Corona - Another battle for humans to succeed

On this day, 7th April 2020, the entire world is struggling and fighting against a small microorganism - COVID - 19. A virus, which shakes the foundation of human societies. We never thought such a thing could happen because we always believed that whatever we built for many centuries is unshakeable unless otherwise, the creator himself (the humans) destroys it. The thought (ego) we had that, we have mastered nature and more importantly, we have certainly overpowered whatever living on this planet - is burst like a water bubble. Reality couldn't have slapped us more painfully than how it has done now.

We can see that the entire human progress is in a battle. And whatever military power that we had gained has gone worthless before this unseen, common enemy. No missiles, ICBM, nuclear weapons, spy satellites are worth now. Hence, a basic question arises in many minds now.

Where did we lose? What did we miss to notice? Which link our eyes were blind to see? How can we kneel down and bow to nature, we are humans and we don't even bow to each other? We were looking high in space, try to find which planet has minerals and where can we go and settle after, say few hundreds of years later, but we missed to see what is lying down near our feet, on this planet!

The governments are trying to do their best, relentlessly trying to save people, doctors, and medical staff work for us, sacrificing their own lives, safety, police and government officials and staff sleeplessly work to protect us ignoring their safety.

We, the common people are staying inside our homes, scared to go out, praying for those who are helping and protecting us. That is the best we can do now.

Asking questions is easy. But retrospection is necessary, to go inside our minds, ask questions which were present there all the time but to which we chose to be oblivious. We must seek answers. Blaming each other is not a safe game. If my neighbor suffers, I must admit to myself, I will also suffer. A 'dog eat dog' strategy is not for humans.

This situation is not very new to humans. In their long history of more than ten thousand of years, we survived by changing our way and adapting to nature. We started learning science, started inventing machines and tools and then the 'progress' took up a lightning speed and eventually we started to think that we are the masters.

Nature taught us that every living thing will struggle to survive, by adapting, changing characteristics, and by mutating.  Virology teaches us that viruses mutate to survive from our immunity or medicines. So ideally we should prepare for future attacks from billions of microorganisms that surround us. The contingency plan should not only include medicinal research but it should include protecting humans too.

In the progress as such, we have developed a huge economic disparity among ourselves. I don't want to think about whether it was deliberate or not, at this point in time. Such discussion now will only lead to a diversion of our focus in the fight against the virus. At the same time, when we devise a plan for the future, in my opinion, we must ensure the best medical facilities and essentials should be available to all humans irrespective of economic or demographic situations.

It is time for us to realize only the unity made us to progress. It is again the time for us to realize that only unity will take us forward. Science is for humans, animals and plants to survive.

The government is doing the best of what can they do. Our prayers will always be with the people, who work for us. We will pray for their safety and success. Humans have succeeded in many struggles in the past. In the same way, we will overcome this crisis successfully.

Stay inside and be safe.

*****************************
R.Bharathram
7 April 2020