No rush, no noise, not a single being in sight. Is this the same neighbourhood that has always been bustling with people, vehicles and commotion? Not in any of my craziest imagination did such a scenario conjure. But it has and it’s because of the pandemic we all are fighting today. A terrible pandemic that has engulfed the world!
As I speak, a virus pacing through tremendous speeds of infection have affected million people across the globe and have killed over 50000 of them. They have been affected by a coronavirus disease: ‘Covid-19’. World statistics show crazy figures and may not be looking great at the moment but every nation is fighting with solidarity and strength. A tragedy that is hoping to be vanquished soon. With lockdowns imposed in many countries to fight the spread of disease, people have been confined indoors (except for stepping out to buy essentials) for over weeks now. No activity of any kind happens outside. It’s a deserted look with no sound or commotion. While nothing happens outside, a lot happens inside!
In this current day, the astonishing part is how millions of people are pretty much learning to adapt to an extremely new level of sustenance. In this new format, you are subjected to indoors but you are to also bring your outdoor work inside. In other words, you are to master the art of working from home in a surrounding of family or friends (an informal setting) with more responsibilities and zero excuses. You are to walk on that dreaded thin line of balance between your professional and personal space! Sounds intimidating. But, then again we all have proved that nothing is impossible.
What would have sounded crazy months back has become a forced adoption now. Employees and teams who previously believed that a daily work from home is infeasible have proven the opposite. Millions of workforce around the world have made it possible. Without a choice, they are now running their jobs from their houses. It does come with its restraints of home responsibilities (or disturbances) but they are managing it.
Until sometime back, our fast paced world showed no signs of slowing down. Progression and development was at an all time high. Every place was bustling with people and business. Let’s just say that everyone had either somewhere to go or something to do all the time! So what is happening now? Something close to what Tony Stark said: “I’m sorry, Earth is closed today.” While the pandemic is causing havoc worldwide with medical warriors fighting and saving lives, a unique degree of healing is happening to Earth. With minimal movement of people and vehicles, a lot of natural healing is occurring. Air and water quality have improved due to minimal pollution. A finding suggests that the biggest drop in carbon dioxide emissions have occurred since World War II. There was a news article which talks about lakhs of Olive Ridley turtles appearing in the seashores of Odisha for mass nesting. Though this has happened in the past , it usually takes place during night. But, now they are witnessed during the day as well due to minimal human movement across the beaches. Venice canal waters are in its clearest form in years due to zero water traffic (no, dolphins did not appear in them). Due to reduced vehicular and construction activities, sound and air pollution has decreased. The quality of air that I breathe is significantly better and I can vouch for it because I have been hanging around at home for months, way before lockdowns were in place. I can sense the change (no superpowers required).
It’s a weird feeling when you know that there are few good things happening due to the consequential effects of lockdown because you obviously cannot rejoice over it during this grim phase we all are going through. Somehow you wish that at least few of the good things happening right now are stretched even after we overcome this sad time. Somehow you wish that we all together can come up with ideas to make it happen. But, sadly, you know that won’t happen knowing how everyone everywhere is waiting patiently to step out when all this is done.
This is what I call, ‘a paradoxical tragedy.’
