Dr Asangba Tzudir
As the clock struck midnight declaring New Year, the anticipation and excitement must have been high thinking about the New Year ahead with New Year resolutions; a bucket list of things to do in the New Year besides the normal routine affairs for everyone, etc. But, in all likelihood, whatever you planned has not happened, and most unexpectedly got caught in the rituals of panic buying to stock up essential commodities made more heightened by the dependency syndrome. Social distancing, lockdowns, mandatory quarantines at centers and at home; face masks, hand sanitizing, elbow greetings and hands joined ‘namaste’ instead of the handshakes became the ‘norm.’ The pain of not being able to bid a proper farewell to near and dear ones would make it to the top in the list of the most painful things.
The two World Wars have brought out the worst. The Spanish Influenza of 1918 that claimed about 50 Million lives. The mysterious fog of 536 which plunged Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia into darkness both day and night for 18 months with temperatures falling down to 1.5 to 2.5 Degree centigrade leading to crop failure and starvation. The world has been a witness to the worst, and each event in history could be considered the worst. And even as we eulogize the current year, it can also be tagged as the worst year considering the times and the fact that Covid-19 is not an event happening in some distant parts. It is everywhere and has also affected everyone.
Within such a consideration, it feels difficult to debate or even talk about whether the year 2020 can be considered a good one or a bad one. The effect has been such that it is easy to lose our hopes and brood over the negativities. Yet, to look at the many positives, with either cancellation or events being postponed worldwide, it has also reduced travelling which means decrease in air and water pollution and road accidents. Reduction on industrial activities allowed Mother Nature time to recharge and replenish. For any country it had revealed the need for better healthcare systems and health related researches. However, family relationships have never been genuinely better; there has been adaption to a new lifestyle with better hygiene and the realization to build a healthy immune system; it has also created ways for the human minds to trigger innovations especially on the technological front towards better living. Above all, and in context, it has created a sense of awareness and what it means to struggle and live, thereby adding a new dimension to life’s meaning and the purpose of living.
These positives are reasons enough to lighten up the heavy hearts as we prepare to enter the New Year. However, the years ‘headline’ may stretch into the New Year. Though Covid-19 seems to be on a decline in the State based on Covid-19 status reports, in view of the emergence of a new variant strain of Covid-19 from United Kingdom precautionary measures have been set with compulsory testing for all entrants to Nagaland. Will this be the story for the New Year 2021 and the whole year through? Well, lessons have been learnt and we are more prepared now at least on certain important fronts though there are many integral aspects on the SOP related discipline front that requires tightening of screws.
With all the positives despite the pandemic, may the hope for newer horizons and spectrums of life remain as we prepare our hearts and minds for the New Year.
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
