignoring the homebound as ignorant 

Without the knowledge that none spared 

From learning or experience life from armchair 

Is not a difficult thing in the digital age 

And it doesn't mean making money 

Is the only matter in the world?

Out of hand

Covid 19 is out of control in India, and the prevalence of the infection is twice that of the previous year! The situation is terrific to think about what next, as we almost started to walk back on the track of lockdown, with restrictions gripping around. India had crossed a record of 0.2 million per day of covid cases, which is extreme so far and unpredictable further.

Leaving the idiots, who still believe covid is a myth, how come the most being senseless to the pandemic rule of social distancing and masking? But glad to see a development in wearing masks after strict enforcement. And I'm sorry to say, how well did we educate and what kind of awareness we got to behave like deaf and blinds. I'm not to humiliate them, but I write what I thought was that the people who lack some senses are far better than the well-being!

I saw a girl kid in the news bumped on a lady cop for fining her and her father for not wearing the mask in the car, and she was adamant, despite her father's comfort, she told she didn't infect and why should we pay. I don't know should I admire her boldness or worry about her short-tempered attitude at this age of less than 10.

In Cuddalore, district people rush to a hospital to take the covid test, but they don't care about the social distancing or give a thought, what if they aren't infected, the way they throng could stick with the spikes of the corona. I think our days are supposed to be tough ahead, and despite the terrific covid, a lockdown to implement could be a difficult phase to manage on a certain level. On the other hand, the vaccination has picked up speed, and many have volunteered to be vaccinated, which is the only chance we have to survive, and whoever is eligible for the vaccine should not miss the chance.

Beautiful streaks of clouds from a mountain visit a few years back, and it's been two years since I visit the mountains, as well as taking long trips that mostly head to mountains of western ghats. Thank covid for stealing a couple of years from my travel diary.

Covid-21

For over a year, we have been traveling with the pandemic and have dealt with the deadly coronavirus, aka Covid-19, but it's a wonder that still, many are in the mindset of believing it to be a myth. And I could hear people saying that there's no Corona in an indifferent tone, and they further add just be deceived, while I even wonder how they could think like this when the world is at war against coronavirus. 

google pic

Perhaps to say, India is facing its 2^nd pandemic war. Began March, just like the beginning of a pandemic war like last year, the cases of infection have started to rise but 20 to 30 times faster, and we're in a condition more than what we had in the middle of last year had been nearly double. If the elections were the reason for the increased spreading of the virus, why should every other state (without elections) have a similar or vigorous spread of the disease? But one thing for sure is that the indifference of the people upsurged the virus.

Maharashtra alone reported half of the country's corona infections. Tamil Nadu counts 6000 and Chennai alone 1800+ daily. I don't think there's something hidden behind the spreading or fact of covid-19, but perhaps there could be some dispute in the way it traced back then. The government showed some slack when the virus was declining, and people too shifted to uncooperative in the process, so it won't be fair to blame only one side for the spread of the virus.

Vaccination, which started in January, so far has been putting for people only above age 45, but for a population of 1.3 billion, it's not an easy task to do quickly. Only lately, or witnessing the rise of the infection, people had come forward to take the vaccination; and both my parents were vaccinated two weeks back and was scheduled for the 2^nd dose in May.

I could take the vaccine once the age limit is lifted below 35, my current age. Perhaps I need to consult a neurologist before taking a vaccine since my condition with muscular dystrophy. The government is re-enforcing restriction to a latter level, allowing a partial occupation in public places such as malls, cinema halls, transportation, etc. And the unmasked are fined again, which was missed even among the cops is once again on the spree of collecting fees!  

I wish people act as responsible citizens and humans overall in the progress of driving the coronavirus, a threat to the human race; the coming weeks seem too critical for India, and I hope we all stay together in the distance and kick the covid-19 away. The caption is just for fun, and you don't be scared that there's another covid out there. Lol

My Voting in Assembly Election and Vote Percentage

I cast my vote yesterday (April 6) for the 6th time in this lifetime since my first voting in 2009 general election in India. So far, I have voted in three general elections and three assembly elections each. So far, I have voted in three general elections and three assembly elections each. Though I earned the right to vote in 2003 and fetched my name on the voter list the following year, I started to vote only from the 2009 general election skipping the 2006 assembly election.

