The five keys found during the lockdown

by | May 1, 2020

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The lockdown has been tough and painful. Barring some infection hotspots, it will be lifted soon. But when you return to work, you will find yourself at a different place. There will be salary cuts, loss of jobs, shortages, business closures and even bankruptcies. Loans taken earlier will become difficult burdens. Migrants who have left will not return with a magic wand. The major question is, will you show patience for gradual healing, or will you adopt the path of angry reactions and inflict injuries upon your own self and others around? 

There is an old story. A man was intently searching the ground near a lamppost. When asked by a passerby about the goal of his quest, the man replied that he was looking for his keys. As there were no keys around, and the man was asked again if he was certain that he had dropped the keys near the lamppost. The man said, “No, I lost the keys inside the house.” “Then why are you looking here?” the passerby asked with irritation. “The light is much better here; it is dark in my house,” the man responded with aplomb. 

We had been lost in our ways – rampant consumerism, the habit of living on loans, the worsening of income inequality, uncontrolled pollution, and never-ending political quarrels – when the coronavirus crisis hit us. The lockdown brought every activity to a standstill. So, why not search for the keys that we have lost within our own selves? But for this involuntary halting, we were not even willing to take a pause and see what was wrong with us. Five problems are shared here to see if the unprecedented lockdown experience can give us the keys to fix these problems that had otherwise become fait accompli.

The first is our healthcare system. The culture of corporate hospitals where treatment is offered as ‘packages’ stands exposed, showing them as money-making businesses. The government hospitals, with all their shortcomings, have saved the day for India. It is time to reinforce the public hospital system and stop reimbursing treatment in private hospitals, which are ridden with corruption. Sins like bogus billing and ghost patients must not be allowed to return. 

The second is our self-reliance in pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. As a country of 1.3 billion people, we cannot afford to depend on imports in these areas. Because global medical supply chains are loaded with high commissions, it will be prudent to ban imports. The heavens have not fallen after the MRP of cardiac stents was fixed at Rs. 30,000 (USD 350). Millions of people get cured by generic medicines provided under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). These medicines are manifold cheaper than branded drugs. A majority of private doctors is yet not prescribing them for their own benefit. They must be made to follow the rules. 

The third is social security for every Indian. In fact, this process has already started. People have Aadhar cards, at least one bank account, and health insurance from the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Now, it needs to be expanded to pension to every senior citizen and unemployment allowance to every graduate. These two steps will drastically reduce fear and anxiety from the minds of the people, which otherwise ferment discord in the society. 

The fourth is the regulation of internal migration. People are lured to leave their villages by greedy businesspeople who need them to work on their enterprise sites – be it factories, construction projects, farms, or street vending and other service occupations – without formal contracts. When thousands of migrants were crying for help during the lockdown, the very people who brought them into city were nowhere to be seen. Uttar Pradesh is taking steps to employ their labour force that has returned, within the state itself, and this is a good trend. 

The fifth and the most important is the integrity of our social fabric. There are enemies of state at every level in our society, punching holes in it. They willingly do not trust science, do not respect public authorities, and the media, instead of pinpointing and ostracizing them, have made them into demons. It is time to defeat these sinister forces and make our democracy free of irresponsible politicians. Media must learn from the perils of being partisan that has the divided the society of the United States, for example. 

Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” So, please don’t cut payments of your employees for the lockdown period and advance them some money if possible. Say no to imported goods, especially luxury items. Insist on buying only those global brands which are made in India. And finally, minimize the time you spend in front of your TV, which is basically a commercial platform of making big money by advertising products to you. Why should you pay for watching it, allowing it to disturb your serenity, and making you feel unpleasant by constantly seeing the bad aspects of the world? 

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam used to recite the following hymn during his interactions.  

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation, there will peace in the world.

Why not take something good out of this unsettling experience? Switchover to the better lifestyle forced upon you during the lockdown. Put an end to cocktails, kitty parties and chill outs and have dinners together as a family with the habit of saying a prayer before and after your meal. From salt to curd, entire nature is present in your meal. If we keep our lives, our families and workplaces in order, and feel grateful for what we have, the problems of the world will also subside. Most of us have only now realized that whatever little we have, that might not have made us happy earlier, is actually more than enough for our survival. Let us continue to live in a feeling of gratitude.

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81 Comments

  1. Sir, your soulful blog reminded me of our meeting with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam at Mahboobnagar on March 31, 2013 when he was there laying the foundation stone of MB Medical Centre, Kavarampet in Jadcherla Mandal. It was late in the evening and Dr Kalam came there on his way to Raichur for Convocation Ceremony by Krishi Vishwa Vidya Nilaya. He spent good time with the students and asked about their dreams and concerns.

    After he departed in 2015, we see no one doing that yeomen service of talking to youngsters. All leaders are busy either getting public offices or enjoying the power and privileges once they are there. Now as a faculty here in Saudi Arabia, I really missed him, and wonder if he would have been alive would he have visited us here. There was no class you took without mentioning Dr Kalam, such was his influence upon you, which we all have received. Thank you for everything Sir.

  2. Namaskar Arunbhai Brilliantly put! You have shown us the keys that many of us have yet to find, even after a lockdown of over 2.5months. And those who have found it, are they turning it in the right direction to open the doors of opportunities!! Or are they simply not using it to their advantage! It’s all about application in our daily lives that will bring joy in our lives.

  3. Hi Sir! Enjoyed reading your blog. Its true how the world we live in has changed right in front of our eyes. We are witnesses to a dramatic shift in social norms, lifestyle, food habits, spending habits and most importantly, the realization that we were driven by want and not merely by need.

    As far as hospitals are concerned, we expect a dramatic shift in patient behaviour, where they are likely to seek medical care that can come to their doorstep, rather than having to visit a medical facility. Insurance companies are also likely to be more cautious about the schemes they float as many companies may have suffered heavy losses this time around. Telemedicine, which was the baby of a few tech savvy doctors, has suddenly found widespread acceptance. But how many of these doctors adherence to any of the basic data privacy norms? And most of all, as you had mentioned, the public health system, particularly in Kerala, has come out a big winner. So many changes simultaneously across industries. The impact is strong and the learning is big.

    The good part of this, I hope, is that our children will come out of this wiser about how they treat their own health and take care of nature as well. Thanks and Regards!

  4. One of the biggest revelation if one choses to reflect upon themselves during the lockdown period is that we have been so far leading life as per convenience ruled by whims and fancies rather than by a specific intent and purpose. Having said this, it does not mean that one has to live life like an assignment to be completed but rather should understand what “living life” actually means. Prof Tiwari Sir, has very aptly in this article narrated the story of the man searching for his keys at a place of convenience rather than at the place where it was lost. I am afraid, we all in some way or the other have been guilty of this.

    The corona pandemic has shown the inadequacies in our healthcare system. However, our medical fraternity have responded efficiently despite these inadequacies and have relentlessly served at this hour of crisis, especially the government hospitals. The act has rekindled the faith that Medicine is indeed a noble profession”, at a time when the general feeling is that healthcare has become commercialized.

    I always remember Dr Kalam Sir’s quote that “Strength respects strength” and our strength emerges only when we become self-reliant. India has an excellent opportunity to now show case that we as a nation are capable of indigenously developing products at an affordable rate and make them easily accessible to common man. In fact, this pandemic has made India realize the importance of empowering the industries to develop products within the country and reduce the burden of imports and set the ambition to now become the epicentre of exports, especially in the healthcare sector.

    Personally, having been working in the healthcare sector for a little over two decades in trying to see how in-house developments and indigenization can be encouraged and effectively deployed. While our objectives have not fructified to the visualized extent that we began with, our experience thus far will hopefully leave us in good stead to make a contribution in the coming times, especially with a change of guard and approach by the current government in trying to give the impetus for becoming self-reliant. I probably like to summarize by what Prof Tiwari always has been telling me over the last two decades that I have working under him that “Perseverance will pay at a time when you least expect it would.”

