When the government declared a lockdown in India on 25th March 2020 we sighed and resigned ourselves to a few days (perhaps even a few weeks) of inconvenience.
Today more than half a YEAR has passed since that day and there is no sign of anything letting up, despite the various ‘unlocking’ and ‘atmanirbhar’ declarations.
India is currently set to overtake every other country in the world in terms of sheer numbers of cases. Despite the mortality rate being low, the numbers still add up.
Then there is the terrifying reality of not knowing who is going to die and who is going to survive, and no guarantee of immunity or protection from reinfection if you do survive.
A vaccine is probably still a year away and there is little light at the end of the tunnel.
We tried. We really did. We banged thalis, clapped loudly, shouted Go Corona Go, hosted cow’s urine drink parties, chanted Mahamrutyunjaya jaap, recited the Hanuman Chalisa, drank doodh haldi.
Really. We did everything we could.
Of course, we didn’t wear our masks as we should have and undertook zero social distancing but hey, India did not get where it is by following rules and evidence- based practises!
India has always had a critical shortage of trained healthcare staff and in these last 7 months over 500 doctors have died. We don’t even know how many nurses, frontline health workers, community health workers have died.
Meanwhile ASHA workers are using their own dupattas and saree pallus since they have not been supplied with any masks or sanitizers and sometime not even any transport as they go around long distances on foot to affected communities spreading the word on health messages.
India loves these kind of ironies.
Our folk artists have come on board with some brilliant messages of their own.
But is anyone listening??
Fortunately at least our schools have stayed shut unlike the US and UK, but then again not all kids can access online schooling. So many of our rural students in fact depend on the mid- day meal at school for the only hot meal they may get in a day.
Migrants who built our cities with their blood sweat and tears were thrown out of them without any provisions, facilities or support. They built our homes and we made them homeless overnight. Good job!
So, clearly, it isn’t all staycations and Amazon deliveries and zoom parties for everyone.
But we have reached a point where we really do need to get a grip and be prepared for the long haul.
We cannot give in to pandemic fatigue!
It is said that a drawing speaks a thousand words and street art around the world has continued to be an amazing space for expressions of compassion, gratitude and political satire. So here are some collated for your viewing pleasure, without having to leave your home for the streets!
Relish these as you keep calm and pandemic on!
that which i am 