I started to use a wheelchair only in 2007, as before that, I could walk barely a few steps, so in that condition, I couldn't think of voting or visit the polling booth. My first polling experience is quite vivid, and I could still catch the images in memory when I look up or close the eyes, and it's the same booth I cast my vote in all the time. Though we shifted to different houses and addresses, my voting had always been at our native address, so it wasn't a problem each time, and I still use the voter ID I fetched for the first time - a b/w photo ID of me took in age less than 20.

We usually cast our vote in the afternoon to avoid the crowd and was in the same idea this time as well, but as my uncle insists, we polled in the late morning, and our polling booth was least crowded, so we quickly polled off. We were given gloves for the right hand after sanitizing the hands and masks made mandatory, and gladly everyone followed the rules despite the social distancing wasn't that satisfying.

The room allotted for us was smaller than last time, so they had to adjust the tables for my wheelchair to get close to the EVM (electronic voting machine), but still, it wasn't in a range I could reach; so, my father voted on my behalf on the symbol I already insist.

EVMs were started to use partially in India from 1998 to 2004, and from the 2004 general election, EVMs becomes a voting system in India in place of the ballot box.

Something that always annoys me after the polling was the question of whom I voted; though I don’t hesitate to say to whom I voted, those who inquire me don't open their mouth when it was their turn; and I don't care about it either; as they have voted at least than those who laze around complaining without doing a thing for the change.

Take the vote ratio in the capital Chennai; it is much lower than other districts in Tamil Nadu. We received less than 60% of the vote in the Assembly election, while the educationally and economically backward districts received more than 75% of the vote. What this really shows me is how indifferent and conscious we are to fulfill our democratic duty.

We (Chennai people) live cozily and get all the development and priorities in the first place, but we aren't even ready to vote in the election that takes place once in 3 or 5 years. People like me in a wheelchair could easily skip from voting, but I really wanted to vote not only because I like to do something for the society and to assert my right (at least this way), but also like to be an exemplar as well! I mostly choose my candidate from the individualistic notification for the volume rather than from the general manifesto his party or organization released to seize power.

A year into pandemic lockdown!

A year completes today, what begins as an identity curfew on the Sunday of March 22, 2020. PM plea with the public of India to cooperate with a 14-hour curfew, and it was a time the covid-19 cases weren't 100, and we didn't realize that it was a trailer and the main picture is waiting for the release. And then came the announcement of a week lockdown, which renewed every two weeks that extended to two to three months, and the lockdown was then extended every month with some relaxation.

Lockdown is a word we aren't familiar with then but heard only through the news and films where lockdown is implemented during emergencies or violent outbreaks in an area. And 144 belong to the same category, which bans people gathering in public more than four at a time. We never thought we would experience such and had no idea how it would work; however, the solidarity we had been had no meaning today, with people's indifferent behavior and gathering at large.

At the end of the year 2020, life was almost back to normal except for wearing masks and social distancing. The covid-19 cases too drastically came down below 10,000 a day in India; our state Tamil Nadu also witnessed numbers below 500 a day had let us ease and at the same time sent an indifference tendency among the people had forgotten that we hadn't exit pandemic. I could say or see half the population had dismissed wearing masks and social distancing is like belonging to a distant land.

I believed this number would recede as we continued to stay on the line with a gradual decline, and since the beginning of vaccination in January, the belief started to grow stronger. I think this could have become possible if the state elections haven't interfered during this period, because it is time for politicians to mobilize the masses, or as people gather to listen to the campaign, it becomes a camp for the spread of the virus. 

The painful thing here is that the leaders who are supposed to be role models do not follow the rules and do not instruct the volunteers to follow. And when seeing the crowd gathering in the campaign sites without masks and social distancing proves how ignorant and crazy we are and how we fail at the root cause.

