By M L Satyan
Bengaluru: Coronavirus has become the ‘talk of the world’ since December 2019. This deadly virus, also known as “Covid-19,” originated from the city of Wuhan in China and has now reached every part of the world.
The first wave was felt strongly all over the world, especially in some of the European countries and the USA in 2020.
The virus has ruined many economies around the world. Many countries had to close their borders in an attempt to contain and control the spread of the deadly virus. Millions were infected with the disease and millions lost their lives. Countless people were locked in their homes and many countries placed their citizens on lockdown.
Lockdown in India had caused irreparable damages to the lives of the middle, lower-middle class people and those living below poverty line. It also damaged the social, economic, religious and political systems to a very great extent.
In 2021, the second wave is being experienced in many countries including India. If one studies carefully the way this virus attacked during 2020 and 2021, we can see its “cunningness” exhibited. How?
Example-1: The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan city of China did not reach Beijing and Shanghai located in close proximity to Wuhan. The virus knew where to spread and where not to spread. When the world’s major economic and political centers were closed, Beijing and Shanghai were open.
There were only a few cases but the virus had no real effect on these two cities. Beijing, China’s capital, is the city where all the leaders of China live, including their military leaders. There was no lockdown in Beijing. Shanghai is the economic capital of China where all the rich people of China live and run major industries. There was no lockdown there. There was a drastic fall in the share market in other countries. But there was a minimum effect on China’s share market. Don’t we realize that the virus was cunning?
Example-2: Amid the spread of the deadly virus in India, a mega event named “Namasthe Trump” was organized in Gujarat last year where more than 200,000 people gathered and in Delhi where the president and most of the parliamentarians and government officials were present. There was no scarcity for “touching, embracing and handshaking” during the events in Gujarat and Delhi. The virus spared all the political and government bigwigs. Don’t we realize that the virus was cunning?
Example-3: During the first wave in India, all educational institutions, business centers and worship places were closed. Yet, the “liquor business” was carried out uninterrupted. The virus was careful not to affect all those involved in this business – sellers and drinkers. Even during the second wave, no restrictions are laid for liquor shops and bars. The government seems to be sure that the virus will spare this business. Don’t we realize that the virus was and continues to be cunning?
Example-4: During the second wave in India, the Central and State governments, have introduced several restrictions for common people like students, small-scale businesses, roadside vendors and small restaurants. However, corporate-level companies/businesses operate as usual. The virus can differentiate common and corporate people. Don’t we realize that the virus is cunning?
Example-5: Most State governments have prescribed numbers for gatherings – only 50 people for funeral; only 100 people for marriage functions, if it is indoor; only 200 people for marriage function, if it is held in an open space. At the same time, neither the Central government nor the State government has any restriction on the number of people attending election campaign meetings. The virus knows that it can attack the funeral and marriage gatherings if they exceed 50, 100 and 200. However, the virus can spare thousands of people gathered during election campaigns. Don’t we realize that the virus is cunning?
Example-6: The deadly virus also knows that it can attack non-Hindu religious gatherings (Christians, Muslims, Jains etc.) if they exceed the prescribed number. However, the virus recognizes mega size Hindu gatherings, especially the Kumbh Mela, and does not attack them vigorously, but attacks mildly. The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand said, “The goddess Ganga will protect the people from the Coronavirus”. Don’t we realize that the virus is cunning and spares the people who are taking holy dip in river Ganga?
Example-7: Coronavirus seems to attack common people when they do not wear mask. Police punishes the common people by physical attack and collection of 200 to 500 rupee as fine for not wearing mask. But the police never take any action against the politicians who rarely wear mask. Strangely, the virus seems to recognize most of the political bigwigs and spares them when they never wear mask during huge public gatherings. Don’t we realize that the virus is cunning?
Example-8: “Social distancing” is another strict guideline laid by the government for the common people. But the politicians, in their meetings and functions, rarely maintain social distancing. On 15 April, 2021 Dinakaran, a Tamil newspaper published a picture of Karnataka Chief Minister and his colleagues paying floral tribute to Ambedkar’s statue in Vidhan Soudha campus, Bengaluru on his 130th birth anniversary. The CM had no mask on his face. He and his colleagues threw the “social distancing” up in the wind. The cunning virus spared them!
Example-9: There is a big hue and cry about the corona vaccination in many countries, especially in India. On the one side, the politicians assure that it will protect us from the deadly virus. On the other side, medical fraternity makes open confession that one can be affected by the virus even after taking two shots of the vaccination. Who is powerful – coronavirus or vaccination? The cunning virus seems to play around with the vaccination.
Questions: Does the virus really exist? Is the virus magnified beyond proportion? Why does the government promote only vaccination? The government rarely advocates our traditional indigenous medicines and home remedies, Why? Is the virus created and promoted by the political-medical-corporate mafia for its selfish gain? Stay alert and be safe!