The Corona of Negativity

Amidst situation as threatening as of now which directly affects each one of us, with hope of a better tomorrow yet to emerge from the despairing news worldwide, I am wondering who or what is going to save when all our gods have shut their doors to us, normal life is out of gear. While endeavouring preparedness for the management of impending disaster, we are feeling hopeless and hapless and praying for miracles while trying to do our own bit in whatever kind of way we feel encouraged or motivated.

My thoughts are running amuck and I am wondering if we have ever thought ..really ever seriously thought about the 'virus' of negativity rampant globally affecting locally our normal lives day in and day out. Much greater damage to human psyche is caused by anger, the hatred, the poisonous words, the violence vocal in words, attitudes, the mentality to blame-them-all-except-me, the judgemental statements in frenzy to malign without even caring to cross check. Above all, the 'virus' of negativity affects adversely the young and the old alike causing gloom, hopelessness, despair paving way for multi dimensional ailments -pressure on blood vessels, hitting the digestive system, causing blockages of veins of heart or nerves of brain or the vulnerable joints. The chaos and confusion, the hurt and pain that negativity causes hits hard the human psyche leading to depression and insomnia, guilt and fear. 

If only there were masks available to protect us from this 'virus' of negativity; or some disinfectants to 'sanitise' enabling NO ENTRY of this virus; or some toll free or helplines to send an SOS from this virus; or a management plan to counter effects of the disaster negativity brings, the catastrophe it causes; or some preventive 'medicine' to prepare us to comabat its onslaught; or 

some curative 'vaccine' or 'injection' to heal the wounds that negativity virus is capable of causing abundantly; or some 'curfew' to break the chain of damage from individual to family and friends to broader system we live in. Would a 'lock down' be ever possible ?

Wondering how shall we ever, if it comes to that, 'isolate' the neagtivity virus ridden individuals? Would a stamp on the hand a possibility and who would escape that stamp then? Can we segregate them with a nameplate : 'QURANTINED': 'DO NOT VISIT' or 'KEEP SAFE DISTANCE'?

Perhaps it would be much easier to take it the other way round and isolate the positive as those would be fewer and numbered. I wish positivity were an essential commodity to be mandatorily taken, protected and ensured supply under ambit of 'Essential Commodities Act' and negativity under Prohibitory Statues. 

The 'Wuhan' of this virus of negativity is in each of us crying for sanitisation and cure, for curbing further flow and check and stop it there and then-sooner than later.

Perhaps we are unable to realise the extent of damage that the ferocity of this 'virus' of negativity can do to ourselves, all around and above all to the country as a whole when 'the worst' having the passionate intensity can limp 'the best' by making them lack in conviction. 

Now, at this point of time when the threat to our lives is so real, when we are face to face with fear of death, of being wiped out, do we realise how much better can we do through positive affirmations and healing , compassion and kindness for not just our own human brethren, fellow beings but also for the stray animals- dogs and cattle, insects and birds, plants and trees. Are all the grudges and hurts we have nurtured over the years we have lived been worth it in contrxt of what we face today? Could we not be more forgiving and benevolent in forgetting rather than feeding bitterness and hatred both inside and outside? Do we not have ample capacity as 'givers' to bring sunshine to the downtrodden and the needy by parting with some portion of our own earnings and hordes of facilities and amenities available to us in abundance? Are we not really capable of being better human beings with sense of service and not-just-me-but-you-too?

The chain of this 'virus' of negativity has to be broken if we are to save ourselves first and then humanity at large. The intimidating and threatening terror of negativity has to be countered with pro-active courageous positivity. Howsoever minuscule the number of positive agents of total population may be- like the sanitatiin workers on job to sanitise the big city under voluntary curfew in safe domains of their houses, the process has to be afoot, on track to do whatever we can to clear the air, to bring hope amidst despair, to inculcate the necessity of understanding :yes we can fight and stop, too if only we all come together to realise the grave need to comabt the 'virus'. Yes, overcome we shall, we shall overcome -come what may.

The Women's Day 2020

The euphoria of Panipat Pinkathon on Women's day 2019 had not yet died down and 2020 dawned upon me in a place different, on a role changed. By the time this special day of women started drawing near, I floated the idea to the elite Rotarians of Panchkula to celebrate the day as tribute of gratitude to the women who mattered as professionals, house wives, teachers, journalists and so on and so forth. The idea clicked to them and I was keenly waiting for the day to attend the function so hosted by the menfolk for expression of their thankfulness to the women from maids to Madames. In a solemn and sensitively organised function woman after woman shared their journey as doctor, as sportsperson, as a housewife. It was very enlightening to hear speakers' lauding roles not just of their mothers but also mothers-in-law and vice versa- despite all the humbug we see day in and out on TV related to this relationship in dark demonic light ! How the role of a working woman demanded act of balancing both hearth of home and the work but that the work in itself was thereupatic and healing for them - simply the whole truth- evoked in me the spntaneous appreciation of such wonderful expression . Another woman speaker asked the women in audience to speak of their one achievment last year, this , I feel, must have been provocative for all to think. More than the awards they received, the women seemed to be unequivocally voicing how awarded they felt being a woman, the wish they cherish in their next lives too to be fulfilled.

Another event was 'Youme Khawateen Mushaira' organised by the Samanvya and Mind Veda NGOs. The aura of Urdu Academy Auditorium was mesmerising when a little girl Dhara's classical musical renderings accompanied by her brother Apaar's tabla reverberated the small audi with 'ash -ash' by all present.

The release of a book followed by poetic compositions of amaeture and mature poetesses was tribute unparelleled to the women and their male counterparts and on their roles as complementary human beings rather than competitive.

I was wondering that haven't we really come a long way from feminist movement of 1980s to clamouring of 21st century women who are empowered and empowering yet bear the brunt of having to prove their mettle being looked at eagle- eyedly by the unforgiving society for their lapses that they cannot afford to make. The 'struggle' and the 'strife' is still on but the male have proven beyond any shadow of doubt their supportive attitude towards educating and empowering women as fathers, brothers or husbands.

Its comforting to feel at the end of the day that its the men who have started taking lead in organising 'celebration' of Women's Day. The gesture bespeaks of their volunteerism in recognition and support as well as keen ear to what afterall the women want to give 'the voice' to. Long live this solidarity !!