I know the elections aren't the only issue as I see students and teachers getting covid-19, since the opening of schools for higher secondary (classes 10th to 12th); it looks certain it's the failure to follow the safeguard. Already there's a conflict among the public about how these numbers suddenly go high or sustain at the same and do they really count or do it for their comfort or need. Anyhow its sudden rise from the beginning of March worries; though we all hope on the vaccine as the only weapon against covid 19, nothing could protect us unless we follow the precaution - the simple handwash, masking, and social distancing.

Compared to March 2020, we’re 10 to 20 times further affected by covid 19 now. The counting of cases in India is close to 50,000, which is the highest daily record, after months of a gap!

In protection of Sparrows

Mom reminded me this morning that today (March 20) is World Sparrow Day; although I was thinking about this day at the beginning of the month, I lost thought of sparrows, like how they lost their habitation from our Indian cities. The song of the sparrows almost lost track from the memories; however, I try to remember their tweet, it couldn't reach my ears; perhaps other volumes have risen to deafen my ears from listening to the sound of mind voice.

House sparrow shot from an upper mountain village near Kodaikanal.

The last time I saw sparrows was in 2018 when I visited a part of western ghats but not away from the human habitat. Sparrows are friends of humans, and we shouldn't have forgotten their friendship when we technically grew and adapt to a lifestyle that snatched their lives. There could be various reason for their disappearance in cities, but we cannot deny that human mistake is a major part of the series of issues.

Until 2015, the sparrows exist in the backyard of my grandparent's house in the neighborhood. The backyard was cleared to build a home for my grandfather's comfort when he was ill, but it wasn't their intention to drive away sparrows, and of course, no one intends of destroying a habitation when bringing changes in lives. And it happens beyond our consciousness and needs.

I remember how sparrows used to build their nest in front of the grandpa’s tea shop, using the hay stored for feeding cows and buffaloes; despite the activities of people who come to have tea, the sparrows lived peacefully and reproduced. Sometimes they build their nest in the cowshed and the gaps of the planks of the tiled roof.

As a society, everyone is responsible for the extinction of the sparrow, and it is the responsibility of the same community to protect the sparrows that remain here and there. Not only sparrows, but we also need to protect all kinds of birds on the brink of extinction. World Sparrow Day is the day designed to move this activity forward and raise awareness of the house sparrows. It is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organizations across the world.

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Country Cows

During the Veedur dam visit in February, we continued to travel on the dam road to catch up with the road that led to Puducherry, encountered a herd of country cows. The dam road takes us through lovely countryside, and before we head out of the dam area, we see a farmer driving the cows for grazing, and we slow down the car for them to move out the way.

The country cow breed is slowly disappearing from the earth, though the awareness to preserve our country species are rising it wasn't much satisfactory. The milk from country cows is unique in taste and has great benefits to health than the imported jersey cows, which is rears for the large quantity of milk production. But I could see a rise in the use of dairy products from country cows lately in Youtube channels, whose domination is high in the current situation or revolution of the Internet brings hope the future will take further into action.

I know it’s not easy to rear cattle or cows from my grandparent's struggle and commitment in taking care of the same when they were involved in the milk business. But without struggle, no changes happen, and we need to fight back to reverse the progress, at least to preserve the leftover for future generations. The world-famous Marina protest or pro-Jallikattu protest is also a part of the struggle to protect the country's cows and bulls since its population is decline.

The revolution of tractors and modern technology drastically turned down the need for cattle but still, the country cows are reared for milk and dairy products.   

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Can Poverty Be Eradicated?

I pondered over the thought of eliminating poverty the other night of sleeplessness and how politicians swear to abolish poverty from society on every platform they get to shout. I turned to sleep, but the thought haunted me to be wakeful, and I think, not so deep or the element didn't allow me to break as if it made of a coco de mer shell, there isn't a gingelly gap to infiltrate the poverty out of the society.

We can't say when and where it all began, and it's inevitable, and we have to live with poverty as an infinite part of the world. Like in a seesaw, if one goes up, the other comes down automatically, and if one becomes affluent and the one less possessed comes down the line of equality. Though we can't consider it as poverty, this could be stepping down the process to push one to the poverty line. The reason for poverty could be plenty, and I'm not complaining or protesting that none should become affluent, but all wealth stored under particular leaderships denies the right of people in need.

