Corona, a curse or boon

Corona, a Curse or Boon

Message is loud and clear that in this boundless régime of God, man is no better than a midget; don't mess with the nature; live as a servant of nature not the master of nature

By Mukesh Sharma

From Wuhan to Washington, with over 24,000 deaths across the world and still counting, the invisible, inexplicable, indefatigable, invincible, indefinite etc ' thing' so named Coronavirus is feared more than Yamaraj (God of death in Hindu  Scriptures) today. Death penalty by Reverend Yamaraj can never be without justification; it is always, of course, self certified reasoned order like the Supreme Court of India - no appeal, no appellant Court. But Corona seems to know no reason except merciless 'man' hunt. Though Corona's unnerving enemity against human 'animals' is yet to be understood and studied by the so-called all- know man, this blogger thinks that Corona's curse is not without a boon.

Coronavirus

The valued readers would agree with this blogger that the 'life' exists in dualities  - there can be no right without wrong; no knowledge without ignorance; no happiness without sorrow; no darkness without light; no failure without success; no death without birth. So there can be no curse without boon.

Look at Corona from an eye of an optimist - the glass is not half empty but half full. Corona's relentless attack has united the world. Hostilities have been put to rest in most of the disturbed countries in the world like Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Libya etc. for the time being. Even arch rivals US and China have joined hands for the concerted efforts in a fight against Corona.

For the first time in post independent history, it has been witnessed that India has risen above the region and religion in a bid to give corona a good fight. Phenomenal unity has been seen in the diversity from Kanya kumari to Kashmir. Ever squabbling opposition parties have not opposed the PM Modi's call for nation wide lockdown.

Thanks to Corona terror, the people contend that the crime rate has come down dramatically - no news of rapes, murders, dacoity, theft etc. What is more, the most of Indian metropolitan cities which were known for smothering air, are free from pollution - no noise pollution and air pollution - the sky is so clear. The deserted roads give the cities the feeling of a western landscape. The sun shines brightly. The moon gleams with full glare at night.

  

Frankly speaking, it occurs to my mind that the Corona has taught perverted man to behave. Lockdown in houses has re-established family values.

Corona seems to have reaffirmed the faith of the world in Indian culture and cuisine – so called civilized people of the developed west are exchanging pleasanteries by saying namaste with folded hands. The respect for veggies has increased manifold in the world. The government and the rich have loosened the strings of their purses to help out the poor - the food free of charge along with other essential services. In fact, Carona has revived the socialism, maybe, for sometime. But the people wish to live in present. IMF, World Bank and other institutions are contemplating the much needed help to the poor nation battling for life and survival. The most of the nations have announced stimulus package as relief. Even RBI has also suggested the bank to declare moratorium for at least 3 months on all kinds of loans. Loanees are shouting hip hooray! hip hooray! hip hooray ! Socialism has come. The humanity seems to have been re-structured.

Undoubtedly, Corona has reminded the man his place. God made the beautiful earth for all kinds of non-living and living organisms – Protozoans, Amphibians, Raptiles, Aves and Mammals. But the wily man has encroached upon the rights of other creatures too. To assert his phony hegemony, the man has abused his powers and misused the natural resources; the man has drawn lines and divided  the earth into countries. Surprisingly enough with just an average life span of 60 years, the man has declared himself the owner of the earth.

Though the man boasts of his material progress touching the moon and mars sending robotic machines into space to travel, supposedly, through intra-galaxies, he has failed to face a tinniest virus to the size of 60 mm micron – his ego stands shattered. The virus Corona has cut the man down to size; it has shown the mirror to man.

The message is loud and clear that in  this boundless regime of God, man is no better than a midget. Don’t mess with nature. Live as a servant of nature not master of nature.

FEAR OF SOCIAL UNREST

FEAR OF SOCIAL UNREST

People fear if the virus is not contained in near future, it may cause irremediable catastrophe 

By Mukesh Sharma 

Amid scramble and panic buying, there is fear of social unrest that has also triggered the gun-buying in US.

The Guardian newspaper has reported here today that sales of guns and ammunition are soaring across US.

Quoting the owner of the one of largest gun stores, Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Caroline, the Newspaper says the scenes of mass buying at the store are virtually unprecedented.

" we are experiencing a massive rush to buy guns and ammunition as people feel the need to protect themselves and their family" say the owner of the store, quotes the Newspaper.

Fear of social unrest

                

Though US Govt has already contemplated the huge interim relief to its populace in the wake of lockdown and shutdown, the possibility of social unrest can't be ruled out, particularly if the present situation lingers on and the bare essentials become scarce.

The situation is rife with speculations that this could be a possible scenario in many countries across the world. 