  5. बात सही है, यह समय अपनी आदतें और प्राथमिकतायें बदलने का है. लेकिन उससे पहले कि इन चाबियों की ज़रूरत पड़े, ताले को समझना होगा कि वह बंद है; उसे खुलना चाहिए, भले के लिए. ख़ुद को बदलने की जब तक चाह पैदा न हो, चाबियों का कोई काम नहीं. अभी मजबूरी ने सबको सादगी की राह दिखाई है, लॉक डाउन के तीसरे चरण ने यही दिखाया. हमें जाने और कितना समय चाहिए समय की मांग को समझने के लिए! धन्यवाद सर.

  6. Rightly said. This lockdown has made us realise that we have enough to survive happily. It is our greed for more that has lead to depletion in this world. In the end, it is us who are suffering.

    As far as the five keys are concerned, apart from what the Government is doing, every citizen of India has role to play. Every right action multiplied by our population will lead to a winning nation.

    As a citizen of this country we definitely should do our bit to make things better, remove corruption , oppression and be a little less selfish. If we all do one small thing differently tomorrow, the impact will not be small.

  7. You have very nicely triggered the thought process on current situation with an old story, Prof Tiwariji !

    Of late people are unable to see the full scope of the consequences of their actions and they need to be open to a positive story with ideas on how things work differently to sustain the social fabric. The keys found during lock down will surely script this story.

  8. Dear Tiwariji, Very nice article again. I liked the anaology of the lampost at the beginning.

    I would like to elaborate a bit on the first key as that is a part and parcel of my life. Having worked in a Private Mission Hospital, a Centrally Funded Government Hospital and a State Funded Government Hospital all within the same state, I feel that polarizing all private hospitals by branding them corrupt is a bit too extreme. In fact in Tamilnadu, there are innumerable private hospitals that have been doing exemplary work and have been sharing a huge burden of the State’s healthcare.

    Many a times, when I was training (Govt Hospital), I have felt that our hands are tied up completely with limited resources, lack of equipment, lack of funding etc., Does this problem resolve if we spend our GDP on healthcare equal to the developed countries like UK or the US? Quoting your previous article here, where you mentioned that people should start realizing that health is more important than anything else. I feel that solves only a part of the problem as even at present most of the funds never translate to better patient care as they are plundered by the corrupt at all stages!

    As we strive to improve the facilities we provide in our Government Hospitals, I would say we should also equally embrace the Private Hospitals by providing them enough support. As mentioned in a few comments below, yes a lot of Private Hospitals at present are struggling to even pay the wages of their staff, as the elective work (regular work apart from emergencies) is in a standstill. Still they are putting up high spirits and running the show. In fact, the State Govt of Tamilnadu has asked for a percentage of the beds in all private hospitals to be reserved for COVID patients. None of the Private Hospitals can stay closed. I believe this is the state of affairs in the other states as well. I find it grossly unthankful to say that they are generating money from unwanted investigations. Nevertheless, I completely agree that there are bad apples in the basket, and they definitely need to be thrown out.

    Coming back to the Analogy, Yes we know that the problem is the lost key. But are we looking for it at the dark house rather than the lamppost?

  9. Dear Arunji, I am sure, you, like all of us, believe that we are coming to an end of the critical phase of this pandemic and we are ready to go back and start activities required for the world to re-start and for people to survive.

    A lot will have to be thought of, written and implemented into the so-called “Post Covide19 world.” You have made a brilliant beginning of giving an overview of the way the world needs to relook at so many things. This pandemic has obviously shown us a lot of wrong that we have been doing, a lot of “taken for granted” issues have been understood, a lot of misuse of our resources etc. We have found that we can live without a lot of objects and routine and futile activities.

    A lot of adjustments will have to be made to get the world back on its feet. We will have to start implementing the new order based on the experiences of this exceptional phenomenon. But the question is “will the world really learn and change “? Is there a willingness to change ? OR that as soon as we feel somehow that the danger is now not as serious, we shall go back to the old-world order.

    You have pointed out the key problem areas and to change them itself is a tall order. On the medical front, I heard that a lot of Private Hospitals struggled to pay their salaries and overheads in the absence of a lot of unnecessary medical procedures which helped them to pay for all these. People must realise this and make a concerted effort to change things for better at all costs.

    Off course we can’t forget the sterling work done by medical teams in this crisis, but the real culprits sit somewhere else.

    The self-reliance part cannot be underestimated and must be adhered to by all nations including Europe and USA. I personally think there is no merit in a blind WTO, and every country needs to develop and protect their own labour and industries to avoid a similar crunch of over reliance on one country.

    On social security a lot of good steps have already been taken but beyond that there could be an affordability problem too.

    Let us be positive and hope and pray that people have really learnt their lessons from this experience and are really willing to make a change for the better. We must all do our part and don’t rely only on others to change.

  10. इस लेख को पढ़ते हुए, मैं वास्तव में आपकी सादगी, मूल्यवान विचारों की सराहना करता हूँ। समाज के समस्याओं को देखना और उन समस्याओं को हल करने के लिए उच्चीकृत, अतुलनीय विचार देना।

    मेरे जैसे कइयों के प्रेरणाश्रोत श्रीमान कलाम के साथ लिखी आपकी किताबें, मेरे जीवन में हमेशा ही एक मूल्यवान शक्ति रही हैं। आपसे फेसबुक पर व्यक्तिगत रूप से आपके संपर्क में होना एक अद्भुत अहसास दिलाता है।

    अपने बहुमूल्य अनुभवों के साथ हमारा मार्गदर्शन करने के लिए, आपको सादर प्रणाम और धन्यवाद।

  11. Dear Arun, the catastrophe, Covid-19, is testing the resilience of nations. It has been a crisis which humanity has never seen before. You have brought out valid problems and their probable solutions too. Our country is having so many daunting problems, lack of literacy, education, industrialization, business growth, employment, health care. Above all terrorism, cleanliness, infrastructure, agriculture, hunger…. the list can go on. We may have our own priority list for dealing with them. But you have pointed out few which you think are important and are addressed on priority.

    While working in SBI in rural development vertical, I have seen farmers woes closely and have a feeling that our country has a big potential to perform better but corrupt systems never allow it to happen. What farmers are selling for Re 1, consumers are getting that at Rs 4. We need to correct that.

    This crisis has initiated a new thought process among well wishers of humanity and antagonists as well. A crisis reveals truthfulness of character of a person and Covid-19 has revealed the character of the nations. New world order will emerge soon and new opportunities and challenges will appear before us. We need to be self reliant and follow simple lifestyle. Nature gives enough to everyone but greed of none can be fulfilled. We need to keep things in life as easy as pie. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

  12. Prof Arun Tiwariji always rises to the occasion. With the extensive knowledge and experience in his multifaceted fields, the five keys are practical solutions to unlock the precipitated events. Unless thoughts are re-engineered at both political and advisory levels, our cultures and lives will be eroded until we fall. Let’s hope our leaders will start using the keys.

  13. You have nicely summarised the current scenario and the way forward. It is true that the entire burden of Covid-19 patients management fell on Govt hospitals, which were neglected all these years. None of the corporates shared the burden. Hence there is need to strengthen the Government hospitals.

  14. Every time I read such thought provoking articles, thoughts lead us back to value chain system that formed strong foundation of our entire persona. The three pillars of the society were, are and will always be “ Mother, Father and the Teacher” as stated by revered Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The values foundation is from cradle to grave, where the fad of knowledge is only contemporary and misleading. “ Man uses the best to do the worst” Reflects the maladies that continue to traumatise the people in their lives.

    Managment Gurus have failed the civilisation in creating the obsession to progress as strong criterion for success. Technology, Pharma, Finances, have only led to destruction, exploitation, greed to say the least.

    Samaritans like Arun Ji emerge in guiding civilisation to seek its correct track in avoidance of present pandemic, but also take some steps forward in eradicating the causes than the symptoms too.

    West which roots its progress based on Arms, Pharma and Technology but underlying strong exploitation and threatening. Amazing that the intellects are fascinated for this down spiralling the Proud civilisations. Dropping of Nuclear bombs and holocaust, without batting an eyelid, WMDs as mask to ransack regions, Afghanistan, Gulf Countries, world Policing, Institutional control, etc are evident manifestations

    Article reflects the bandaid to stride over the present pandemic Pains, which is timely and necessary, but keep the eradication of causes to bring peace in the world of the future, in thoughts as goals.

