The Corona Conundrum-01

A scene from the Bengali classic movie Ashoni Sonket by the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

“I have no idea what to prefer-see my children suffer from hunger pangs or allow each of us to be infected with the coronavirus.”

I had no idea how to respond to Mukund. Those were the last words that came out before his voice got choked enough to cut our current telephonic conversation short (we did speak later again though). I could hardly find any words to console him.

Mukund is a street vendor who goes from house to house, selling vegetables and fruits in Ahmedabad. I have known him since my posting in this city, about five years ago. I called him up today to inquire about how he and his family would be doing in these tough situations and what I heard was not only heart-breaking but also worrisome.

The spread of coronavirus and the ensuing lock-down which as we all can realize now, is just a necessary evil under the present scenario, has robbed the man of its daily income.  On one side there is a dearth of supply, while on the other end the demand has fallen to an unprecedented dismal level owing to fear of the COVID19 spread. He has to feed a family of five, excluding himself.

"Know, what Sir, we don't even have ration to last us for two more days. Not a single customer bought anything for the last three days." he repented.

Mukund shifted base from his native village in Shaurastra about twelve years ago after the demise of his father. He dream't to provide a better life to his immediate family, better education to his kids (at that time only the oldest one existed though) and make them capable of creating a better future wherein they won’t suffer the blues of poverty that he has grown up with. He wasn’t doing too badly either, except a few hiccups now and then. His earnings were at least decent enough to meet the daily basic requirements of his family. But now everything seems to be shattering around him like a pack of cards.

He curses his helplessness when he has to stare at the hopeful faces of his little children.  He doesn’t even have enough money to buy the essential medicines for his old mother and how his wife unsuccessfully tries to hide her problems in an attempt to mitigate his pain. They have no idea how they are going to survive the next twenty days. or so

I just felt that how selfish our generation has become, who have been complaining about “boredom’ due to their confinement at their homes with their loved ones!  Think my friends, think about these people and the extreme hardships that they are dealing with and you will never ever complaint about the trifles that life tests you with. I have tried in my own way to help this guy, but the least that all of us can do is to feel for them and stop being wimps.

It was divine, when he thanked me for my small financial help later on. i would request everyone who can, to support such people around them. The least we can do is at least understand and empathize with their plight that is a hundred times more torturous than what most of us are facing. 

Let's pray that the clouds of despair disappear soon enough and the sun of hope casts its bright rays on the hapless families like Mukund's, and save mankind and humanity at the same time.

N.B: This is a true story, based on a real interview. I have been trying to reach people who belong to the most vulnerable groups during the kind of crisis we are tiding through and help them in whatever way I can. The name of the character has however been modified, based on his own request. to hide his real identity  The conversation was in Hindi and has been translated to English for reader's convenience. 

#Coronavirus#Lockdown#Poverty#Crisis#COVID19