The day count of lockdown is long forgotten, and immaterial if it was a Sunday or a weekday, every day now a holiday. The seclusion in their homes is taking on most, doing weird acts and promptly posting them on social networks. The whole world has taken to singing, one daring to ask friends their ‘honest opinion’ of her song. Someone equally daring replied, “I wonder why I have not committed suicide yet.” I do not know if the singer ever posted any further songs or not.
Many men too had to do something different. People were advised against going to Barbershops for caching the virus infection, and everyone shaved off their hair with whatever instrument they had at home, kitchen knife, boti (there is no English equivalent-in pic), scissors or even a nail-cutter. I leave the results to the imagination of the readers.
The exchanges of letters between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna took a turn with two MPs taking over, relieving the CM of the burden of responding to the Governor. I smell a whiff of the poll strategist Prashant Kishor’s hand in keeping Didi away from any brawl, similar to his drawing her away from the cut-money skirmishes. Not to be undone, the state overseer from the BJP, Kailash Vijayvargiya, who has shot off an open letter.
The way the exchanges are becoming open and reaching the media and the public even before it reaches the addressees, it seems the RTI department may wind up soon. I was distraught with the lady MP of TMC, who branded the Governor as a jobless lawyer. The attack came shortly after the CM pointed her superiority for being elected and the Governor merely nominated. I shudder to think if the government yields and adds one more election for the post of Governor by amending the constitution.
I was watching the ruckus at Tikiapara and the attack on the policemen from the deluge of videos that flooded the social media. But for the severity of the crime of hitting a police officer on duty by the lungi-clad, red-shirted man paled against the agility of the lad. He could well be considered for one of the ‘Shree’ from the many that the State confers to many. What a flying kick! It reminded of Telugu movie hero, flying in from a kilometre away to land on the villain’s head! Jokes apart, I hope the State deals with it in a deserved manner.
Why should it be galore of confusion only in West Bengal? Whether it is the number of deaths or the place for self-isolation-at home or hospital, all seem so complicated for a layman to understand. Any inconvenient question could land one in a government hospital quarantine!
It seems unclear about the resumption of normalcy anytime soon. Any place can become ‘red’ and barred from civilization at any time. When the lockdown was announced, I worried about the dilemma of how I would be spending 6-8 weeks at home with my wife. Compulsion influences humanity, into conceding to every adversity. It has, for me!
I had a lot of resolutions for the lockdown period, sadly they are ending like the New Year ones, without even beginning.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
1 Comment
Well balanced analysis reflecting general public’s dilemma in this regard