Covid-19 and arrogance

Covid-19 has finally exposed humans. It is not the war thatis killing us, not even epidemic or pandemic, but it seems a rare congenitalanomaly present in our DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). With so many people alreadydead and thousands getting infected is hurtling towards a catastrophe. Althoughpandemics are not new, they have in one or other form disturbed humansettlements since this world came into existence, consumed millions of livesand then also brought under control. So, what’s the big deal about Covid-19?Why it has been given so much of hype? Why discussions swirl around negativity?

When God created this beautiful world and more beautifullythe humans, He blessed humans with a distinctive character loaded with abeautiful mind. The most beautiful creation might have put our Lord feel proudof this creation. On the contrary humans took this favour as a right to deservethis special status. The general view that holds humans as a distinguishedentity that is superior to all other forms of life may have misled him (humans)that he owns control over entire planet, be it living or non-living creatures.Having dominated the planet with his pervasive influence on earth led to somemiscalculations on his part.

   

It reminds me of a story by great Saadi. A man had attainedgreat excellence in the art of wrestling, who knew three hundred and sixtyexquisite tricks and daily exhibited something new. He had a particularaffection for the beauty of one of his pupils whom he taught three hundred andfifty nine tricks, refraining to impart to him only one . At last the youth hadattained such power and skill that no one was able to contend with him and hewent so far as to say to the sultan : ‘I allow superiority to my teacher onaccount of his age and from his gratitude for his instruction but my strengthis not less than his and my skill equal.” The king ordered them to wrestle witheach other. The youth made an onslaught like a mad elephant with an impulsewhich might have uprooted a mountain of brass from its place but the master,who knew he was in strength superior to himself, attacked him with the raretrick he had reserved to himself and which the youth was unable to elude. Themaster lifted him up with his hands and from the ground raised him above hishead and then threw him down. The youth complained that master had notvanquished him by his strength but by a slender part  in art of wrestling  which he had withheld from him and therebygot the upper hand on him. The master replied that he had reserved it for suchan occasion. The arrogance of youth led to his shame.

Humans underestimated the power of his Creator; it’s He whocreated him and its He who takes care of the minutest affairs. Even as humanshave exceeded in technological innovations and interventions, a small microbehas shaken the resourcefulness, intelligence and resilience in thisunprecedented public health emergency.

Whenever we experience any kind of catastrophe, be itnatural calamity, epidemic etc. there is always a lesson hidden in it. However,we are engrossed in ourselves so much that we are only concerned about oursafety and our happiness. We are waiting for the vaccine desperately notbecause we want human lives to be safe but because we are locked down and awayfrom enjoying the pleasures of life. This is the deep down arrogance hidden inhuman DNA.

Covid-19 too will pass, again we will be on the path ofnormalcy once scientists come up with a vaccine and flood markets with thedesired thing. We will once again forget everything and resume our work withoutany fail.

But what about those who are dead, not because of thepandemic but because of their own battles with poverty, hunger, diseases,violence etc. This helpless population might not be even familiar with Covid-19because they are already suffering and ever-multiplying in numbers (ofindividuals). Of course their primary concern is to escape from the deadly gripof poverty. Their pathetic condition is going to remain same even after vaccinecomes out in market. These are the people who actually don’t matter whennational or global statistics are carried out. Their absence or presence hardlymatters, because they are born to suffer.

Can we feel the pain or even bear the same for a second?When Covid-19 broke initially in China, I would often talk about it to one ofmy friends. Then one day she blatantly said, “Let’s not talk about the negativethings. At least we should be thankful that this disease is not in India.” Imight not need to say further, all of us know what happened later. The diseaseknocked each door forget about the boundaries. One gratitude we owe to Covid-19is at least it treated all of us equally. It didn’t differentiate between richand poor, very important people and less important people, distressed andhappy, race or caste, colour or nation.

In short, Covid-19 carries an important lesson to learn.Let’s replace our arrogant DNAs with beautiful minds, after all the tacitmissive ‘pride hath a fall’ not shame us further.

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