    Elections of Governments has been a strength as who can create better make-believe scenario. There is little of addressing the necessities of living of the common public. Fake communications have dominated thought leadership shamelessly. Silence of the majority is the basic weakness in all we see around . Hope this will change soon.

    Ecofriendly Blue planet and happier people is a goal of every elite citizenry. Let us use all keys to head for this goal. Billions of people need to wake up and set aside wrong politicians and their advisors.

    India, as a region, had withstood many assaults on its domain, but the worst attack is on now its culture, education and Value system. Thanks to the Author Arun for striking a chord in joining hands to bring solutions to this great Nation.

  15. Wonderfully articulated.The sixth key could have been: SARS-CoV-2 is a great leveller, makes no distinction between rich-poor; fair-dark, gender, religion or caste, country etc. One of the greatest lesson is that the world’s richest, most advanced and most powerful (most boastful too) country continues to be the worst affected

    The small virus has united the world truly in the Bhartiya philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – ‘world is a family’. For once, this virus has shown that in its eyes every human being is equal, very unfortunate for a small group of our politicians to give it a religious color which the irresponsible press has been spreading it.

    From what ever little I can gather from the “information storm” this virus has generated and continues to do so, humanity may have to live with this virus. Consequently, we will all have to adjust to the changes in our life SARS-CoV-2 is bringing. Dawn of a new era – hopefully a better one??

  16. Dear Bhai Sahib, As always, not only relevant and thought provoking but hard hitting too, if we wish to identify and accept the dimension of change and chaos which is going to unfold. The world order is going to change socially, politically, community structures, economically and so on. Are we ready to accept the change or would again ‘pass the buck’ as individuals, as corporates, as society as nations and politically? We still have not come to terms with reality that we have not been able to foresee the dimension of change. In a corporate set up at top you do not look forward to what happens today but as a leadership i try to see what is going to happen five years hence. Either we are busy looking at what TV shows or getting into testing is enough today or not, playing blame games on accuracy of data, politicking on states, migrant labour, debate on collection of fares, asking for subsidy and incentives, airlines, automobile industry, moral & economical debates on queues and social distancing outside liquor shops etc.

    We have not realised yet the extent of damage in each and every part of our future life order. The uncertainty and helplessness around the destruction caused should have given us by now a complete understanding of what is going to happen. How many of us have sat down and tried to look at worst case scenario going to affect us. The unemployment in present workforce and even complete breakdown in opportunities for our new generation coming out of colleges for coming years is going to be compounded beyond a solvable stage. For the first time we need to be honest and transparent at all levels as this is all about us as individuals, as employees, as employers, as businesses , as a political party, as leaders, as societies and as nations.

    Yes it is going to be difficult to reopen and restart. As a migrant labour I was employed somewhere. What happened when lockdown started, I was dumped or I was hand held. If I was self employed what was my network, How much was the confidence, trust and loyalty I could develop when we parted. Did we share the problems .Am I contactable for future. Frankly speaking for small businesses it is not possible to support beyond a small window. The discontentment, disparity and social discord which would generate in not very far a future would have unprecedented proportions as millions would be at a stage of complete financial washouts and no government schemes or freebies would even be sufficient to survive beyond a few days.

    In my opinion what is needed is a communication link at all levels, confidence and trust building majors not propaganda around free meals and free rations. All this migration study and pandemic has given enough data of our villages and towns that how many people moved back. What is required is complete involve the right from Panchayat to blocks to identify who came from where, where he was employed and what is skill level and contacts? This is the time government at all levels of its skill development ministry,, NSDC , state, district, Block and village levels Machinery (It exists) should get into consolidation of information and data. I would say this is a great opportunity which would never come. Once this is consolidated at state level you would have complete information on your migrant work force & then can facilitate teemployment by dialogue with states & industry. This is now more important and relevant then NRC.

    All the five key points addressed by you are critical and need of hour. We should take lessons out of nature. This lockdown has given nature time and a chance to heal. Cleaner air, cleaner rivers, plants and animals a safe environment by locking us in. What I believe has happened is Self healing. We must take a lesson again and use this lockdown to do an interospection as it has taught iidmany things including the pandemic has developed for the first time a fear of unknown. When we step out again we must be thankful and become realist. As our old ways would not work in the world of tomorrow and to survive we need to accept change sooner thee better! “वसुधैव कुटुम्बकं ” is going to be most relevant for new world order then ever before!

  17. Sir, Very appropriately articulated.

  18. Very eloquent article! I second the point made in the article that we must have to reinforce the current government medical facilities. In this case, it is desirable that the concerned authorities must take a look for establishing similar/equivalent government-run research centres and hospitals. Hence, maintaining the balance in monopoly of the private governments in the market.

    However it is the know fact that this year, just few months ago, finance ministry has put a point in their budget to avail lands for private hospitals cheaper, private medical colleges covering government hospital facilities. This is alarming for us!

  19. For the past few days, I have been speculating on the scenario when all this is over. This article has granted me much relief and supervised me on what to expect and stay contented of whatever I get. I felt the keys described as appropriate and relatable. Thank you for presenting such a holistic outlook around.

  20. There are some excellent points here, Arunji. This is time to take stock, to reorient our endeavours. Doubtless, COVID-19 has revealed weaknesses in the concept of a fully globalised economy. It is well past time to revisit some Swadeshi principles, that might have been deemed ‘uneconomic’ just a few months ago. This pandemic has shown that there are greater exigencies than profit and economic expediency. Thankfully, India is well poised to supply much of the world with generic medicines. The country may well come away from this crisis stronger, and better placed in the community of nations.

  21. Sir, the post lockdown scenario is very well explained! I personally feel a lot will change once the lockdown is lifted. The most significant change I see is that migrant workers no longer want to love elsewhere having seen the lack of sensitivity and arrangements made by certain state govts. Also, the state of UP has definitely done a phenomenal job in controlling the COVID cases as well as habdling the migrant workers crisis. I hope other states will follow what the UP govt is planning in yerns of generating job opportunities n in wooing industries away frm China to India! I strongly believe that we will see a change in the way we live our lives post the lockdown…whether we are able to accept those changes or not is anyone’s guess.

  22. Dear Sir, The article is an eye opener and you have clearly pointed out the opportunities to follow through post lock down. The 5 keys to follow, manage and execute are very well articulated. It is inspiring and this needs to be percolated to every generation going forward.

  23. Respected Sir, Thanks for sharing your thought on this topic and basically lockdown represent the delicate balance of ecosystem that comprises energy, family, nature, humanity and society. In coming years all of us must maintain this ecosystem. With Pranam!

  24. Really true words! Indian healthcare system worked very well compared to systems in other countries. First time our healthcare came in to full action. We have to learn to live with this change along with changed life style.

    Still searching answer for: What will be the impact in healthcare after this major concern? What will next action plan by government in public health? At the end I would like to appreciate all warriors who are directly and indirectly fighting this pandemic.

  25. Dear Arun sir, As the new month begins, I wait for your blog to get clear and crisp insight on the situation developed around us in the recent times. Thank you so much for sharing your great thoughts.

    Well, the current situation will be something that we all as a generation will remember the most! At the same time, made all of us learn a very basic lesson of life which you mentioned in the last lines of your blog “Most of us have only now realized that whatever little we have, that might not have made us happy earlier, is actually more than enough for our survival.” How true! The minimalistic is simple lifestyle is all what we all ever needed! Who best person other than Dr. Kalam sir would teach us – he lived his life in this way as a lesson for us – we saw bliss of happiness on his face all the time! Hope we all learn to be be more resilient too in current times.

    Bhagwan Swaminarayan mentioned in Shikshapatri scripture that “The time we tend to spend more than we ear, we may suffer!” Hope we all come back to our basic “Needs” over “Wants”. The blog reflects the very essence of this great thought! Thank you Arun sir.

  26. Dear Arun, You have rightly captured that Covid-19 has something to teach humanity beyond fighting virus and deep adverse economic impact. You have rightly emphasised life style changes, adequate and state of the art health infrastructure etc. Coved-19 should lead to review of world institutions to change them structurally for better response and governance to meet this type of global emergencies.

  27. Respected Arun Sir , This blog of your is so insightful that while reading one can very easily feels familiar to the thing described in it .Because the way you putted thing in which we human being lost our way ie “rampant consumerism, the habit of living on loans, the worsening of income inequality, uncontrolled pollution, and never-ending political quarrels” and in the pause as result of lock down we can realize it .

