The light of Covid 19

There is no denying that Covid-19 aka the Corona-virus has have had catastrophic effects on humanity. Be it the developed world or the undeveloped world, none has been able to escape its clutches. The phrase "He came, he conquered" can aptly be used for this deadly pandemic. As the entire world cries and cribs over the devastating effects of Covid-19, I would like to talk about a few positives that I have taken from the grim reality that all of us are now facing.

Tremendous decrease in pollution levels

As someone who has spent most of my life living in Delhi/ NCR , I can vouch for the fact that air pollution level has severely dropped due here to the lockdown. One can just feel it in the air here. There were images of a few Himalayan ranges about 250 Km from Jalandhar being visible now that couldn't be previously seen owing to extremely high pollution levels. Also, the water of River Yamuna and the Holy Ganges was looking crystal clear since there was no toxic industrial waste being dumped into it. Ironically what the govt. couldn't do in six years spending millions of rupees, the Covid did just the same and that too without any effort.

Several animals living in forests were seen roaming in cities, they must be planning to migrate to cities considering the peace and tranquility they must be witnessing here for the first time in their lives. Lol! jokes apart, I would highlight that there was about 49 percent average decrease in air pollution level in Delhi. That isn't a bad thing I guess.

People working on their health and wellness

Another positive aspect of this situation is that people are working on their health and general well being. We Indians are perhaps least concerned about our health and wellness. Our highest no. of heart patients in the world and least gold medals in the Olympics testify this claim. But people from what I have seen on TV channels and even in my own locality have begun to work their asses off.

Many are seen running on their terrace, people using resistance bands and skipping ropes to keep themselves in good shape. Many people are attending webinars and online courses that talk and teach several fitness methodologies such as Yoga and Qi-gong. Those are good signs.

Working on hobbies and household chores

Remember the time when you really wanted to learn playing the guitar or take singing lessons or for the matter learn cooking, but due to time constraints or other engagements were unable to do so. That dream appeared too distant from that day onwards. Covid-19 has given us this time to work on our unfulfilled dreams of learning/ doing anything that we only wanted to but couldn't do. Many are taking singing, music lessons online while others spend their time reading stuff that they always wanted to. Yet, most people across the world and in our own country are happy being a couch potato and binging seasons on Netflix and other OTT platforms. God help them!

Another interesting thing is that 'sophisticated' men and women who considered household chores to be mundane and dirty have had to swallow the bitter capsule. Owing to the maids not turning up for maney homes in India, people are forced to do all household chores like dish-washing, cleaning the floor, ironing on their own. People too dependent on food delivery apps had to learn make-shift cooking in their absence for a while. Interestingly divorce rates across the world increased due to men and women spending too much time together at home, lol !

Spending more time with oneself and family

People are spending way more time with family or I should say are forced to do so. They have been forced to sit idle which becomes a difficult task for most of them nowadays. Their minds are always running here and there. Sitting still is what Covid 19 has taught humanity. Just being in the moment. Not delving into the past or worrying about the future.

Many across the world have taken meditation  courses online and people listen to spiritual discourses to connect with their higher self. Also when a person is alone he/she is forced to ponder deeply about things. This is something that most people avoid facing. Most people feel depressed when their mind isn't occupied with trivial thoughts. Its because we have conditioned ourselves to feel miserable and whenever we find these thoughts disappearing, we feel something's wrong with us. 

Hygiene consciousness

Can't say about the west, but India has seen a positive change in the way people perceive hygiene. I bet more than half of our country's population got to know the purpose of using a sanitizer only after the Covid crisis hit us. Applying saliva on currency notes  must have decreased in our country which was previously a very common sight.

Many in villages and cities are properly their hands properly using soaps, handwash or sanitisers. This will be extremely beneficial for us as it would help control the outspread of several diseases borne out of filthy surroundings. The Covid crisis has can really expedite the objectives of Swach Bharat Abhiyaan ( Clean India Programme ).

Given us a peak into the future

The Covid-19 has given several alternate methodologies to students and professionals. School and college students are having classes online and also many IT organisations are working at normal levels even though their employees are operating from home. Although I have always been of the opinion that a virtual school can never replace a human one and also that people need to go to offices to have a healthy mental mindset for doing work. But who knows what the ever distant seeming future holds for humanity?