By Haroon Rashid Bhat
Human beings are social species that rely on cooperation to survive. Our individual or collective actions directly or indirectly impact our social life. Let me narrate a brief but meaningful story here. One day there were three men who were sailing on the boat, one of them started to scorch the bottom of the boat with a sharp-edged knife. The second person who was sitting very close to him asked him about that awkward action, the foolish man said, “ Mind your own business, this particular space belongs to me and it is my choice to do whatever I wish to do, no one has a right to me stop me”. On hearing this, he maintained silence and let him to do that act. But the third person who was wise among them raised his voice warned him, “ O, foolish man, even this particular space is occupied by you, but we are sailing on the same boat if you will not stop this foolish act, this lead the boat to wreck and ultimately it can prove fatal for all of us”. Our society is full of such characters who hardly care about the impact of their odd action on others. If we take a detailed review of the prevailing situation that emerged due to the second wave of- COVID- 19, we came to know that this second phase turned more dangerous than the first phase because of the two reasons. One is the changed tendency of virus – double mutation. This varying tendency left virologists, epidemiologists, and other medical experts in a deep trial. The second one is the irresponsible social attitude which has twisted the situation more serious and complex. The sorry state of the matter is that some reckless persons don’t co-operate with the administration. There are few who are hiding their health details, some are roaming on the streets without any reason, some are indulging in hoarding, some are making fun of this given situation, some casting doubt regarding vaccination drive, and some opportunists are busy in various antisocial activities like state land encroachment, hoarding, black marketing, etc. when asked by someone the reasons those odd actions, they said, “Who are you to ask me such and such questions? It is my life.” Such rebellion attitude pose threat to our society. Who will come here to give the lessons of morality to those people?
The prevailing time demands that such people should leave this rebellious attitude aside and try to play the collaborative role to defeat this unseen enemy that brought a big challenge to mankind, consumed numerous humans, left many families in deep mourn. The administration is utilizing all the resources available to them to combat this emerging situation; Issuing necessary advisories, establishing 24×7 control rooms, the establishment of quarantine centers to verify the cases, availability of ambulances and oxygen cylinders, and at the same time, the Government is running a large scale vaccination drive. But all these efforts on the behalf of administration may go in vain if we do not extend full cooperation with the concerned agencies.
Let us bring positive changes within ourselves and co-operate with the government agencies who are working day and night on a war footing basis to overcome this situation. Be serious about the prevailing situation. Leave this careless attitude. Let us follow the health advisories strictly as advised by experts from time to time, avoid unnecessary shopping and travel.
Happy occasions will come, we will celebrate festivals, marriage ceremonies, enjoy tours. Even, the economy can be revived but we can’t bring back the departed soul.
Haroon Rashid Bhat is a teacher by profession and can be mailed at minamharoon123@gmail.com.
