STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

At the outset, I would like to take you back in time. It is the evening of 23 March 2020 and all were anxiously waiting for Prime Minister’s address to the nation. Most of the school going children were not into the discussion of what was likely to come. They all had their plans for coming days, ranging from activities like meeting friends, preparing for a mock-test at the coaching centres,  a friend’s birthday celebration, family function, watching a movie in the multiplex, shopping etc. The same evening all their programs are put to rest as the Prime Minister announced a nationwide Lockdown 1.0 lasting for the next 21 days in the wake of the global pandemic Covid-19( which was later extended three times). It is not that only children got affected by the lockdown but everyone from government to all the citizens. For the first few days most of us thought it as an opportunity to stay home, away from work place. After a few days we realised that life had come to a stand still barring Corona Warriors about whom I shared my views in the previous articles. Then all of a sudden the teachers learnt and tried the new way of interacting with their students and did an exceptional job. Most people appreciated their efforts also.

Today I would like to express my appreciation for the students of the country and gratitude to the labour force of this nation who had left their native place and lived their life in pathetic conditions in so called developed cities and towns.

Nobody, especially the teenaged and youth, in the wildest of their dreams had imagined that in their lifetime they would witness a complete ban on their movement to keep themselves safe and not fall sick (earlier we always encouraged our children to go out and breathe in fresh air in spite of staying indoors). It’s not that they reconciled with this phase immediately but they exhibited the determination to follow what was the need of the hour without any resentment on their face or in action, though there would have been initial hiccups. It is imperative to mention that they being the most affected were expected to come over it, the earliest. Taking into consideration, their resilience, discipline, rationality, patience, optimism, self-control and many more attributes which they have revealed in this time of the pandemic, I take this opportunity to appreciate and commend them. Indisputably the personal sacrifice that our family structure has endured is perhaps the greatest but our children despite being anxious and concerned have shown tremendous flexibility and responded to the challenges of the lockdown restrictions in a positive manner. Adapting to a new structure of life has not been easy and therefore I encourage everyone to praise our youth and laud them for adhering to the guidelines. Their silent contribution is admirable and worthy of not just words but a greater understanding of their perspective and attitudes. If we all give them the time and attention they deserve, it won’t be difficult for them to come out as praiseworthy individuals which is demonstrated by them today.

As mentioned before, the entire globe is expressing gratitude to the Frontline Corona Warriors who undeniably are the epitome of service and sacrifice. We owe a lot to them and no words of appreciation and gratitude can be enough.   But the warriors who have wordlessly sacrificed the charm of their lives while losing their freedom and autonomy along with being robbed of so many of their spaces – schools, colleges, parks, cafes, friends’ homes among others also deserve words of appreciation. Though we believe that it is same for everyone in this phase but we tend to forget that they fall in that age frame where it is impractical to expect such maturity and understanding from them. Let me call the attention of all the parents to the fact that if they have been successful in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere at home, the credit goes to these young children also, who have shown so much discipline and patience regardless of their age and maturity level. I would like to share the story of the bicycle girl of India who defied her age and rode for 1200 kilometre on her bicycle. The fifteen-year-old Jyoti, the desperate daughter of a migrant worker decided to carry her injured father from Delhi to Darbhanga, Bihar, on a bicycle. The father-daughter duo started their journey on May 10. They first attempted to go home by bus but they were unable to pay Rs 6,000 for the fare. They somehow managed to buy a bicycle worth Rs 500 and completed their journey on May 16. On account of her unprecedented achievement, Jyoti Kumari received a call from the cycling federation to appear for a trial next month. If she passed the trial, she will be selected as a trainee at the state-of-the-art Nation Cycling Academy at the IGI Stadium complex in New Delhi.( Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indias-bicycle-girl-jyoti-kumari/article316770771.ece)

Hats off to this brave girl!

Did Jyoti do this for any national acclamation or recognition? Of course not! She was only resolute to meet her family. This unparalleled determination shown by this girl is buried deep in many young individuals of our country. The need is to tap their latent potential.  The feat of this girl compels me to quote a pertinent line; The Child is the father of Man from William Wordsworth’s famed poem My Heart Leaps Up. The Child is the bud that embodies thousands of possibilities and hopes of a future man. Like the fate of the flower is embedded in the bud, the future of man is shaped in his childhood. I am extremely confident that the youth whom we are seeing caged today will emerge as great leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, scientists and many more. Though they are caged, but their aspirations, dreams, creativity, inquisitiveness, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are soaring high. Let us not forget that all the legends of the world were born in their childhood while fighting all odds. The way they are adapting to changes and challenges is something we all need to learn from them. The teachers teaching these students often share how these children are trying their hands at cooking, painting, sketching, learning to play musical instruments, gardening etc., which is a living testimony to their desire to learn. Take the example of medical students across the country, taking on the role of “caremongers” they have initiated a campaign ‘Each one, reach one’ and are providing the frontline health workers with services like childcare and grocery at their doorstep. They are doing it out of desire and not coercion. There are innumerable initiatives taken by the youth across the globe nevertheless with earnest desire and zeal to contribute they are achieving the feats of empathy. There are innumerable examples to be shared where the young citizens of the nation helped underprivileged and poor people in their own way. Some provided food to the needy and others supplied masks etc., to the government agencies. Our salute to all of them!

If I talk about the online classes which the children are regularly attending where live lectures are being conducted by their teachers. The response is commendable with their tremendous involvement in the various activities and projects assigned by the teachers. Not once, did the teachers force the children to attend the classes. The enthusiastic participation of the students in the special days celebrated online, webinars and state festival is something worth appreciating. All this proves that they can astound us if treated with love, care, compassion, empathy and patience. If we all come together we can show them the right course. They are stressed and anxious rather more than the adults but it is vital to channelize their energies in a positive direction.

The other group of the people who need to be recognised and appreciated is the labour force, who, all of a sudden were without any work. The people who would earn daily were left without anything to earn. The governments did not have any idea about the population living in pathetic condition (though they are major contributors in so called development of the cities and towns) hence it was difficult to take care of all of them. They also wholeheartedly supported the governments without worrying about their own problems. When the lockdown was further extended and they found themselves in lurch because it was really impossible to live without any source to earn and being thousands of kilometres away from their near and dears ones, they started walking towards their homes. But please acknowledge they did all that without any complain to anyone. Those who stay in good houses with their families around did raise voice against them as corona spreaders but think about them who needed not only food but mental and psychological support as well which was possible when the family members were around. The scenes showing women folk hooding their small kids on their shoulder and everything the family would have earned in the past so many years stockpiled in a trunk or gathri, were enough to bring tears in the eyes of any concerned citizen. They needed their governments to help reach their destinations. They did not raise their concern to anyone but did thank the government for any little help and support they got. To me they have been, they are and I am certain, they will be the warriors who need all the support. They are the ones who never cribbed and complained for lack of anything. Hats off them!

In the end, I would like to say that our youth is strong and committed, our people from economically disadvantaged group are courageous enough and we need to acknowledge them. They are real leaders without any selfishness. If there was ever a time that the world needed them, it is right now.

The pandemic has brought lot many challenges but at the same time gave us an opportunity to recognise our heroes whom we took for granted and ignored their contribution in our life and growth of the nation. We are hopeful that pandemic will be defeated by united efforts of all and our children will emerge stronger.