Dr Jagroop Singh, student of Sikh Studies (no funding or conflict of interest)
We are witnessing harrowing scenes from India on our TV screens on a daily basis, as the country struggles with a record number of Covid cases. However, the outbreak isn’t just a crisis for India but for everyone as “no one is safe until we are all safe”. This scenario is been played out in other countries too as the virus doesn’t respect borders, nationalities, age, gender or religion. The pandemic has revealed a nightmare situation that will require ‘joined-up thinking’ internationally and continued practice of infection prevention mantra, “hands, face, space & fresh air”. This will require minimum social contact and avoiding large gatherings. To that end, the political leadership should consider an urgent resolution to the farmer’s conflict and a rethink on political and religious gatherings?
World Health Organization (WHO) blames the mass gatherings, low vaccination rates and the more contagious variants for this 2nd wave. The inadequate primary care sector is also a contributory factor as public panic leads to unregulated demand on the hospital emergency units. The WHO could help play a part in coordinating the international aid response in the face of mounting critical commentary. It is not the time for accusations or arguments but for the country to pull together and show its ‘metal’. It was predictable for Nick Robinson (Today Programme, BBC Radio 4) to focus on PM Modi’s premature declaration that “India has defeated Covid 19”. Taking a political stance on the humanitarian crisis affecting the tone of the interview, becoming edgy and unproductive. Interestingly, the response of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representative from Delhi should have been better in accepting some of the criticism. That would have allowed more discussion on some positive initiatives like the urgent diversion of industrial oxygen to health care facilities?
In total contrast, a scheduled interview with Barkha Dutt with ITN News was amazingly sensitive, empathic and insightful. Her commitment to her profession and humanity is admirable, as her dear father had passed away on that very day due to Covid 19. She emphasized that her situation is no different to the grief-stricken people she had been interviewing by “thrusting a microphone in front of them”. Unfortunately, “what was a national mourning has become, a period of personal mourning”. She felt it important to share the reasons for the shortcomings in the management of the pandemic in recent weeks and the devastating impact on the people of India. Her grief was palpable throughout this open and candid discussion whilst holding back the tears.
She described the journey of her ill father in repurposed rickety old van described as an ambulance, without oxygen supply or appropriately trained paramedics. Then having to beg for an ICU bed after arrival at the hospital despite her privilege and connections. Unusually for privileged Indians, Barkha Dutt expressed empathy towards the plight of ordinary citizens who are devoid of such privilege and connections? She claimed that most people are denied entry into hospitals and are literally dying on the streets. There are accusations by some relatives of patients gaining admission, who have been asked to sign forms waiving their rights to any negligent claims against the hospital &/or the state.
Patients who are unable to access hospital services are being taken to Sikh Gurdwaras for oxygen therapy ‘Langar’. A ‘drive-by service’ for an allotted time eases the breathing difficulties of patients in parked cars. Oxygen therapy provided by volunteers is by no means perfect and is available to anyone without cost or discrimination. Critical questions were raised about the Langar Sewa offered to the protesting farmers on the outskirts of Delhi in recent months. Currently, no one has the audacity to ask “Sardar Ji, who is funding you?”
Nick Robinson happens to be right in thinking that this pandemic has a huge political component to it. Even the UK government faced significant criticism for their handling of the pandemic and promised to evaluate their performance management with the hope of learning lessons. This is necessary for all countries to have transparent and critical ‘look back’ analysis for the satisfaction of their populace. For now, we are left to compare and contrast regional and international variations for best practice. Kerala’s handling of this problem won many plaudits, attributing its success to its robust and decentralized institutions. Chathukulam & Tharamangalam emphasize “provisions for healthcare, welfare”, combined with the “democratic state working in synergy with civil society and enjoying a high degree of consensus and public trust”. These assertions were verified by anecdotal commentary by MOJO STORY whilst on a tour of the country in May 2020.
This nightmare scenario, unfolding at great speed and wreaking universal havoc, may prove to be a seminal moment in the country’s history. Indian people will be scarred by this pandemic and the questions of complacency and/or incompetence will need answers. Perhaps the Kerala model, espousing “Sarbat da Bhalla”, offers us a better way forward? This can only happen if the central government allows increasing autonomy for state governments to flourish within a federal structure.
References:
Chathukulam, Jos & Tharamangalam, Joseph (2021) The Kerala model in the time of COVID19; Rethinking state, society and democracy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7510531/
Dutt, Barkha (2021) If this erupts, it’ll hit the world’: Barkha Dutt on India Covid crisis after father dies (Interview on ITV News) published 27 April 2021
Dutt, Barkha (2020) Kerala Model, What’s That? “We are highly educated” – a Citizen’s Simple Summary (MOJO STORY)
Robinson, Nick (2021) Interview with Rajinder Tenija, BJP representative from Delhi (The Today programme on BBC Radio 4, Wednesday 28 April 2021)
Khalsa Diary 