    Now It is time to ponder the to regain Wealth ( Physical and Mental Health , Environment , Very Nature of Humanity, Social Fabric etc ) we lost by walking on extreme materialistic way . We can only get it from where we lost as you narrated it in story of key searching man .

    The five key , You described is need of hour And I think our Policy maker must think on it to make our “New Normal” after lock down feasible. Sir the fourth Point ie Regulation of internal migration is something like all state government must bring in force in this period , So that our Rural area begins development as fast as possible , So the People from this area get cash to run their family without getting in despair .

    Sir First time I was reading this blog on my phone , Believe me I was wishing it should be long , because it was bringing smile & confidence due to realization of the thing it described it it .

    While on dinner on 3rd may i realised this line of blog . “From salt to curd, entire nature is present in your meal.” Thank you Sir!!!!

  28. In this lockdown period this article perfectly blends all the aspects. However this time I want to add some points. I will start with India’s healthcare system. When we talk about our Indian medical/healthcare system, we find a clear gap both in terms of facilities and its implementation. Personally I feel that like defence, clear revival is needed in this area. Why don’t we make nodal centers having state of art facilities in all major parts of India which can directly governs the nearby areas (like the head quarters of defence). The healthcare personal needed to be trained/ the facilities, hospitals needed to be more hygienic. Also what I feel that health insurance can be made compulsory for every Indian especially for old people (above 60). Furthermore at present their are many many schemes are running at different levels. So why don’t we curb all and merge them in three-four only (which can be unemployment, health, food, house). By this way we eliminate the corruptions. Also the governing body for its implementation must be independent like (UPSC, Exam commission, Defense etc.) so that it cannot become a tool for appeasement. Especially the “freebies” during election.

    Secondly I feel that we need to promote “MAKE IN INDIA”. I am from IIT and sadly in IIT we purchase all the major instruments from outside India. Just imagine how much loss is this. Even software like “Turnitin (for plagrasim), Grammly or various referencing, different software for different research activities we use outside India brand. Just imagine how much money government is paying for this. We have a huge brand of excellent technocrats why don’t we work on these. Also, you can see in India all most all the projects are government sponsored so the accountability will be very less. Why don’t government make this compulsory for all PIs to have fifty percent industry sponsored projects (which will make accountable both Indian researchers and Indian industries) and ultimately more patent and product. As far as our Research and development culture is focusing on paper publication (Even the government bodies like DST, SERB I don’t feel) that they are serious. The list is quite long however, I feel that this pandemic have created opportunity to revive our Country and can target to become world leader in next 50 years with support/ accountability of every individual. Every time we questions government. However I feel that this is the high time we questions ourselves. Remember society can inspire government too in many ways to change their ways of doing works.

  29. About happiness, we have come to realize that it is pointless to rely on someone or something else for our happiness and self-worth. Haven’t we all started to stop worrying about things that are beyond our control! In solitude we learn nobody else can be responsible for our health & happiness. There are indeed many keys to happiness. But it’s human tendency to seek ‘something more’, an ingrained and powerful need. So, the master key to happiness lies in our enjoyment of the journey as we seek, whatever.

    True, the fear of being sent to a government hospital seem to be as big as contracting the virus. Given the sordid yet real picture painted in the minds of people about government facilities, nobody wants any experience, first and last, with government healthcare services. Thus, our government have enough compulsions to revamp government facilities faster. Locked down, humans have rekindled human values. Since it’s rooted in our genomes to embrace, love and survive together, we are embracing empathy and compassion with the only hope that together we shall overcome.

  30. Sir, The COVID-19 period has become a very difficult time for every people from all walks of life. It teaches us that we are not safe on this most modern time period of the human civilizations, We don’t know what will be the repercussions on this issue. But our strong belief is that we will overcome the burden whatever it may be. Thank you.

  31. Very beautifully highlighted the five most important changes observed around us. Its rightfully said that the world will never be the same after this lockdown nor the way we will see the world.

    There are numerous issues and concerns that are raised due to COVID condition. More investment and emphasis on public health and improving our medical system is not only important now but will also help to make India strong. We as a country should be more self-reliant, our people are smart, intelligent and hard-working so that should not be a problem. This lockdown time made us aware that the importance of family, food and our natural surrounding.

    Lastly, as a biologist and a researcher, I must emphasise that developing a keen interest in science in kids from schooling itself will lead to the development of a strong country.

  32. Such an optimistic blog Uncle in these hard times… And why even call these hard times after reading your blog

    I believe high engagement activities flood the body with positive hormones that elevate one’s sense of well-being. Athletes, musicians, and others are well experienced in this effect; they call it ‘flow.’ Time flies by as the individual focusses on the task to the exclusion of everything else. In ‘flow,’ we find engagement, calmness, focus, and joy. One too, can enjoy flow in one’s home-based work and reduced social activities. For instance, one might find ‘flow’ in:

    Writing a report or proposal by excluding other distractions.

    Giving yourself time during the day to read some research or that informative book you have by your bedside.

    Listening deeply to others about their lives to connect with them; your family or friends over social media; try listening for ten minutes or more without interrupting – what have you’re learned about them and yourself?

    Exercising, singing, or playing your instrument – giving proper time to these activities allows you to experience focus, calmness, and satisfaction.

    Gratitude

  33. I agree with all the points: We need many more general physicians rather than specialists who claim xxx number of operations. The result and the after effects of the operation are never discussed, leave alone the cost

    Regarding self sufficiency in drugs and medical equipment, I share with you what you brought out so eloquently in your earlier blogs — which in my own way wrote ‘let us be independent and not interdependent”

    Negativity should be ignored and cold shouldered… it will die a natural death.

    Change – change is an integral part of life …however general public never experience it, and hence the turmoil …. bliss is good but such incidents would be much more that shocking …it is time this message of accepting a change is pr0pagated among all of us. Talking of change … I am remembered of a Lord Tennysons poem … where the dying king asks his follower to go and throw the sword excalibur in the pond… the poem starts with …”the old order changeth yielding place to new” …

    Let us all pray for strength to forbear what is going on and what is to come in the new scenario… SARVE JANA SUKINAH…..

  34. Dear Arun Ji, You have captured everything including – root of problem, effects of the problem and solutions of those problems – for India as well as for the world.

    History has provided world what we need to learn but we keep making same mistake. Corona virus is a jolt and if we do not understand what we need to do now them humanity will be wiped out soon.

    Earth has enough for 10 B people but Earth cannot provide for our greed, overly materialistic lifestyle. We dont value farming, health care.

    First time, we could see who is important but their salaries are cut even in this situation. World need a serious change …

  35. Dear Dr. Tiwari, very well put indeed, you have raised observations about widely prevailing slow decay of cultural values, decadent lifestyle and spiritual lethargy. The sudden shock of pandemic has stirred people involuntarily and we as a society-collectively- we have an opportunity to go inward and assess what are we doing with our lives and where we are going.

    Sadly, large part of the population is crippled with fear – exacerbated by rampant news media, social media, and most channels of communication do extremely well about breeding fear to such an extent that there is no room for deeper contemplation or investigation.

    From the very start of this virus situation-it has INTUITIVELY not sit well with me, I have not believed it to be a natural phenomenon and with more “conscious people presenting well documented research” I believe there is a “puppet master “(not just one individual) and this is a global show of power and motivated by absolute evil. How can the larger part of the humanity be brought down to its knees and live in fear so that they can be controlled?

    Every day I hear stories from people around me – barely making ends to meet -now they don’t have food to eat. All I pray and hope for is tipping the balance of evil with higher consciousness so those with powerful agenda may not win after all. It seems we have reached the climax of Kali Yuga. I remain hopeful, resilient, courageous and committed to do my best as a human being despite what happens. . .

  36. The issues thrown up during this period are well identified in this write-up. The first three keys, in fact, can together allay much anxiety for many people — those who are in the rat race unwillingly, for the sake of financial security, yet have been uncomfortable with the inevitable demand to compromise their ethics and “kill their soul”.

    Again, moral higher moral ground would be achieved with crisp rules for migrants sector — formalization enforced by governments and which exclude the clutch of unethical middleman. This does seem imminent now, and they must get their due pride of place for their contribution, as well as a price (salary) arrived at by the intersection of demand and supply.