Indian PM Modi has also called for maintaining social distancing in order to control the spread of coronavirus in India where the deadly virus has already reached to second phase -  among the people who have been abroad and their kith and kins. However, it has not reached to third phase yet where it is spread rapidly through community transmission. 

However the people do maintain that in the want of adequate monetary relief to daily wage earners and other categories of poor people, the lockdown for a longer time may give rise to social unrest in India, particularly, in cities. 

There are reports that in many western countries, Army has been called out to maintain law and order, and enforce the law strictly.

People fear if the virus is not contained in near future, it may cause irremediable catastrophe.

Of Virus and Vermin

Of Virus and Vermin

Man has seeds of his ruin in himself. Man is the worst enemy of man

By Mukesh Sharma 

It was a cold day but very still. The sky was clear and the sun had packed up for the day. Though roads were choked with vehicles, none was plying.  Traffic signals were blinking but there was no vehicular movement   - no honking, no screech of tyres and no whizzing. It seemed that the time had stopped. Lifeless bodies of humans were strewn here and there. The bodies with seemingly leftover sign of life could be seen on the sidewalks in different postures. Groan, and grunts, moans and murmurs, hiccups and hush could be heard in the midst of scary silence. None was there to help out the dead or half dead. But still a few were holding hope against hope hugging their last breath tenaciously unmindful of the fact that the death is the great doctor that vanishes away even the last vestige of human pain. Even death has a heart. When life betrays, death embraces. Despite all beautiful landscape, wide roads and winding flyover, glittering lights, it looked like a haunted city.

The horrific and heart rending scene described above is not from any Hollywood movie but an imaginary scene of a modern city hit by the deadly virus.  An eye witness says that the imaginary details are rather close to Wuhan city of China, an epicenter of corona virus outbreak. The people maintain that this could be the probable scenario if God forbids, next world war breaks out; it would be altogether a different war - no boom or bang, no bomb or bloodshed but just countless dead bodies of humans snuffed by deadly virus and vermin - a weapon of future warfare.

The rumour is doing rounds in close circle and social media that the China has cultivated the deadly virus called as corona virus in its laboratory that mutates in human body only; it can transmit through contacts as well as through air; it affects human body only not any other animal. And as luck would have it, the virus got unleashed accidently and engulfed the Wuhan city. And rest is history.

The sources reveal that a book entitled "The Eye of Darkness" by Dean Koontz was published in 1981. The author made a mention specifically on page 352 - 353 of his book that China has developed a man made micro-organisms named Wuhan-400 at its RDNA lab located at the outskirt of Wuhan city. The book says:

" Wuhan-400 is a perfect weapon. It affects only human beings. No other living creature can carry it. And like syphilis, Wuhan 400 can't survive outside living human body for a longer than a minute which means it can't permanently contaminate object or entire place the way anthrax and other virulent  micro- organisms can. And when the host expires, the Wuhan 400 within perishes a short while later as soon as the temperature of the corpse drops below 86 F. Do you see the advantage of this"

The Eyes of Darkness

Though the Wuhan city is the worst affected, the deadly virus has reached to 120 countries across the globe as per WHO report; it has already taken the toll of 4500 lives across the world so far and still counting. Tens of thousands are reported to have infection and have been battling for life. Besides Italy, France, Germany, Iran etc. who have already declared emergency in their respective counties, America has also declared national emergency.  With reported deaths and rising number of infections, US is shutting down - no social gathering, travel ban across border  - all schools, entertainment programme have been shut sine die. GDP of US has slumped to 4 %. The situation is getting more and more serious with each passing day.

Further, WHO in its report no.51 dated March 11, has characterized the corona virus as " "pandemic" - an epidemic that is geographically widespread or throughout the world without containment.

However, an Australian scientist has claimed to have isolated the virus and is nearing the solution to contain it. Even Germany and US are making such unsubstantiated claims. But nothing tangible has come out so far.

Now referred to as COVID 19, if this virus goes controlled and uncontained, it may give rise to a cataclysmic situation; it might further jeopardise the existence of humans on the earth.

Latest status of COVID 19 outbreak as per WHO report

It won't be wrong to say that the man has seeds of his ruin in himself. Man is worst enemy of the man. Robert Burn rightly says:

Man's inhumanity to man,

Makes countless mourn.

HARD WORK SPEAKS VOLUMES

HARD WORK SPEAKS VOLUMES 

Learn lesson from Sanjive. Never lose heart. Don't fear failures. You can make yourself what you wish to make

By Mukesh Sharma

This blogger has great pleasure to introduce his valued readers to one of his students Sanjive Sikarwar who  has been promoted to the coveted post of  'Inspector' with Delhi police and is posted with a special department, a few days ago.

