Surviving Empty Nest

The Facebook was swathed with memes about learning to live with the corona virus. One meme said it is like getting married, first you try to reign in your wife but after numerous attempts, you just learn to live with her and her ways - adapt. The same is said about the virus. A vaccine or even cure seems very far away, countries are trying to contain the spread - some going into lock down, others have started living with it from the beginning - Sweden. Sweden did not shut down its economy and ask people to stay home. No, life goes on as usual. Number of deaths was third highest in the world during the last count. But the economy did not shut down probably because someone had the foresight that humans on planet earth will have to learn to live with the virus until some kind of vaccine or drug is found. That's precisely what the Indian government has advised it's citizens - learn to live with the virus.  Though now a Muslim, I was a Hindu once. Hindu - does not relate to any reli...

On 4th May 2020, the Malaysian government announced CMCO (Controlled Movement Control Order). That was a huge welcome after being place under strict quarantine for about 6 weeks. At that time everyone said `no thanks to Corona'. Now, since restrictions have been partially lifted, life is slowly easing back to normalcy - the new normal.  Social distancing is the buzz word, washing hands frequently is the new norm, wearing mask becomes part of fashion statement, so does wearing gloves. Cinemas, places of worship and entertainment outlets are still closed indefinitely and looks like the entire industry may slowly collapse save for those who foray into virtual side of things. Some comedians have started going virtual but unless such initiatives are supported by  innovative technology, it is highly unlikely that the physical experience that comes while enjoying shows can be replicated in the virtual arena. However, the same cannot be said about live streaming of service fro...

Covid-19 cases are reducing in some countries - slowly life is returning to `normal', or is it? What is normal after the lock down? The lock down brought about so many changes, some very apparent, others very subtle. But changes are here to stay. 1. Grocery shopping made easy - yeap, we had that as an option pre-corona but post-corona we realise that sometimes it is better to order online because we get a variety to buy from without ever stepping out of the house. The norm was to go to the closest supermarket and buy whatever groceries we need, or an early morning trip to the neighbourhood wet market for fresh produce. Since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was put in place, the early morning markets were accessible but with the fear that the virus may infect. Social distancing was required, entry into supermarkets were limited with security guards checking everyone's temperature, mask was a requirement, police checks were all over, that travelling was very painful. So, mo...

Call me crazy but I really love and respect the Corona virus. Nope, ain’t trying to get your attention, but when I heard the way the virus was sweeping across the world this is what I remembered: In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna had said whenever there is acute adharma, He would come and set things right again. So, is the Corona virus Lord Krishna? No, it is not like that. To begin with the virus does not have a life – it is in the form of an RNA. And it feeds off the host. Thus, killing the virus is not possible. Like you can’t kill the table, chair and all things lifeless. To kill the virus, the host has to be exterminated. Scary, huh? Yeap, it is. So, thus I respect the virus for doing what governments across the globe could not, what all holy men could not – discipline the world and put people in their places – everyone, make everyone realise that human beings are nothing to begin with.   No one spared, not even Queen Elizabeth of England. Her Majesty, too, has t...