I think poverty cannot eradicate as long as there are more and more ups and downs in society. In the way, rich become richer, poverty advances to a stage of the same. So, the thing that needs to change is to create more opportunities for the poor to lift themselves the way they needed. And either poverty is removed or not, we need to make sure that no one dies of starvation.

A word to abort

The Tamil word‘**tha’ is becoming trending. Those who knew Tamil will know what I mean. I don't say that the word has never been uttered in films before. Either that word would be muted or beeped. Or the user of that word will be a negative character, so it will not make a big impact. But when the protagonists themselves using that word become trending.

Actor Surya used that word in Soorarai Pottru, following actor Vijay in Master and G V too uttered the word '**tha' in his upcoming film while expressing his anger. I don't know what that means, but it's definitely an obscene word. Heroes are better off avoiding this as it may affect the growing generation.

I have heard some people speak this word casually, but since words like this come up in the films, it too will definitely affect the younger generation when great actors speak that word. I wish they do not create an "F word" culture in Tamil!

Just a rant... on the violation of people's relaxed curfew.

When will our people become self-responsible people? Do people, especially the younger generation, really understand the pandemic situation that dominates the entire world? As for our state of Tamil Nadu the social distancing and wearing of masks is followed only by certain people or to say half the population denies the rules and some follows in improper manner that may cause infection. Last week the government relaxed almost all restrictions imposed due to the pandemic; and allowed opening of resorts and lodges but it’s unclear whether the tourist places are open to the public. E-pass had been made mandatory for anyone visiting popular tourist destinations and hill stations particularly but yesterday being Sunday (the first Sunday after two months of total lockdown Sundays) the hill town, Kodaikanal, was besieged by a number of bikes and cars!     

A week has not passed since the relaxed measures were announced, and by then people had already returned to normalcy in full swing or rapid force, forgotten on which condition these relaxations were given. I understand that everyone is in need of a break and nothing could bring a change better than traveling, as people are locked down at homes for more than 5 months, an urge to getaway couldn’t be wrong but we aren’t’ even partially coming out of the pandemic rather leading 2nd in the world with new achievement in Covid 19 cases with each passing day, how can we expect a positivity in a neglected world? Our production of cases has reached nearly 0.1 million per day and it’s really disturbing to hear about 1000 deaths counted daily in India. We talk about how precious each life is and at the same time casually pass a death on the street – just thought of saying something – but the death of 1000 everyday doesn’t seem to make any sense or thoughtfulness to rattle us.  I know we have to move on and couldn’t stay on a thought just like stagnant water that could only mess up later but don’t we have the responsibility to do a bit in changing the scenario?  Or at least stop helping spread the virus by coming out unnecessarily, because it isn’t the time for fun or unless we follow the rules strictly we put others' life into danger along with us. 

RIP, the Man of Laboriousness and Success

Undoubtedly his company's the No 1 dealer in India selling home appliances and we can’t easily point out someone who sustains the top rank continually and firmly for the last 35-40 years and it’s impossible without laboriousness.  Vasanth & Co is the brand name created by H Vasanthakumar (a member of parliament) who himself was the ambassador of the company and products he sold and he continued to taste the success in the competitive world even after the arrival of online shopping.  He’s someone who earned people’s trust in selling quality products, because people don’t trust anybody easily unless there's some truth and we have personally experienced it and as a regular customer we’re proud and content with any of the products bought from him. More than half the appliances that exist at our home are bought from Vasanth & Co and my first choice still to pick a product rather than online could be his and I always recommend purchasing from the same.

It’s really shocking and sad to know the man behind the successful brand is no more - he died at the age of 70 due to Covid 19. He picked up his business as a seller of home appliances from door-to-door in instalments and later opened his own shop in the shopping centre – T. Nagar, where our first television was bought. In 1984, a year before I was born, my parents bought a black and white Solidaire TV from him and he had enquired them about their income and the ability to pay the install amount, with personal care. My parents had mentioned this many times to us, and now watching his news of demise couldn’t stop them repeating the same. Should I need to mention anything more, how could he have come up this long (with 80+ showrooms across south India) without the concern and care about the consumers and supply of quality things? And he hasn't stopped there, rather chosen the field of politics or public life to serve the poor and simple people, as he himself comes from the same he understands the people's need and did what he could from his source of income and the posts he held as a Member of Legislative Assembly and Member of Parliament.

