An Anniversary of Sorts

It was the same time the last year, the air got heavy and dark. I suddenly felt I was choking. Thick clouds of dust and smoke had descended on the national capital. Something I had never witnessed before. I struggled to breathe.

At the same time, there were news of a new respiratory illness in the Chinese province of Wuhan. Maybe a virus. Little did we realise that this funny little virus would redefine our perception of the way we live. Every now and then, we hear about deaths in different corners of our country. Some die of known infections, some of unknown, some due to apathy and some because others felt that they had no right to live. News of deaths from tuberculosis, malaria and waterborne diseases never fetch headline columns, for the life of the underprivileged from an underdeveloped part of the world is often associated with an inevitability. The white world is happy to donate money, build charities and wouldn’t miss an opportunity for a photo-op with a black child and the fruit fly.

But this narrative changed forever, when the Wuhan virus devastated the Rich and wealthy in the European states. The world is not used to the photos of white and rich dying on the streets or wrapped in body bags. Such pictures from Ethiopia or Odisha are acceptable- but Lombardy and NewYork! Never! The alarm spread rapidly and so did the virus. This was unanticipated in the world of the rich and the wealthy. The virus moves, so stop the people from moving. Hence, came the great lockdowns. Initially it was a novelty for the rich. Unannounced holidays- nurture some hobbies dear. The poor already had nurtured hobbies, which include fasting, walking from one end of the country to the other and watching their children die. The virus and the lockdown only reinforced these pastimes to their mainstream lives. The rich were scared to breathe and the poor were not allowed to.

The rich white world was worried how India would turn to a cauldron of mayhem because of the virus. Not to talk of Africa. Yet, one year down the line, the facts didn’t seem to match the narrative of the experts. The virus had a particular liking for the rich, fat men with a whole host of lifestyle diseases. Did not bother the slums and villages of India much, who have lived through and with numerous bacteria, viruses and parasites. The red dots and blots of the Wuhan virus did not leave its mark on Africa either. Things that the experts hesitate to talk about.

And now we have produced more than ten different forms of vaccines for the Wuhan virus in less than 10 months, optimism is evident in the stock markets as well as fish markets. We have witnessed a tech revolution, which changed our perception about production of vaccines. Never doubt the ability of viruses to surprise us- they have survived for millions of years before us and they will do so after the human race is extinct. We are in with another annual vaccination, like it or not.

But even after the Wuhan virus recedes from the headlines, I will still struggle to breath. The air is not just about pollutants and pathogens, we can measure, it remains heavy with malice, dishonesty and lack of trust. Can we ever restore the trust and faith we have lost? I live with the hope that we can- if not in my lifetime, maybe sometime later. And that’s our only hope.