Inspector Sanjive Sikarwar

Sanjive has been very promising  and hardworking from the very beginning. He joined  prestigious Delhi police as a Constable. And it was this time when he joined the classes of this blogger for the improvement of his English.  This blogger can  recollect his words: "sir my father has spread the words in the village that I have become 'thanedaar'. I have not told him the truth. But I must become somebody in life." Keeping in view his hardwork and devotion to duty, the department promoted him as a Head Constable. With the patience, perseverance and incessant hardwork, the luck smiled on him and Sanjive cleared the departmental exam of Delhi Police and stood first as the best sub inspector cadet a few years ago only. And today he has been  promoted to the post of inspector with 3 stars on his shoulder. Frankly speaking, this blogger feels  these three stars on his shoulders too. 

You see Sanjive comes from a nondescript village of UP where knowledge of English is abysmally poor. He never lost heart and worked hard to brush up his English. Today, he not only speaks well but also writes well. His knowledge of law is excellent. He wanted to appear for UPSC exam but couldn't because of age restrictions. Surprisingly enough, UPSC doesn't give any age relaxation even to in-service police officials.

Sanjive is an honest officer. He performs his duty religiously. He is fired with the desire to work for  the country and countrymen. He never compromises his principles.

Sanjive knows how to have dreams and live them. In response to my blessings, he says : Sir I will continue my  journey  to north with your blessings."

Learn lesson from Sanjive. Never lose heart. Don't fear failures. You can make yourself what you wish to make.

The Secret of America Power and Prosperity

The Secret of America's Power and Prosperity

America seems to have redefined democracy after the great Abrahim Lincoln -  government of duteous people, by the duteous people for the duteous people. None can beat a country where each citizen earns one’s rights on the basis of the performance of one’s duties

By Mukesh Sharma

Man is a creature of society; he can’t live without a society; he is born to believe; he is raised to observe the customs of society. Even kings and queens follow the customs. As an indispensable part of the society, each man has well-defined duties and rights also. In fact, duties lay the foundation of a society, and rights give it a structural stability. Further, harmony between duties and rights bring progress and prosperity in the society. And a strong society gives rise to a strong nation. The secret of America's prosperity and power lies in its well ordered and well-disciplined society where the people prefer duties to rights; duties are given more importance than rights. And in turn, the system ensures and safeguards the inalienable rights of its each citizen.

Right from Hon’ble President of America to a nonentity peon all perform their duties rather religiously, no compromise in the performance of duties. Be it in government or in opposition, each Hon’ble members  of  American parliament enjoys free votes and  just think of his/her country only. They collectively mull how more and more wealth can be earned for the country and how it can be used to maintain the supremacy in the world, how it can be used on welfare of the American populace. They perform their duties honestly. In contrast, unruly and uproarious scenes can be witnessed in the Indian parliament where political parties seem to indulge in gang-fight for their narrow  ends.

Though America is a capitalist country, rights of the employees are protected by the authorities like anything. Companies offer what they claim – best possible products and services at best possible prices. So the best food, best clothes and best houses that entails the best life, are within the easy reach of the common man of America. Even business class has strong sense of duty towards country and the people. But in India, anyone with social and political clout can swindle banks and hustle the common man  – Nirav Modi, Vijay Malaya, Ponji Scheme etc and  many big names in real estate business are in jail.

In America, with zero tolerance on corruption entire government machinery including the wet-departments perform their assigned duties honestly  - no favoritism, no preferential treatment, no prejudice or biases. The work is done as per the very well defined law purely on the basis of merit. In the other hand, in India, everything has a price-tag.

What is noteworthy, it is not only people in government services or in private business, even the common American is very well aware of his or her duties towards an individual, society and the country. Each respects law. Each observes rules. He or she can’t think of violating any rules or law even in his or her wildest dream -  no cop on the road but no violation of any traffic rule -strict lane driving; the pedestrians are duteously given the first right on the road. If a man on foot wishes to cross the road in local residential areas, motorists would pull up their cars and wait for the passes-by to cross the road.

Irrespectively of their place or position wherever they are  people never shirk their duties. And the system protects their rights. People at large do understand that non-performance of duties brings chaos; unearned rights bring doom. The sense of duty must not be enforced, it must come from within. In the light of justice, each object of duty is followed by the shadow of right. One must do something to get something. - no pain, no gain.

America seems to have redefined democracy after the great Abrahim Lincoln  -  government of duteous people, by the duteous people for the duteous people. None can beat a country where each citizen earns one’s right on the basis of the performance of one’s duty. And this is the secret of America’s power and prosperity.

The Sun Rising in West

The Sun Rising in West

So, the sun had gone to lighten up my India. What a great sacrifice! The sun burns itself to dispel darkness from earth. But when the man will come out of darkness of his ego. When the man will behave like a man

By Mukesh Sharma

As an early riser, I am used to watching the sun-rising almost daily. But the day, I landed in US, I was waiting for the most magnificent moment of sun-rising after a few days of reclusive rest, usually, needed to get over the jet-lag and for the adaptability of the body to the new geographical time-zone  –  India’s day time is the night, and the night is the day time in America. So I expected a different experience of watching sun-rising from the amazing land of America -  undoubtedly a country of intellectuals.