He chose Congress as his political party following his father and elder brother – Kumari Anandan, a veteran congress leader – and he shone well in the state politics and held office of working President and Vice-President and the Chairman of the Traders wing of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. Upon everything, it is his laboriousness that put him on all these chairs and what everyone would admire him as an entrepreneur and his life is a good lesson to read by anyone to reach various heights. And like a gem on his crown he has written three volumes of his autobiographical book series Vetri Padikattu (Ladder to Success) focusing on his entrepreneurial success and community building initiatives which I really want to read sometime. He’s such a simple and humble being lived to easily access is what everyone close to him says and he is a familiar face of Tamil Nadu and never a day passes without seeing his smiley face on television. Though it's all for the business, his reach and popularity at the homes of Tamil Nadu is not easy to dismiss. People will miss him but not his face.

RGB Monday

 

A fruit vendor on the street... pushing the tricycle loaded with fruits.

We usually avoid buying fruits or vegetables from these vendors as they sell mostly at overpriced but during these lockdown times where people are advised to stay home these vendors are an easy choice to pull off in front of the house. The government also allowed selling vegetables in mini trucks and they came around the streets with a loud speaker calling people to buy veggies. But for us, having a vegetable shop beneath the house next to us, we don’t need to look after these vehicles (and what they sell isn’t fair enough and good to encourage) and we purchase it fresh daily rather than loading the fridge with veggies (like before pandemic) bought from the market once a week.    

Even though the partial lockdown still exists, the activities on road make feel almost back to normal and the only change was many of them wear masks. But I can’t say all!

 “The WHO says young people are increasingly driving spread of virus”

I believe it's 100% true. I see people on the street and mostly it was the young people coming out without wearing masks. I wonder if they really have any sense or are they alien to earth to have any idea about what's happening around. I believe they knew everything in the smartphone era but still they come out in indifference, thinking only about their healthy self rather than those weak at home. With strong immune power, young people come easily out of corona but who fall prey were the elders with chronic diseases. We all pray for the legend singer SP Balasubramanyam. He seemed to be asymptomatic at first but now fighting for life against Covid but how come we all forget someone like him at our homes whom vulnerable to infectious.

I wish people stay away, stay safe, wear masks and strictly follow the social distance.    

No Liquor Please!

It’s obvious how Pandemic battle down people on earth and our situation in India kept worrisome as we lose nearly thousand lives every day and fifty thousand plus new cases. While Chennai sustain a slow and steady pace of pandemic cases, the cases in districts follows the same to count 5k+ daily, and in this situation the govt. has ordered to open the liquor shops in Chennai that was closed for last 5 months or from the beginning of lockdown. The govt. had opened the liquor shops already in districts other than Chennai and its suburbs in May but their decision to open in the city caused no surprise rather made feel regret about their quicker move.
 
I felt not good actually when the govt. announced shutting down of liquor shops in the state, due to pandemic, as I believed it’s not easy for those addicted to alcohol to sustain without drinking and would cause a perplex leading to violent behaviours.  I know some people who find difficult to skip a day without drinking and lead a life quite dedicated to drink. I thought about them and it isn’t that I support them but I understand the pattern of their lives from my perception and wanted them to be alive rather drinking something more poisoning. But to my surprise, the people’s response was superb apart from few abnormal cases of drinking sanitizer (due to alcohol content) and commits suicide because of the unavailability of liquor.  
 
The drinkers in Chennai has already adapted to the lifestyle of sober in last 5 months of lockdown, and without drinking; now opening the liquor shops will certainly turn down the newly adopted norms, people practiced all these days despite many difficulties and emotional fights. Many a family felt a sigh of relief when the liquor shops were closed as the men in the family doesn't need to hurt women or extorting money anymore (although it is temporary) it keeps the suffering away. Tomorrow, the opening of government liquor shops will break the cells of self-controlled alcoholics, who truly amazed me though their sustainability in lack of liquor what I thought of quite impossible.
 