    The last point mentioned is about adopting better lifestyle. From responses of citizens, one suspects this change, though imminent, will be messy in the beginning. The journey, from the starting point to the point that the new improved lifestyle becomes a habit and internalized, may be a long one, and one that is perceived as “adversity”.

    The missing cocktail parties and outings will be seen as “deprivation”, and self pity and depression will creep in. Interventions may be thought of by governments and other concerned citizens, to offset this and the consequent pernicious effects.

    With stressed environments at home, children’s well-being, in particular — psychological, nutritional and physical — will need close monitoring. Ways and means for this will need to be found. We must move to being `a Healthy society’ at all levels.

  37. Respected Arun Tiwarji, Thank you Sir for the beautiful article. The five points that you have identified as the key areas are the ones that all Indians will have to look out for,

    Four of the five – a dynamic health care system, self reliance on indigenously manufactured pharmaceutical raw materials, intermediaries and medical equipments, social security for the underprivileged public and regulation of internal migration are aspects that a strong willed government can implement with good policies with a little pressure from the true intellectuals, pro-active and critically constructive voices of the society & also the various grass root organisations.

    The Fifth one – the integrity of social fabric is something that has to be addressed by the citizens of India collectively. And as rightly identified by you, the enemies of the state are breeding passively and infecting the minds of both directionless youth who are easily misguided by voices of dissent and hate. As pointed by you, The bipartisan hatred festered by a divisive Media in the US has already hurt it in its most crucial time and this is an example of what must never occur in India.

    Just like the corona warriors and our forces who are defending the borders and also the idea of India, as responsible citizens, we can protect the nation by not tolerating the forces that threaten to divide and break the fabric of the nation form within. Each of us must take a resolution to never encourage any such forces even among our near and dear ones. and also defend the Idea of India.

    If these five points highlighted by you are addressed Sir, the Pandemic will have successfully provided the much needed impetus for the transformation of India that was the dream of the Vision 2020

    Kalam Sir’s quotes in the conclusion which the whole world heard loud and clear at the European parliament at Strausbourg will forever echo in the collective memory of the world and they will serve as mantras that will have to become the japa of every citizien, and the dharma of the each individual will have to protect it with the discipline and integrity of our armed forces keeping in mind their slogan- Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha!

  38. The ongoing onslaught of Covid-19 has turned out to be a great teacher to convince us about top priority for health. It has also convinced the wiser among us the futility of wealth, for amassing which we have been constantly neglecting our health. The lockdown has turned out to be a nightmare for many but has been able to bring back true feel of life in many families. It has not only brought back the health of our environment including rivers, wildlife, and air we breathe. In fact, our health is not separate from our environment on which existence depends on everything. A healthy environment is essential for our own health. The challenge of Covid-19 has taught us discipline (anushasan) and introversion (being antarmukhi) which improves our immunity and guarantees better health for all. We must not forget that Homo sapiens has so far shown to be the deadliest among all viruses which has attempted to destroy everything on this planet. Covid-19 has put a challenge to show how helpless we can be if we continue to think only about ourselves. Our sustainable welfare lies in cherishing the goal of सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनह् सर्वे सन्तु निरामया। Here all means not only humans of all religions, caste or creed, but everything on what this planet offers. Let us hope and pray that this extended period of lockdown everything on this planet will change for the better including our perception about ourselves and about everything in nature which surrounds us.

  39. Bhai saab this is the most beautiful blog you have written!
    If only we look deep within and learn these lessons.
    Nature can be very unkind.
    When it has to wreak Change.
    Nevertheless, I remain a cautious optimist !
    I believe in a higher power, that is hidden but fully conscious.
    In this Terrible time, real parivartan can be brought about….
    Which we thought will happen six years ago….
    And prayed and prayed….! God bless Bharat Ma!

  40. A marvellous penning..I went through it in search of the amidst lockdown.period..it is indeed a value added article articulated by none other than the prolific writer and grandeur thinker like Arun Tiwari ji…How to be relaxed and fear free is the core materials of it.In other words searching opportunities within obscure and darkness is the great lesson I got from this article.Nice to read it.My RESPECT.

  41. Dear Sir, Your blog is on the most apt subject of Coronavirus and the situation arising out of it. You are an eternal optimist when you say and hope that the lockdown will be lifted soon. You have understood the ground situation very correctly. People are suffering from loans debts, businesses are having losses. Then the migrant issue, they are not likely to return soon. The employers need to have patience and gradual healing behaviour. The angry and reactive mind will only inflict injuries. And you have described the situation beautifully by the story of lamp post.

    Rampant consumerism is your reason for present day situation. Your advise to go back to need based lifestyle as per our Indian way of living, is the need of hour. You have described the whole situation in 5 keys. What a brilliant idea. Through these you have touched upon the number 1 problem as health care and suggested that Public hospital system is the way forward. Self reliance in Farmaceutical is your second key where you have rightly mentioned the janaushidhi Yojana. You have then touched upon the third key as Social Security through Ayushmann Bharat yojna. Here you are advocating pension for senior citizens and unemployment allowance. The forth key ie 4th problem, you have described as Regulation of internal migration. You have summed up with fifth key or fifth problem as integrity of social fabric.

    You have quoted two great people of our nation – Gandhi ji and your mentor/ philosopher, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam with their quotes/advise. You have summed up with a great message of having feeling of gratitude during these difficult imes. I am sure, the concerned authorities will take a note of your thought process and advise and benefit. Regards.

  42. Couldn’t agree more with Prof. Arun Tiwari. The five keys have potential and strength to unlock a new way of living life. Life is to be lived, enjoyed and celebrated in a serene manner. I would suggest a compulsory 2-week national holiday-cum-lockdown all across the country. However, it has to be well planned and structured to derive maximum benefits. Just looking at the clean and transparent holy water of Ganga and Jamuna and clear pictures of majestic Himalaya adds to one’s happiness and spirituality. The mad rush in every aspect of life must be stopped. A more harmonious relationship among all living beings and environment must evolve for the safety and security of our planet.

  43. A country learns about itself in a crisis, and one revelation in the coronavirus emergency is that US can’t make their own penicillin. The last US plant to make penicillin, a Bristol-Myers Squibb operation in Syracuse, shuttered in 2004. From 2010 to 2018, US imports of pharmaceuticals from China increased 75 percent. China is the second largest exporter of drugs and biologics to the United States behind Canada, and the dependence is even greater, given that China is the source of the active ingredients of many drugs produced elsewhere.

    India too gets about 75 percent of its active ingredients from China. India being a multi billion dollar pharmaceutical industry, has never had an NCE molecule approved by FDA to make active ingredients for drugs. The fault here lies in the reliance on the foreign market and incorrect utilization of funds and resources. As you correctly pointed out, all the hospitals must prescribe generic medications from the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). Doing my medical internship from a rural area, I have followed the Yojna and strongly believe that is the future of India for the betterment of the healthcare system of our country.

    In the US, for weeks, the Trump administration pushed states to procure their own ventilators and protective gear, like masks, gloves and face shields. The Federal officials said that they are trying to expedite the shipment to the United States of large quantities of medical supplies procured by private health care providers such as McKesson Corporation and Cardinal Health.

    In the past few weeks, 14 flights carrying more than 83 million gloves, four million masks, one million gowns and 300,000 respirators have landed in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Columbus.
    Meanwhile, The Indian government provided 15 tonnes of medical supplies comprising masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment to China and other countries. This shows the power and the under used capability India as a nation has.

    In regards to economy of the US , the Federal Reserve indicated that it will do anything within its power to support the economy.Among the historic actions that have been most noticeable to the public are:cutting interest rates close to zero, reducing bank reserve requirements to zero, rapidly purchasing hundreds of billions of dollars in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities, buying corporate and municipal debt, and extending emergency credit to nonbanks.
    When it comes to India, Our president is leaving no stone unturned in controlling one of the worst pandemics in the world by supporting other yojnas like Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) programs and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) beneficiaries.

    We must all contribute and offer support in any way we can. Full payment to the household workers and daily wage laborers is something which should be strongly supported. We have the liberty to sit and enjoy the lockdown and get the access to every luxury. But it should not be done at the cost of others misery. Let us all do our bit and support the lesser privileged people so that they have the access to the most basic needs if not the luxuries.