Sun-rising in West

Geographically speaking, the sun never rises from the West. It is always the East from where the sun rises –  the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars all rise in the East, and set in the West because the earth spins towards the east. But here, I wish to share my self-spawned thoughts while watching the sun-rising from the western part of the earth.

Finally, the much awaited moment arrived. Since I am in Peoria, Arizona, I set my eyes towards East. Well before an hour, the sky began to lighten in East. At the scheduled time (sun-rise in the Peoria 6:47 and set in 17:36 during winter) the sun began to peep from the cleavage of hills – Peoria is surrounded by the hills. With all devotion and difference, I folded my hands in the attitude of prayer, and chanted: Ohm Surya Namah. But when I opened my eyes to have the glimpse of the mesmerizing sun-rising, I found it was not at all different -  shine and sheen was same. It was the same sun-rising, I used to watch from my motherland, India.

To believers, the sun is the only manifestation of God on earth; it nurtures life on earth. Existence of earth depends on the sun only. Though there is only one sun, one sky, one ocean, one earth, the wily man has divided the earth into 195 countries. We earthlings share the common sky, common sun, common ocean, common air to breath, same color of blood, and the same physical structure, but still we are Indian, American, Chinese, etc. We are everything but we are not the man. We are no better than animals that have strong territorial instinct, and fight for their ear-marked areas. Sovereignty and boundaries are the causes of war in many parts of the world. All the claims of advancement sound phony and flimsy, for, the so-called man has not evolved yet who can be differentiated from animals. When the man will learn to be man? When the man will behave like a man?

And with the sun sunk in the horizon, my thoughts floated to India. So, the sun had gone to lighten up my India. What a great sacrifice!  The sun burns itself to dispel darkness from earth. But when the man will come out of darkness of his ego? When the man will behave like a man.

Smell of the Soil

Smell of the Soil

When I look inside, I hear an undaunted voice: I love my India to the moon and back. I miss the smell of the soil

By Mukesh Sharma

Living in one’s own motherland, one seldom realises the importance of the soil; it gives a definite shape. It gives specific color; it gives distinctive mien; it gives discernible countenance; it gives formidable thoughts; it gives typical expression; it gives coercive desires; it gives wishful wishes. The soil is one’s natural identity. The soil delineates one’s life. The soil is one’s whole existence. What soul is to body, soil is to life. Being a son of soil -  motherland India, I too miss that intoxicating smell of my soil here in Peoria, Arizona (US), far away across the globe.

Peoria, Arizona, US

 It is the third consecutive day since I am here all the way from Delhi, India, but still my body is struggling with the jet-lag, and the mind with the geographically changed time-zone. I have been sleeping during the day, and have been spending wakeful nights. It is said that it takes couple of days to get used to US time zone.

Surrounded by picturesque hills which are usually the home of Xerophytes – plants and trees of cactus family. Peoria is the major suburb of Phoenix, and is one of the cities in the state of Arizona (AZ). People are unknown to any kind of pollution here. Well planned city is inhabited by well-disciplined people.  Here I miss the smothering pollution of Delhi, the traffic snarls, road hogs and road rages. Nestled in beauty of nature, the place has quietness of countryside. 

The estimated population of Peoria is around 168,185.  With good physique, people are very hard-working. They follow the laws of land religiously. With reddish skin, there is glow on their face that exudes confidence and contentment. However, I miss here my fellow Indians brethren ever struggling on day-to-day basis for their survival. India is a survival society. And that makes the Indian rather selfish. Those who manage to survive successfully become rather egoist. Though India is multi-lingual and multi-religious society, all are true sons and daughters of the soil.

With golden brown hair and white skin, women here are very well shaped. They are self-dependent. They are respected career women. They have their individuality. They too perform their duties towards their families religiously. They are second to none. They are not second fiddle to their menfolk. However, in my motherland, I find women of my soil surpassingly  beautiful  -  mentally and physically. They are epitome of love and devotion. They grow up as a pampered daughter of their parents. They live as a faithful wife of their hubbies. They are the best mothers  who can make any sacrifice for their kids. I do salute the women of my soil.

To be honest, here I also miss the wily netas of my soil who remain busy in politics of self-preservation and self-aggrandizement. They continue to betray the trust of unsuspecting masses. They continue to cheat the populace  year after year in the name of religion , caste and region.

Frankly speaking, despite all the anachronism and anomalies, prevailing in my motherland, India, I miss my soil here. When I look inside, I hear an undaunted voice: I love my India to the moon and back. I miss the smell of the soil!