The nature and environment healed a lot during these pandemic lockdown periods and the shutting of liquor shops is another gracious thing happens at this time and I wished it turned out to be permanent. I know it’s not that possible unless government stops obtaining money from the sale of liquor, but I think there couldn’t be a better situation that this to regulate or create a s ober like circumstance that could be good for the country and home. I know however we cry the govt. isn’t going to tilt the ear. At least until the pandemic is over or reduced enough the liquor shops can wait rather become a spreading zone of Covid 19.

Positive or Negative, Covid 19 Test Perplex

In the last 4 months of Covid 19 pandemic period, guys we had just came close to it and put hold above us. Yes, one of our tenants staying upstairs had positive result yesterday and he was picked up by the health care workers for further testing at King’s institute (a WHO authorised centre in Chennai) found no sign of positivity but he was advised to quarantine for next 15 days. Someone working at the hotel, where he works, was tested positive so his management asked him to take a Covid test at the nearest health care centre and he got tested 3 days ago from the result and the health care workers had stick a notice at the entrance of our house notifying the presence of a Covid 19 positive patient at this house.

The notice contains his name, age, address and the number of days he needs to be quarantined. Actually there’s very less chance for him to be infected as his work from home for the most except vising the hotel once or twice a month for billing. He works as a financial manager in a reputed 5-star hotel in the city and he hails from West Bengal and staying along with his wife and a 3 year old daughter. Above all he isn’t a kind of indifferent guy neglecting the preventive measures and he even wear gloves when going out for grocery and wash all the vegetables before bringing into home. So his initial positive report really made us wonder and scary as well and we breathe easy only after learning his negative signs and he’s sent back to home to stay alone in a room for 15 days.

The health care workers sprayed disinfectant outside our home and is checking him daily for any symptoms or needs. It makes think his positive report should be a mistake or he naturally cured between the time he took test and report delivered. I think taking 3 days for the result is really a long time, and anything is possible during this time. This is a second case I learn where the Covid positive becomes nothing when tested again at Kings Institute and I really don’t understand what makes the difference between the tests taken by the health care works at the health centres and the institute.

Actually I want to write something but end up writing this and what I really couldn’t connect is why many feels bad about Covid positive notice stick to their walls. No one really like or intend to be a Covid positive and it’s an infection that anyone would carry without their knowledge so why one should worry what others would think of it. Unless someone affected in their family people doesn't realizes the situation and troubles one faces as Covid positive. In reality we are leaning our support to his family and have requested his wife to contact us for any help or want to buy anything as she having a little child it’s difficult to make out. He used to play with his daughter till midnight (as she sleeps mostly in day times) and she’s so attached to him should be emotionally difficult for both either locked behind the door. I hope he shows no positive signs, what is good for all.

கொரோனா பாடம் / Corona Lesson

உலகைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த விரும்பினோம்
அடங்கிப்போனோம் வீட்டுக்குள்ளே. 

கண்ணுக்கு தெரியாத கொரோனா 

கண்ணு மூக்கு வாய் என விரல விட்டு ஆட்டுது.

அதுவும் நம் கையைக்கொண்டு !

கோயில்கள் பூட்டப்பட்டுள்ளன

சுத்தமும் சமூக விலகலும் உயிர் காக்கின்றன.

மருத்துவமனைகள் கொரோனாவுக்கு ஒதுக்கி விட்டன.  

சுய கட்டுப்பாடே தடுப்பு மருந்தாகி விட்டன.

சுற்றமும் நட்பும்  விலகி இருக்கட்டும் -

கொரோனவை வீழ்த்தட்டும். 

-------------- ------------

We wanted to control the world
Domesticated at home.
The invisible corona
Fingered the eyes, nose and the mouth.
That too with our own hands!

The temples are locked 
Cleanliness and social alienation keep us alive. 
The hospitals were allotted to the corona 
Self-control has become the vaccine. 
Let go of the affinity and the friendship - 
Let the corona fall.

