Namrata Sharma

Before the BS 2036 (1979/80) peoples’ movement in Nepal, the situation during the absolute monarchy period was such that people kept a distance from the underground political leaders and their families because of fear of being arrested. There was an unseen and unspoken fear that if the general public, especially those who worked for the government -- then His Majesty’s Government (HMG) -- were seen to associate with underground leaders and their families, they would be at risk of losing jobs and even subjected to other oppressions.
I was a high school student then. I remember very clearly the “uncles” and “aunties” crossing the streets to distance themselves from me so that they would not be noticed when I greeted them with “Namaste” as my father was one of the undaunting leaders who fought against the absolute monarchy system. Ironically, these very individuals visited our home after the 1990 revolution was successful and democracy was restored in the country. They confided that they were scared of spies who would report to HMG authorities, which in turn could lead to their losing their jobs. This was a social distancing method they practiced for their political safety!

Symbiotic relationship
Now a miniscule virus, which is shaped like a crown, has forced people all over the world to maintain among themselves safe distances and paralysed activities on the streets in an alarming and never-before imagined way. The coronavirus is a harbinger for a disaster in the making due to unbridled human activities that over-consume human resources and some living beings which maintain a symbiotic relationship with the virus.
Throughout my childhood days, I observed leaders like my father who were outspoken, bold, and brave fighting the autocratic regime. They were often caught and put in prison for speaking against the atrocities of the royalties. They were aware that many people feared the regime and wanted to stay away from them not because they did not respect or support the revolution they were leading but because they were not aware of what else to do in their struggle to lead their daily lives.
This reality of yesteryears is often coming to my mind these days. I see the population all over the world slowly holing down under their safe roofs in isolation, not because they do not care for their families and friends who may not be with them, but because they hope that a time will come when they can all socialise and connect physically like they were used to in 2019. COVID-19 has managed to make people all over the world realise how it may feel to be under the threat of their lives and livelihoods being taken away by a force beyond their control.
It is important to realise that when autocratic regimes hold populations under threat, there are brave leaders who rescue them out from the restrictions imposed on them. Exactly in the same way, we now have brave leaders in the field of medicine, scientific research, media, security officials and lawmakers who are putting their lives at risk to save the world. COVID-19 has united the world to learn from individual countries and jointly deal with the coronavirus pandemic and to save human race. In doing so it is very important to ensure that the media gets to dig out factual information to inform the world on what is going on. The lawmakers need to ensure the policies they bring during this time protect all and they do not hide information of vital importance.
COVID-19 has struck at a time reminding people of their individualistic approaches in wealth generation, at huge cost to planet Earth. After the coronavirus pandemic, now every day I see videos, songs, dances, cooking recipes, and news being shared across the world by people unknown to each other. It’s a wonder how people are laughing and crying together for people who they don’t know. My heart cringes when I think of the Italian people and my heart goes out to my octogenarian and septuagenarian parents, uncles and aunts who are within 10-km radius from me but I cannot go to them when I want to take care of them during this health crisis. My eyes fill up when I think of my friends and family all over the world but I decide to send them positive vibes instead of letting the tears roll down.

Resilience
There is no saying as to what will be the final outcome of COVID-19. How many of us will die now? And how many of us will die within a few months? But what matters is that there will be many of us who will live and new lives will emerge every day to fight their struggles and tell stories to the new generations. The need of today is for all to help the frontline heroes of today to lead us out of this coronavirus pandemic. Above all, we have to remember that, just like a teenager mind of mine had the resilience to bear with people outraising me and not let them deter my path to move ahead and make a meaningful life, the whole population of today will learn to isolate themselves from the unseen COVID 19 to make our lives more meaningful for tomorrow.

(Sharma, who worked for The Rising Nepal in the early Nineties, is a senior journalist and women rights campaigner. namrata1964@yahoo.com /Twitter handle: NamrataSharmaP)