As it is said, India is a country known for its versatility and diversity. Often, we find different countries following norms and discipline to make things functional. But India is a country where its people find various ways and jugaads to make things work. And, yes, we are no less and have grabbed a position in the top 50 in the wold — be it in defense, democracy, beauty pageants and, no wonder, in population and pollution too.
Well, it was amazing to see that we even participated in the Covid festival throughout the year with full enthusiasm and high spirits. The results were heart wrenching. We succeeded in reaching the top five in that as well. But we Indians had our own ways to deal with that, too, heroically indeed.
The lockdowns imposed in the country were like some mobile phone series with new versions and of course, new guidelines. The unlock was like a free India movement and we all were back to the memories of the year 1947. People started to gather for humanity and showed the responsibility of being social by keeping social distancing at a distance. While some people enjoyed, there were some others who left us shocked and only with their memories after suffering from Covid 19.
“मौत जानें चुपके से क्या कह देती हैं, जानें वाले ने पलट कर कभी देखा ही नहीं (death comes and whispers something. The departed doesn’t even look back.)|”
The wedding season made the bazaars boom again. People were welcoming the baraat as Modi ji was welcoming the Covaxin vaccine by Bharat biotech laboratory.
On the other hand, the biggest agricultural movement has shaken the system. The farmers are doing all they can to protest. When they protested in front of the Red Fort on January 26, that was the first day I came to know why India is an agricultural country. I remember the policemen falling weak in front of the farmers’ vigour. Sometimes, it really triggers my mind how Mr Prime Minister copes up with two sides of a coin.
Indians are always puzzled about what to do or what not to do. So, they make their own rules to keep moving. Even Bachchan sahab has stopped telling us on call now how to stay away from corona after he realised the “Suno jan ki karo mann ki (Listen to everyone, but follow your heart)” attitude of the democratic country.
Indians have a lot to think about, you see — from Kareena Kapoor Khan’s ready-to-pop baby and Modiji still not ready to chop his hair to Rakhi Sawant entering Bigg Boss 14. And the journey of our Budget from a briefcase to bahikhata and finally a tablet. While some were isolated from their family members in Covid wards and hated that “piece”, some went on a vacation to find “peace”. Life actually hangs between these two phases right now.
As Kareena Kapoor Khan recently gave birth to a beautiful baby boy and Rakhi Sawant swept the attention of the audience by quitting the show with Rs 14 lakhs, our eyes are on Modiji and what his take would be on his beard.
As Covid cases spike again, we all are getting prepared for the next Covid festival with new versions of lockdown. “Ye hamara mask hai, ye hamara kitchen hai, aur yaha hamari paawri ho rai hai (This is our mask, this is our kitchen, and here is our party).” But, yes, definitely with more caution and care because as said by our very own Gulzar Sahab,
“हाँथ थामे रखना दुनिया में, भीड़ भारी है खो ना जाऊँ कहीं, ये जिम्मेदारी तुम्हारी है!” (Hold my hand while in this world; getting lost in its crowded lanes is easy; this is your responsibility!)