While there’s a national lockdown in India and many other parts of the world, media is reporting the loss of lives and new cases of COVID-19 infection each day. But at the same time, some good news is also flowing from different quarters. After a long time, we are seeing blue skies and feeling freshness in the air. Recognizing the hardships our economic system and other areas/sectors are facing, we still commit to standing in unity and hope. While we stay at home, the planet is healing and feeling less burdened.
Lessons For Humanity
As the world struggles to fight the pandemic COVID-19, humanity is learning many lessons for the future. I mention the five that matter the most to me. These lessons take us back to the very basic laws of nature: what goes up has to come down—the gravitational pull.
The first is to make optimum use of resources—water, air, soils, and others. Resources are for use, not misuse. Keep the mantra: “Use, Reuse and Recycle” so that we all survive.
Second, preserve and respect nature as it is. Nature is bountiful with colour and diversity, yet we try to fiddle with what is and often reverse or change the cycle by our greedy acts. Let us be reminded that nothing stays the same. Change is always inevitable on this earth.
Third, I am reminded of Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and the theory of evolution. Who and what we are today is the result of an evolutionary process, and we must remember that each species has its special place in the chain of life.
Fourth, health is and should be the top priority of all nations. Health is wealth, as the old adage goes, is true. People drive the nation to success. Without people, our nation has no existence. Our health systems need to be prepared to fight odds, or they will collapse and crumble.
Fifth, a pandemic does not differentiate between class, caste, religion, or region. We, humans, have created these differences for their own gains. Power mongers play up these differences to reign, leaving the common person with nothing to gain.
It is high time that we resolve to give the planet its due space. We, the humankind, have intelligence that should not be used only for material gains for some, but to create a happy and safe space for all species of flora and fauna. The planet is our blessing, let’s cherish it and pass on to future generations a world full of grace!
(Arti is program leader, Communications, at S M Sehgal Foundation, a rural development organization, registered since 1999)