  44. Dear Sir … I always read many a times and still feel that something might have escaped from my understanding or may be I could not have understood the full potential of words written here … The topic is so sensitive and being a housewife for decades makes me worrisome If I do not put some words that hurt the people who are at the receiving end of the tragedy… So pls forgive me … My experiences of life has many limitations to reply … But, I am also the part of the situation and hence I have a say too ….!!!!

    I had read a story about a two persons… a lawyer and a rich man … they bet .. the lawyer agrees to be in the confinement of four walls for a significant period of time … all the basic needs would be fulfilled by the rich man .. If the lawyer remain in isolation for such a long period , the rich man would pay him handsomely…..

    The lawyer after struggling initially , diverted himself reading that eventually taught him to the real fineness of universe….. Time passed … the rich man lost his money and decided to kill the lawyer , so that he doses not have to pay … the lawyer came to know his plan … in order to save the grace .. just a day before his actual release , the lawyer fled …

    I was just imagining the world before lockdown …The people were working like machines, companies always wanted to grow 30% every year , increment and incentives were luring the men to lick their elbows the grandparents were glued to tv watching senseless serials. Mothers busy with updating their profile pics and status……

    We are at HOME -It is said that you go anywhere in the world but home is the final destination … then why so much noise … ??? Actually the mad rat race has made us work maniac … we are living in the prison of fearfulness , and behind the bars of our own insecurities ..We have forgotten that, Our life’s path does not work according to the laws of physics ….The so call CERTAINITY has and to maintain that certainty we forgot to RETREAT …. We Indians are good in savings … Let’s consume that a little … and patch up those cracks in the relationships , Let is look within and check .. the metres of my innocence , my trustworthiness, my serenity , my ability of forgiveness , my ability to smile at small things and wink away at big matters …

    One of my favourite movies “ The Edge “ Anthony Hopkins , a billionaire lands into jungle without any means of survival … Says that … “ Now this is my life , I will start from here …”” I know It’s tough … But not impossible …. The Economy will revive for sure , The people will get on with life for sure …. It’s the Time that passes but , It we who are getting consumed…. and if this the only reality ,,,,, why would I cry and Crib and complain … I feel , this is a blessing in disguise … We will come out WINNER …. Regards

  45. The last line sums it all up nicely; “Let us continue to live in a feeling of gratitude”. If we truly want to change the world, we have to first start with ourselves.

  46. One good thing that has happened in lockdown at our place of stay is we are procuring vegetables directly from farmers. FARM to HOME time is now less than 24 hours. The quality of meals because of the produce has improved substantially. Its a loss for the middleman but both the farmers and the consumers are happy.

  47. Thought provoking and insightful article. The suggestions are practical and therefore actionable. Corona has exposed the tragic ironies and telling paradoxes of man’s fragile existence on this planet. Air is pure, but mask is mandatory. Roads are empty, but not open to driving. We long for office, but weekends are unending. Those who money have no way to spend. Those who don’t have money have no means to earn it. Is this a mess or a New order bequeathed by Corona. Clearly we cannot reach any semblance of even semi normalcy in the times to come. Its a long haul. Hope we learn to accept the way and make the best by shifting and realigning to”WE” from “I ” as the New order unfolds.

  48. So far, so good, a country of 1.3+ billion people has struggled and have succeeded in containing the Kovid. Strengths more than the faultlines have prevailed. The country faces the toughest challenge since our independence. It threatens millions reverting to below poverty line and county going back to licence permit rule is the writing on the wall.

    Having a popular leader at the top has its disadvantages when all you have at bottom is bureaucratic governance deeply entrenched in their colonial past. They are not at fault since they don’t have their skins in the game (unlike local politicians) and their toolkits consist of dealing with standard law and order problems. They can’t help solve the real problem which relates to health, hunger and employment; it is easier for all issues to look like a law and order problem for that they have their standard solutions. You can’t blame a police system which in the process of ceiling their district would stop all including doctors and paramedics. Bureaucracy seems to behave like fans rampaging streets when asked to applaud from the balcony. Yes, it is easier said than done, yet we need to learn from this crisis and take action for preparing for our fight against climate change. Yes, a top-down, one-way approach is unsuited for a country with a population higher than many continents.

    We should not let this humongous human tragedy go waste and must learn and apply to improve our governance and look at investing in healthcare, education and research. Promoting and creating new posts for maintaining law and order (like ceiling the district boundaries) is akin to 1970’s General Motors. They would recruit 50 more lawyers while Toyota at the time of EPA’s declaring stricter pollution norms for cars would hire 50 scientists and environmental specialists.

    All the five keys outlined need action. Probably maintaining the integrity of our social fabric is the first and foremost key. The people with skin in the game need to take charge. Coming out of the present bureaucratic maze may be the real challenge though.

  49. Arunji, As always you are at your best even under lockdown. Your comments on 5 keys and bringing analogy of a typical human to search under light rather than searching at where we lost hopefully will open few eyes atleast.

    Hope public hospitals will get more visibility and more funds so that they can cater more needly at the earliest. The generics certainly continue to provide affordable health care.

  50. A awesome article as always, from your pen. It’s really a wonderful positive article in this pandemic condition. By five key, one can understand the real requirements in and after the lockdown which one should follow. Thank you so much, so good article, for getting out of the pen so well.

  51. नमस्कार अरुणभाई, आपके विचारों से मैं बिल्कुल सहमत हूं। बस मेरा एक यही सुझाव है कि शिक्षित बेरोजगार को जो पेंशन देने की बात है वह नहीं होनी चाहिए क्योंकि अगर भारत अपने देशवासियों की जरूरत के लिए बाहर से इंपोर्ट करता है और अगर शिक्षित युवा खुद सशक्त होकर देश में खुद के लिए रोजगार खड़ा नहीं कर सकता तो फिर उनको बिना कुछ किए पेशन देने से उनमें स्वभाव गत कमजोरी आएगी।
    और जैसे गांधी जी ने कहा था कि ऐसा शिक्षण क्या काम का जो स्वरोजगार ना दे पाए। आखिर शिक्षण का अर्थ ही समाज को सशक्त करना होता है। जबकि अशिक्षित अपने और अपने परिवार का निर्माण करने के लिए रोजगारी का संसाधन ढूंढ लेता है तो पढ़ा लिखा है ऐसा क्यों नहीं कर सकता?

    भारत ने आज तक शहरीकरण देखा है लेकिन पहली बार ऐसा हुआ है कि भारत मध्यम और निम्न वर्ग के भाड़े से रहने वाले दिहाड़ी मजदूर और परिवार मिलाकर 15 करोड़ की आबादी जो आज शहरों में रहती है वह अपने अपने गांव की ओर जा रही है और अगले 1 साल के बाद भी उनमें से कम से कम 50 पर्सेंट आबादी अपने गांव में ही रुकने वाली है तो अगली भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था का पूरा ध्यान अगर गांव बेरोजगारी मिले ऐसी व्यवस्था पर दी जाए तो मेरे ख्याल से देश के काफी सारे समस्या का समाधान निकल सकता है। अस्तु।

  52. A true distil of outcomes that happened during lockdown due to COVID. Being self reliant is one of the keys and I am remided of “Namak Satyagrah” movement of father of our Nation Late Mahatma Gandhi Ji who emphasised that we should at least have capabilitiy to make our own salt. And then he started with “Khadi” and so on. That was a stage when he made people to realise the importance of self reliance. I remeber when our GDP was around 28%, we were not only self reliant, but exporters too! It is a time to think, strategise and act. Many thanks Prof Tiwari ji to make us to realise these 5 keys.

  53. Indeed, we feel blessed Professor Arun Tiwari is here with us. Reading this blog, I started thinking that what was less given by the mother nature for our survival. We have been playing in the hands of clever people for nothing. Every one is living life in self adopting the forced Lockdown fearing Covid-19. Those who didn’t care for themselves and played in the hands of others are the maximum sufferers. Isn’t it time we do an introspection and realize of our own existence?

    Arun ji has touched everything, every point in this blog, people are experiencing during this lockdown period. It is time we realise our own existence, and start living our life the GOD has given to live with Post Covid phase. Hope, we see living humans and not the labour-humans post-lockdown.

