Disclaimer: I am an introvert
The social media is full of memes and jokes about the lockdown affecting introverts and extroverts differently. The difference does exist. Still, the intensity of difficulties posed is the same; the difference is in the field that the difficulties are being experienced.
In my case, I was devastated as my board exams were postponed, and it seemed like a cliffhanger to a novel. I wish I knew I was featuring in a tragedy. The next few days brought tons and tons of bad news. I was happy for a couple of days. The pandemic aside; it was perfect for me. After all, it’s an introvert’s dream to stay inside the house reading novels, watching Netflix and eating in bed.
Pretty soon I realized there were problems too, which are kind of too personal and boring to share on the internet. With every new post I viewed on social media, my heart broke a little. Eventually, indulged in the miseries people were experiencing throughout the world, and I began to feel gloomy, which is why I had to ignore those pieces to remain sane. Till now, I am managing well.
Though India’s actions during this pandemic were too horrifying to remain sane, the ill-planned lockdown, the shortage of PPEs for doctors, ridiculous ideas by the government to exhibit the country’s regard for the doctors, showing solidarity, lack of extensive testing, etc., made me feel hopeless.
In the PM’s address calling for Janata Curfew, our supreme leader himself said that while Italy has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, India does not. With my family members being doctors, the lack of protective gear and a shortage of medicines was even more worrisome for me.
It’s not finished yet. People from northeast India endured racist attacks. The leaders all around the globe with certain exceptions seemed to have lost their minds; god knows why (it isn’t a one-time thing actually). Not only were the people of north-east being teased, within two weeks, the Muslim community also got blamed for the extensive spreading of the virus.
While the US president was calling it ‘Chinese Virus‘, the Indian news channels were calling it, ‘Corona Jihad’. It led to Muslims across India being suspected of having participated in the Nizamuddin Markaz event and kept in quarantine in awful conditions. Some of my family members were dragged into this too even though they had no travel history, not to Delhi, not anywhere else. It felt like an attack. Without any confirmation, they were taken by the police and fed just for the sake of formality.
India has witnessed highly ironic situations during the pandemic. Exporting protective gear while its doctors demanded the same. Clapping to express gratitude towards those battling the disease on the front lines and then showing a horrible attitude towards them. Getting together to scare away the virus after being asked to stay in isolation.
The ironies are countless. But what I derived from all of this experience is: The healthcare system of India is shit because the government has got its priorities wrong. The people suffer due to the actions of ministers, and they are not even allowed to analyse their actions critically. Anything can be made a religious issue in India. Precaution is the best cure as this country won’t do anything to help you if something happens. And this is what I suggest you all do: Stay Home. Stay Safe.