With relaxation in lockdown, care as caution has been thrown to the winds as soothsayers and religious beliefs seem more important. Though the pandemic continues to be grim, cautions Enakshi. An exclusive for Different Truths.

Man is a social animal; he cannot survive alone. People have proved this right by crowding the streets now that the lockdown is in a relaxed phase. The relaxation of lockdown is resulting in more number of cases day by day but people wouldn’t care because they believe that the soothsayers are doing their job well. As long as the soothsayer says that all will be well, people will be out on the streets, with reason or without reason, bypassing the norms of social distancing and being a part of all the jollity.

The relaxation of lockdown is resulting in more number of cases day by day but people wouldn’t care because they believe that the soothsayers are doing their job well. As long as the soothsayer says that all will be well, people will be out on the streets, with reason or without reason, bypassing the norms of social distancing and being a part of all the jollity.

Just recently, when I engaged in a discussion about whether the schools should be reopened or not, I was struck dumb by the argument that my friend made. This is how our conversation flowed.

‘I don’t think schools should reopen because children will find it very difficult to follow the rules of social distancing. Can you imagine them not talking to their peers without patting the back or hugging their peers when they meet after 100 days of quarantine?’ I hinted.

‘That’s true. But we would work in shifts — morning and afternoon. That will surely delay the spread of the virus. It might even work in our favour and contain the spread. It is better that we reopen. We are missing out so much!’ she asserted.

‘The virus spreads within milliseconds. It will not wait for shifts to end. If one infected person comes in contact with another, the virus will not warn nor will it wait to make other people the host. The cycle will go on. It will be lethal! I cannot imagine kids suffering like that!’ I protested.

‘The virus spreads within milliseconds. It will not wait for shifts to end. If one infected person comes in contact with another, the virus will not warn nor will it wait to make other people the host. The cycle will go on. It will be lethal! I cannot imagine kids suffering like that!’ I protested.

‘We will take enough precautions. Even the parents will be extra careful…’

‘But the kids won’t.’

‘You know what, all this will eventually end.’

‘How do you know?’ I asked.

‘It is mentioned in the Panchang. When two eclipses fall close to each other, destruction happens.’

‘It is mentioned in the Panchang. When two eclipses fall close to each other, destruction happens.’

‘Eclipses?’ I asked again.

‘Yes, the first one was on December 26, 2019, and the next one is on June 21, 2020. They are hardly six months apart and that’s why all this — Amphan, locusts and now, Nisarga.’

‘Oh, so all this is happening because of the solar eclipse. Right. I didn’t know that. What about Covid-19 then?’ I asked her knowing that she wouldn’t back down from making a solid argument.

‘That too is the part of the plan. Soon Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will face an earthquake that will be of a much larger magnitude.’

‘But these two states lie in the area of low seismic activity…’

She cut me short as if my words made no sense and continued, ‘All this is god’s will. As humans, we can only learn to adjust to the surroundings and that can happen in one way,’ she sighed.

She cut me short as if my words made no sense and continued, ‘All this is god’s will. As humans, we can only learn to adjust to the surroundings and that can happen in one way,’ she sighed.

‘And what would that way be?’ I queried, clearly allowing curiosity to have full control over my mind and my mouth.

‘To improve our immunity by going back to the roots of Ayurveda. Increasing the intake of herbs and of spices like turmeric and black pepper will boost immunity. Ginger and garlic should now be used more frequently.’

I did not argue the toss, for this was not the first time she was speaking about her trust on religious preachers and the soothsayers. Only if spices induced immunity, the world wouldn’t be suffering so much! But who had the audacity to explain all that to my friend?

I did not argue the toss, for this was not the first time she was speaking about her trust on religious preachers and the soothsayers. Only if spices induced immunity, the world wouldn’t be suffering so much! But who had the audacity to explain all that to my friend? Not me, please. I don’t want her to become infuriated by my words and then end up asking another soothsayer if my days of bliss would end soon!

This is not limited to only my friend. There are several others, who believe in following the blind alleyway and not using their rational thinking to demystify the myths. Sadly, because of such beliefs, the Covid-19 situation is going out of hand. I dread to think of a future when absurd notions will prevail over logical thinking.

Photo from the Internet