  54. Like usual…some very relevant insights…yes…the lockdown has been tough…but it has also exposed the fragility within the system…like rightly pointed out health care for a nation like India, where the majority of the populace finds it difficult to afford two square meals, should be within the realm of public service.

    Also, like mentioned media needs to be fair, which is literally asking a lot. There is a concerted attempt to portray or highlight the negative while pushing the bright spots in the background. It is more than just TRP. The best course of action would be to stop feeding the media by consciously avoiding being a part of it by way of watching or reading any biased media.

    Finally, like rightly pointed out, this is a time to go within and keep Patience and be in commune with our Higher Virtues. Most importantly be grateful for all the things that one is Blessed with.

    Thanks for such a wonderful article.

    Jai Swaminarayan

  55. Sir, excellent portrayal of issues that we are dealing with, during this lockdown.

    Strengthening the healthcare system at primary levels, with adequate personnel and facilitie are very much needed.

    Enforcing certain guidelines for the medical practitioners regarding prescription of generic medicines.

    Educating public about the generic drugs and encouraging the use of generic drugs by the people.

    The social security for every graduate could be achieved by creating jobs that would enhance ones own skills and utilizing them in such way, that would contribute to the growth of the country.

    Providing workers with projects in their own states, would limit the migration. It’s a good start by uttar pradesh, and hopefully many states could follow the lead.

    The take away from these times could be, the importance of putting needs before wants, having faith, being kind, selfless and grateful.

  56. Great Arunji. You are right that building Government hospital system should be the first priority. We have given greater emphasis on this in our expert Committe report for health reforms in AP.

  57. Arun bhai Saab, What a wonderful analysis of current situation. Very well written. The five keys are the need of the time and the best solution.The current pandemic may prove a blessing for India For bringing us together. There are areas as highlighted by you specially the migrants and people living below poverty line , who needs to be looked after. But there is light at the end of the tunnel as India has emerged a winner over so many western countries and particularly USA. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Jai Swaminarayan!

  58. Excellent article Prof. Tiwari. The COVID-19 virus crisis has indeed caused us to rethink at levels we haven’t before! What is important in our lives? Is our country keeping us safe? Who can we trust in crises? And many other questions arise as we are restricted in our outside activities leaving us ample time to ponder what’s going on.

    One key risk that has emerged from the COVID-19 virus crisis for both the U.S. and India is the reliance on China for a vast majority of their pharmaceuticals. Not only for economic reasons, but for national security, we must break this reliance on China. In fact, this crisis sheds more light on the need for US-India cooperation in this specific area and others.

    So from the apparent darkness that has been bestowed onto us by COVID-19, we may look back on this some years down the road and realize it was indeed a key event in history causing our two nations to come together for the betterment of mankind.

  59. Well said sir. Every crisis is an opportunity to learn and improve. This one has thrown up many lessons at Individual level, Organisational level as well as at National level. You have highlighted some key learnings.

    While the crisis itself may look like a bad dream – some years down the line, these learnings will stay with us – and hopefully make the world a better place.

  60. Sir, you very nicely summed up feelings of most of us. I would rate regulation of internal migration as most critical issue. You are hitting the Bull’s Eye, “People are lured to leave their villages by greedy businesspeople who need them to work on their enterprise sites – be it factories, construction projects, farms, or street vending and other service occupations – without formal contracts. When thousands of migrants were crying for help during the lockdown, the very people who brought them into city were nowhere to be seen.” If the migrants do not return systems in cities would collapse in no time. So, they must return as dignified workers supported by a proper contract.

  61. Coronavirus, which can be seen only through an electronic microscope, with so many associated theories, whether it is a living being or a proteine particle, has proved how futile and inadequate are our so called scietific achievements and related human arrogance of conquering the nature. I may call it as a “God’s particle” which taught lessons to demons of misdeeds done to mother earth. It is time to introspect and respect all elements of creation. Arun saab, The rewinding should happen the way you suggested.

  62. Very Thought provoking article Sir!! This pandemic has immensely shaken everyone to core and made us realise that we were living in artificial world where actual life was left behind or ignored.

    Five keys mentioned by you are unique solutions in itself and I would say that Inclusiveness to the core of the society is something we need to practise for future sustainability. Each and every household each and every village has a lot to offer and people need to stop migrating and take challenges at the place of Living.

    We have seen during this crisis how direct supplies of fruits and vegetables were made from farms to cities without middlemen. How various essential products came direct to cities. So people have learned many things. Largely they learnt to survive, way differently. Hope this continues and the fresh air we have experienced because of pollution levels going down stays for our well-being. Digital revolution will come a big way as major disruption which will bring major changes in the way we work in future. Work from home becoming new normal will help in decongestion of cities.

    While economy would be a challenge for few years to come, the crisis would definitely make people come up with new thoughts which would incite more inclusiveness in times to come.
    Hoping for the better future for everyone.

  63. This article is PANCHSHEEL of today’s essence of living in an atmosphere of both internal and external choas. We all know that it is possible to live, survive and succeed with proper judicious planning and unadulterated mindset without having to go for unrequited loans, exhibitionism, corporate hospitals by shedding individual egos to which we have become slaves. Time is to recondition ourselves to a greater zenith of egoless and selfless ecosystem that will enable non-consumerism and wasteful expenditure.

    Indeed, We are nothing put peanuts.. covered by eternal cover of emotional, spiritual and physical protective bondage…Not knowing where to be in the realm of haplessness of nothingness…still we search for our non existent dominance..where an invisible microbe dictates this universe…A REALITY to respect, coexist and survive to succeed…A challange to fulfill responsibly with discipline, devotion and immunity that need to become a protective cover of a peanut pod…because we are PEANUTS…It is the time we find ourselves for a happiest future ahead.

  64. Hi Arun. Good thoughts. There is not much reason to disagree. But there is a larger picture out there.Simplification of life is always a good idea. Unfortunately, nature is far too much complex. So is the world around us.

    There are many many things that are wrong around us. You picked up just a few. But those are incremental thoughts. An organized society with an open mind should be able to solve these problems sooner or later. India and Indians are doing pretty ok there. In times to come, we will become better and better at that.

    The current crisis has opened up many hidden fault lines in Indian and global systems. Global interdependence, for good reasons, requires a global crisis handling ability. Self-reliance on the health system, for example, though a good idea is not the best idea for the future. You require worldwide surveillance and sharing of data to be able to respond to such situations. You need the ability to get vaccines from the labs worldwide. You need to depend on other countries in areas where they have better infrastructure and intelligent people organized in highly productive structures and organizations. And we should be willing to contribute to the good of the world. That would bring about peace and harmony and wellness of humankind.

    One thing is sure. Nature will continue to play randomly with us. Diseases, Viruses, Climate, Wildlife, and Evolution of planet over the millions of years ahead of us- something or the other will keep getting out of hands. Dinosaurs could not save themselves. Humans have a better chance as we have the ability to scientifically analyze things, synthesize new solutions and organize ourselves to beat the odds.

    Let’s just say this. Have an open mind. Look for ideas from anywhere it comes from. Create an infrastructure of systems, processes, and capabilities among people to build a future that can meet and beat the challenges that nature will continue to throw at us.

  65. The five keys you have mentioned in your blog are essential for promoting social harmony, peace and a sense of justice in the Indian society. While using these keys, the country should also prepare itself to work on strengthening its digital infrastructure and the manufacturing sector. Post COVID-19, India should emerge as a fast developing nation with social justice. India should have its own unique model of equitable and sustainable development where the needs and aspirations of common people are main concerns of policy makers.

  66. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic lockdown has had an international impact as no part of the globe has been spared of its consequences. While economy has attracted lots of attention for obvious reasons its the toll on human lives that deserves lots of attention from any people centred government worth its name.

    As Prof Tiwari has eluded in this article structured recovery is what needs to be adopted to mitigate the acute consequences while incorporating strategies to sustain gains that will be achieved once the five keys have been applied in the long run, for obvious reasons this will need to be applied in the Subcontinent to start with.

