Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of the country to battle the darkness of coronavirus by lighting diyas, candles and torchlight at 9 PM on Sunday, April 5 for 9 minutes.
This was is criticized by some people like the appeal for “Taali Bajao, Thali Bajao” was criticized previously.
Some people advise that instead of doing such activities, the government should focus more on providing medical equipment, essentials, and facilities to the health workers, as well as the general population of the country.
Here we will see why these activities are being initiated in this hour of emergency.
Why Initiate Common Activities?
Requesting people of a certain area, or community to do a specific thing act as a symbol that unites those people. These symbols can be seen everywhere, even flags and songs play as symbols that unite people of respective communities. Not only Nations and big communities like the United Nations have their own symbols to represent themselves, but even small schools and even groups of friends invent signs, songs, or activities that represent themselves.
PM Modi’s initiative of “Taali Bajao, Thali Bajao” and “Lighting Diyas, Candles and Torchlight” act as a similar symbol of people standing together for certain causes.
Taali Bajao, Thali Bajao was an activity that was done to thank and applaud those at the forefront of combating the coronavirus. And Lighting Diyas is going to spread a message of positivity, community and strength and represent that we all stand together.
Why these symbols during such calamities?
Demonstrations like these have always helped in boosting the morals of the people. Even during wartime, it has been experienced that people sing common songs and shout slogans to save themselves from dreadful emotions they experience from war.
Even during this pandemic, it is reported that in many areas, including Wuhan in China, Italy, etc., people have been clapping from their homes to stimulate positivity in their locality. Not only such activities but even entertaining factors like radio programs and TV shows play a very important role in making people avoid panic during such intense phases.
Comparing the quarantine with wartime situations
Numerous people are comparing these situations with wartime situations. There are enough reasons for it, people can’t go out of their homes, everybody is scared, the future is uncertain, medical officers are fighting the enemy and law enforcement officers are making sure that everything is running systematically.
Considering the same things, here is an excerpt from an article, “Life During Wartime: How Do Civilians Survive?” published on Guff.com.
During Israel’s campaign in Gaza, The Daily Beast interviewed five young Palestinians about their lives during the 2014 war that claimed 2,104 Gazans (70 percent of those estimated to be civilians). Their fragile existences teetered between “moments of sheer terror and abject boredom.” The five holed up in their homes to while away the day while the outside world was under siege, or the threat of it.
“Moments of sheer terror and abject” these are the words that define the life of civilians during wartime. Aren’t we all experiencing the same right now?
So, let’s fight this coronavirus pandemic like we would be fighting a war. This is no time to oppose the government and criticize every move they make.
Not the time for Criticisms
Although Lighting Diyas, Candles and Torchlight will play a very positive role in this fight, we must take measures that we will not commit the mistakes of breaking the social distance that we have maintained so far.
Moreover, let us build a positive environment around us because there is already too much stress in the world. There are people all over the Internet and News channels who are criticizing every move made by the government.
One of the most popular criticism is that the government should focus more on providing facilities rather than initiating such activities. Why these activities are important has already been explained, for the second part, we cannot claim that the government is not taking efforts to save us. We have been acclaimed repeatedly by WHO for taking early actions. Furthermore, resources state that we already have 15,000 ventilators and we are bringing additional 40,000 ventilators. Currently, there are more than 2500 cases in India, but India is prepared for a far bigger picture. However, it is up to us to maintain social distance and not put ourselves in a worse situation.
This is a time where we should stand for the people of our nation. Coronavirus has already affected one million people around the world and is spreading like a wildfire. If we can’t do any constructive thing, let us not spread negativity around and support the brave persons who are fighting the pandemic.
