Can we uninstall the years 2020 and 2021 from our lives? Maybe in some alternate universe, but not here on Earth yet. We have no option but to fight the pandemic and attempt to sail through it as smoothly as possible.
Easier said than done? Agreed. Some lives have been completely devastated in the wake of the pandemic, but just like there are two sides to every coin, there is an alternate dimension to this crisis that gives hope for a better and improved world for generations to come. In the past year and a half, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed not only the way of life but also the way people look at it. It seems like people have finally had time from their mundane fast-paced lives to wonder about what matters. The saying "Health is wealth" never made more sense. Today, everybody is concerned about their health and does something or the other to increase their immunity and strength. Maintaining good hygiene is no longer a choice but the need of the hour.
While many lives were lost and families were ruined, people learned to value relationships. Man is a social animal, yet he found a way around the confinement with the help of technology. There was a time when personal and professional relationships were forged over a cup of latte in cafes, a cup of tea in chai tapris, or over beverages in board rooms. Today work from home is the norm, and webcams and earphones are everybody's best friends. Work culture has taken a complete 180-degree turn, and businesses no longer need large commercial spaces to function. As a result, real estate in tier-1 cities has become more affordable.
Similarly, the nature of the economy is also transforming gradually, with agriculture leading the way not only with its significant contribution to the GDP but also with the rise in investments in agro-based industries. Following the primary sector closely is the service sector.
When the pandemic forced people into their homes, they became dependent on e-commerce and online service delivery channels for their day-to-day needs and wants. The pandemic, in a way, became a phase of the digital revolution in India with the rapid reduction of the digital divide. Today even small businesses and roadside vendors use swipe machines and UPI tools for conducting their daily transactions. India is learning and growing in technology, and with an increase in access, this growth is becoming somewhat equitable. This rise led to a plethora of innovations and inventions in tools and software. Start-ups have come up from across the country with several new ideas in making lives better and sustainable for all. Social entrepreneurship is the need of the hour.
Covid-19 has brought out the concept of Aatmanirbharta in a country known for its imports of goods and services. During the crisis, India has started producing PPE kits domestically and fulfilling its needs within a brief period.
Earlier, India had little to no production of PPE kits, and its demands were met by importing products from other countries. Now-a-days, India is one of the largest producers of PPE kits in the world. Moreover, India has also started mass-level production of ventilators to meet its requirement, and Indian firms manufactured more than 50,000 in just a few months.There have been several innovations to digitise education and make it affordable for all so that learning does not take a hit due to the shutting down of educational institutions. The Government took steps like distributing smartphones amongst teachers and students, broadcasting classes over televisions, and looking for alternate modes of teaching and evaluation by forgoing the conventional pedagogical measures.
Many online platforms have stepped up and provided skill-oriented courses for free or at meager prices, making it an enthusiastic learner's paradise. Amongst other things, the pandemic has made us realise the importance of the public healthcare system.
A country where a substantial proportion of people belong to the rural parts of the world needs to enhance its healthcare budget, improve the doctor-patient ratio, and work towards other necessities such as hospital beds, ICUs, ventilators, etc. The world's most extensive lockdown meant that all factories, markets, shops, and worship places were closed, and most public transports were suspended. Construction work halted as India asked its citizens to stay home and practice social distancing.
It was lockdown for people but freedom for birds and animals. Air and noise pollution has decreased due to the check on the movement of both humankind and vehicles.
As people were mostly confined to their homes, there was less interference of human beings. So the birds and wild animals must be feeling relaxed. The birds communicate more when there is less noise. More singing, chirping, and chattering of birds have been heard.
There has been a drastic change in the scenario of rivers; they appear to be cleaner and healthier compared to earlier days. Hence, it is pretty evident that the pandemic has come as a boon for nature which was getting exploited due to human's selfish nature of only taking and not giving back. This pandemic has been a silver lining for nature.
The positive effects of the pandemic should not be considered a long-term way to control environmental pollution. Once this comes to an end, the global social and economic activities should return to their normal level.
Thus, these short-term positive impacts should be utilised to develop effective future policies to protect the environment. The novel coronavirus has made us realise the ability of nature to restore the environment and health. When the entire humankind is facing the worst crisis of the century, humanity has stepped up. Mahatma Gandhi once said, "The greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane." Stories and tales of humanitarian acts and numerous good Samaritans could be heard in the dire situations of the pandemic.
Be it doing their duties diligently as doctors, nurses, healthcare providers, ambulance drivers, or just helping neighbours, helping people in need stranded at various locations without basic amenities, heroes emerged from every corner of society.
To say we're living through challenging times sounds like both a cliché and an understatement. But when people look back on their lives, it is usually the most difficult challenges that gave them a new perspective or caused them to grow the most.
It is so easy to get bogged down in negativity and anger, lose sight of time's transient nature, and plunge into feelings of hopelessness and despair. Being more mindful, sharing kindness, and practicing gratitude are immediate tangibles to get one out of the maze in which one finds oneself.
Maybe you've been lucky enough to see a double rainbow or witnessed a beautiful rainbow after a storm. Or perhaps just caught a spectacular rainbow for a second before the clouds came over it. There are few more beautiful and unique things than rainbows—nature's symbols that beauty can come from darkness. When thunderstorms roll in, you choose to either succumb with tears to the gloomy downpour or smile and look for rainbows.
(Dr Swain is Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics. Utkal University, Mobile: +919015146613. Agrawal is Master Student Department of Statistics, Utkal University)