MARCH 20, 2020
KARO-NA! I am an optimist
Who would appreciate it today? Especially, when the Prime Minister of the country on a day before i.e. March 19, informed the world that the threat is real and danger is imminent. This is much worse than the two wars the world had faced.
Times are different and the world is neither the same nor similar. People around the world are scrambling to remain safe and slogans “Test, test, test!” and “Trace, test, and quarantine!” are emerging. It is hard to see the brighter side of life.
Economic world is seeing many new shocks and the stock market is down 40-50%. Serious wealth is eroded. Airlines, hospitality, tourism etc. has collapsed completely. People don’t know when they will see their next pay checks. The title of this piece seems so inappropriate.
The phrase, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….”, comes true and so meaningful.
Every piece of information floating around, including the “fake world” is full of gloom and carnage. And it ranges from humanity to economics. These, certainly, are unprecedented worst of times!
So what are the best of times?
Venice, the shifted epicentre of COVID-19, noted blue water and dolphins in canals. Wuhan’s red polluted zone has turned green. Former captain of Australian women's cricket team is buying groceries for her aged neighbour. Birds have started chirping again. Estranged families and friends have started playing board games together.
Is it the world of the 2050's or the world of 2020’s?
Humanity has slowed down, water has started breathing, air has started scenting, sakura trees have become brighter. Isn’t the first part of the above phrase and title of this piece appropriate?
This is the signal by nature and humans need to step back and think- what we need and what we desire. Flat, maddening world which is on the move all the time- where happiness is measured on barometer of instagram, twoo, tinder, facebook OR world where you can have a real conversation with real people, where you can see nature(rather than seeing photoshopped pictures), where all species can coexist- we need to make a choice today? It is a question of NEED or GREED.
Let us all step back and forge our bond once again with nature, as we may not get ANOTHER chance to think!