RGB Monday

Colourful trays from the nearby grocery shop, left after the vegetables are unloaded.

The partial lockdown in India has extended till May 31^st but the days almost sound normal until the afternoon up to where shops are opened. Though the individual shops are allowed to open till 7pm, the lack of business after 1 pm (which is a former time limit for groceries during the total lockdown period) forced them to shut down and the traders too are unwilling to go further waiting while the summer heat continues to soar.

Some Thoughts and Pre Relaxations

Even after 42 days of lockdown, wearing masks, while coming out of home has been a matter in question with many a people. People are requested to wear masks, but not to close their mouth alone! I see some wear masks that are little to close their mouth only and I wonder what an intellect one must be to stitch such a mask that looks like a bandage on an operated mouth. I noticed it is the laity who suffers lot through the lockdown has been at the risk of transmitting the virus through their indifference attitude. The government has relaxed the lockdown a little to help people at a level but i feel it’s too early to do so, and this slack will end up tightening more as there's lot chances to share the virus and I see still people are carefree and wear mask only in fear of cops and not by self-conscious or in preventive manner.

To make matter worse, our state govt. have announced to reopen the liquor shops from May 7^th, following many other states that have already reopened the liquor shops and people started to throng there indifferently forgetting the situation we’re and some stood in queues that extends up to nearly a km. This is really a disappointment to see. People complain about standing in queue to buy groceries or reliefs but none bothers standing this long for alcohol! This lockdown proved that people could manage without drinking alcohol except few cases of self-destruction; there isn’t a great impact and actually people started to practice to a liquor free lifestyle and we should have maintained this structure rather get them back to the habit. There couldn’t be a better chance like this to keep them away from liquor but the govt.’s focus is only on its core income, which comes from the liquor sale, than the people’s welfare.

I wonder what kind of development is this to get money from the public, by selling liquor, what harms their immune, to spend back on their welfare. Wasn’t this sounds like wounding someone deliberately and later put medicine on the wound? I know the illegal liquor has raised heads as soon the liquor shops are closed but this couldn’t be a threat if there’s right legal actions.  But what worries me more now was, when people couldn’t be mindful on social distancing and wearing mask even at a normal state what kind of behaviours could we expect on intoxication?  

I know there are people, who would blindly follow whatever their favourite leaders or celebrities says (and sometime in different ways like taking street processions when asked to clap hands and light lamps in appreciating the healthcare workers working on Covid 19), so this could be the better time if those stars spoke on television, advising their fans and devotees to stay home or wear mask.  Lately I saw a video of a top actor’s birthday, celebrated by his fans group against the law of lockdown, and these crazy guys never seems to care about pandemic. I think, at least, if the actors with great fan followers could help these times, by appearing in media to advocate those blindfolds, just to see how well it works. Now we need more conscious on quarantine and any source of aid is resourceful this time.

Stay home Stay safe

Clean Environment and Covid 19

Unity is what Covid 19 taught us or forced us to do so today, but the difference here’s we all have to distance ourselves to stay together in the process of defending from the infectious virus. What this unity proves is that if we decided to stand together we can bring change over anything. Though positivity in Covid is worrisome and life threatening but there’s lot of positivity the togetherness we created by staying at home in influence of lockdown. Air, an essential element of nature, and the life source of every living species, have drastically changed over this period of lockdown since the transportation and industries come to a halt, it gives a great sigh of relief and desires to sustain in this flow.  In Chennai the air quality index has come low as ever and Adyar, where I live is below 8 (of April 29, 16:00) which regularly count 60+ before.

Same as air, the water bodies and rivers too refined without the flow of industrial waste and abuse of human. Prime Minister Modi in his election campaign promised to clean the Ganges River, which become dirtier in the long run of effluent against its state of sanctity, but before he initiate or think about it corona did it on his behalf.  People in belief of overcoming their sins, take bath in Ganges and leave their belongings into the river to become a mess and threat to lives depend on the flow of river. While Covid 19 troubles people and kills many simultaneously, it also silently cleanse the environment by holding us at home, even though it’s uncertain that the recovering of the hole in ozone layer is due to the lessening of pollution levels across the globe in last few months of lockdown, it was a great news and cheerful moment for environmental activists who work on this front.

Like how in sedimentation, the solid matters settles at the bottom of the liquid in lack of motion, the lesser amount of activities on earth helped the environment to resettle things that affects nature and health. I don’t think there could be a better moment like this to look back into the future we come across destructing anything that could be possible to improve our lives and livelihoods, taking nature, the only tool in hand. Now, all taking break at home, and fighting back the Covid 19, nature took this chance to restore the environment to its pristine or close to former conditions. Animals and birds too started to trace back their roots we uprooted to develop our lives or began visiting their ancestor’s homes we destroyed to build our own.

Lately, I was amazed to see a bird picture in Instagram, captured by someone in the neighbourhood and it was the same bird species I found in Kodaikanal. The interesting thing was it was a migratory bird from Himalayas and it flew down to southern states during winter and now I found Chennai has been a stopping ground on its course up and down! Though we know we’re paying a massive price to restore the earth and of course, it isn’t the way we anticipated or wished for things to change on earth, but preserving this state of cleanliness is must when we return to new normal lifestyle. I know it is not possible to quite sustain in this state of clean environment when life kick-starts again and industries open their shutters but creating a balance between environment and livelihood could make better our lifestyle. 

Hope all stay safe

Life changing Covid 19 - 30 days into lockdown

I think the real challenges wait for us only when the lockdown is relaxed, because, so far, almost, I personally feel secure during this lockdown period even though I wasn't content with the indifference in people I connected. People talk about the difficulties of daily labourers, who survive on daily wages, forgetting their own lack of contribution in social distancing and wearing masks which is what going to improve the situation and help the poorer, quicker to get back to their livelihoods.  I don’t think we all could get back to our previous life exactly, because the Covid 19 had almost turned down or blocked the way life progressed as we exposed to rise in transmission of virus, we’re forced to stay home to stay safe and take precaution measures to prevent spreading of virus.

Social distancing comes natural to these ladies... walking back to their houses carrying firewood on their heads, after picking it up in forest near Kukkal in Kodaikanal. Image shot last year during a holiday in mountains.

We have almost used to this custom of lockdown in last 30 days of implement, throughout India, though some continue to act like breaking down the lockdown, three-quarter of people supports the system to hunt down the virus completely. Though we all know this virus is not easily destructive and it could continue to popup anytime into the future unless a vaccine is found, social distancing and masking would become a trend and necessity in our daily life. We, now, have enough time to think about the future and how to adapt to a new lifestyle we supposed to take over once the lockdown is relaxed and the preventive measures to take despite whatever the work we do further.

Lockdown or Curfew is very new to most of us but we have heard this word in news and movies and Jammu & Kashmir, the northern state of India, frequently go through this in order to control terrorism and protests and some districts in south Tamil Nadu had faced the curfew due to certain issues. Now, the entire country, and most of the countries in world imposed lockdown clearly to bring down the number of covid 19 cases and to break the chain of spreading virus and this is the only way WHO prescribed to the world, following the success of China. The earth and the air is pollution free now, but we’re forced to wear mask! See how miserable man on earth, he could not enjoy two things at a same and need to sacrifice something to get another.

RGB Monday

Half baked in light and shadow. 

All days are same these days or to say every day seems like Sundays after the implement of lockdown. Just felt it was Monday today and decided to cheer up with a colourful image while there is sadness, fear and uncertainty rules the globe right away. Here I share my aunt’s colorful Kolam drawn for the Tamil New Year (April 14) in front of our house and it was a day passed like any other day. The lockdown is extended up to May 3 here and the covid cases are only at rise but it was bit better in our state Tamil Nadu where there is good numbers of recovery and less death ratio. I see some people continue to blame the govt. for lockdown as if they purposely doing it to punish them… I wonder where they lose their senses in perceiving the fact or failed to understand the progress of Covid 19 when everything they connected speaks the same. This attitude is really bad and perhaps this makes them act indifferently and disobediently to put others life at risk. Hope all stay home and stay safe.