    That recovery will call for adaptation to the changed working climate, is not a surprise, each one of us need to remember that business as usual attitude would have very little space if any as speed and efficiencies will be called upon if positive achievements are to be realised, Social interactions have not been spared during the lockdown these too won’t be as were practiced before, this we need to know and prepare to confront without loosing the good sense of our personalities, as all of us will be subjected to the same treatment irrespective of our social status or placement in society.

    As correctly put “We had been lost in our ways – rampant consumerism, the habit of living on loans, the worsening of income inequality, uncontrolled pollution, and never-ending political quarrels – when the coronavirus crisis hit us”. This described the self we wore before and what we are left with during and after the lockdown, having learnt what vanities are these unhealthy habits to our complete beings, resources wasted on wants could and should now bring lots of positive good, not to an individual person only but to the whole society by extension.

    King Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 1:14 “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit” This applies very accurately during this pandemic as each of us always thinks of nothing but survival, by accumulating things that at times we don’t even need, may we never forget that when this life ends, none carries any of the vanities that the consumerism culture brought us with, May we be wise to live such lives as to reflect knowledge of this fact.

    I therefore agree with the suggested approach to redeeming ourselves given the circumstances through the suggested five keys, the context is the Subcontinent for the obvious reasons, the principles however can and should be employed world over as they will address the human race in the same way.

    Ubuntu is the Spirit at all times: ‘I am because we are”

  67. Amazing how the parallels exist for India and the United States, as we are dealing with the same set of issues. We need to make a major investment in our healthcare system, which has proven not be up to the task for a pandemic. We need to avoid dependence on any foreign supplier such as China when it comes to medicines and pharmaceutical goods. The United States needs to create a massive strategic stockpile of equipment such as ventilators, PPE articles (face masks, surgical gowns, caps, etc.) to be ready for the next pandemic, and avoid the wild West scramble for such goods now going on. Third, an enhanced social security system and social safety net is essential for U.S. citizens as well.

    Andrew Yang was the first U.S. presidential candidate to propose a guaranteed minimum amount per month for U.S. citizens, and we are moving gradually in that direction, due to the coronavirus pandemic. And the integrity of the social fabric needs to be enhanced. What we have learned in the United States is that our health care professionals and first responders are true heroes, looking death in the face by taking care of highly contagious patients with the dreaded COVID-19 disease. What has been missing from the picture is true presidential leadership. President Trump has been hostile to the media, suggested imbecilic solutions to the pandemic such as injecting disinfectants, hyped up vaccines which are nowhere ready for the market, engaged in endless self-pity, and blamed the entire mess on China. India, by contrast, has had enlightened and decisive national leadership with PM Narendra Modi, who took the correct decisive actions and India should come out of this nightmare in decent shape.

    The opening lines in ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Charles Dickens are “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” That is the case here as well. In the United States we have lost over 60,000 lives thus far with over 1,000,000 cases of COVID-19. Each life lost is a family destroyed, which makes this the worst of times. However, the lockdown has forced us to decompress from our Type A high-stress lives, avoid ruinous commutes to the office, and allowed us to enjoy our families. In that sense, it has been the best of times. Let us try to take some positives out of this nightmare.

  68. Sir, Very precisely summarised the prevailing scenario….. very essential to have some positive learning and developing some change out of it because post corona world will be different from today. Rather than going by the narrative of some news or incident we must focus on the learning or moral out of it. Let’s be more alert, responsible and and sensitive citizens.

  69. मोको कहां ढुंढे रे बंदे, मै तो तेरे पास मे।
    Where do you search me? I am with you.

    Sir, Absolutely thought provoking submission made by you. ‘New Normal’ is a term in business and economics that refers to financial conditions aftermath of the 2008 global recession. The term ‘New Normal’ has since been used in a variety of other contexts to imply that something which was previously abnormal has become commonplace.

    As the covid-19 pandemic becomes a bigger and bigger part of our daily life, researchers are warning of changes in how we think, behave and relate to one another – some temporary but others potentially permanent – could be the ‘New Normal’.

    The lockdown brought every activity to a standstill. So, why not search for the keys that we have lost within our own selves? It is a great opportunity wasted for all who failed to learn from it.

    Sir, Switching over to the better lifestyle is forced upon us during the lockdown. Most of us have now realized that whatever little we have, that might not have made us happy earlier, is actually more than enough for our survival. Gandhiji did say twhile commenting on many global problems that our Vasundhara (earth) has enough for everyones need but not enough for their greed. Let us continue to live in ‘New Normal’ with a feeling of gratitude. Let us rely fundamentally on us, on our resources. Let us become self-reliant.

    Self-sufficiency, gives one the freedom to discover one’s true self and attain true independence. Search for the keys (rather Saint Kabir) that we have within our own selves and cease to run like a Musk Deer.

    What’s Next?

    Hari Om.

  70. 5 keys post is very accurate. What I have seen is a claw back to where we were before we became automatons and time-starved. We have a period of reflection among uncertainty that has almost forced us to re-think who we are and where we are going.

    Among the calamity, we have found silver linings and hopefully a way to move from being creatures of comfort into creatures of care. I absolutely applaud India for taking what some may call draconian, but we will appreciate it as we emerge out of this situation slowly but surely. Yes, we might wear masks and maintain distancing, but we will adapt and hopefully become more connected by real strands of humanity and oneness.

  71. Dear, Rarely if ever, we realise the thin line between needs and the desires . You have well covered the lessons and the Keys. Nature has time and again proved that Human Being can not manipulate It and if we don’t learn from our mistakes , Nature will take more tough Actions which shall be beyond control of Human Race.

  72. Very powerful blog on present situation sir. We have to change our lifestyle in a defined manner. Government needed to upgrade the healthcare standards and decrease the imports of medical equipments.

  73. Namaste, your latest post is a good source of inspiration to many especially the fifth KEY… the social fabric. I sincerly thank you for the wonderful message…

  74. Sir, excellent expression to the truest nationalist feelings. I have been a witness of your relentless promotion for our self-reliance in pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. It is a shame that we depend on imports in these areas and the reason is not absence of competence but commercial conveniences of our business owners who make more money by importing from China. I remember with pride how in 1995 you developed a cardiac stent fort Rs. 10,000 but it was not allowed to flourish by the commission seekers. If we miss this chance also, there will be no second chance. India will become a China Mall.

  75. Sir, Very thoughtful and thought provoking article sir. Each and every aspect of has been covered. As you rightly observed, the people who brought these casual labourers could not feed them just two months. It does not require a big sacrifice to feed the people who have been working for you for years. What it needs is a big heart. What do you do with that money if time is not there. With reasonable vegetarian good habits you do not need a big money to survive. It is ultimately the dana you do selflessly without expecting any return that will stand by you in your time of difficulty.

    Regarding your suggestion for payment to graduates as a social security I agree with you but my suggestion would be that they must be made to do some work, they should do something in return. Anything free we quickly get used to and start asking more without contributing.

    As you rightly observed there will be pay cuts and job losses. But with controlled spending we can still manage a reasonable living. With so many malls big restaurants and shopping complexes closed the spending gets curbed automatically. Travel will be only for unavoidable purposes.
    As you rightly observed it will be different world altogether. Namaste will replace handshake, Hug will be replaced by a flying kiss or Hi from a distance.

    This pandemic is forcing an ordered or disciplined life. The only point of worry is how to teach these educated illiterates regarding the hygiene and self imposed restrictions. May be the almighty has some scheme to teach these uncouth characters. Let us hope that the pandemic will be over sooner . We all would have learnt many lessons and we follow a path of righteousness. Thank you once again sir.

  76. The blog “five keys found during lockdown” has captured the essence of the life very well. Countries and societies have to reboot themselves to move forward.

  77. Sir, a great disaster has been averted as poor people had Aadhar cards, bank accounts and health insurance. The idea of pension to every senior citizen and unemployment allowance to every graduate is the call of our time. To feel that we live in a great country fear and anxiety from the minds of the people must be soothed. Looking forward to end of lockdown and attend one of your lecture if possible.

  78. So true are your words Sir. ‘We had been lost in our ways – rampant consumerism, the habit of living on loans, the worsening of income inequality, uncontrolled pollution, and never-ending political quarrels – when the coronavirus crisis hit us. The lockdown brought every activity to a standstill. So, why not search for the keys that we have lost within our own selves?’ Such times are indeed important. It will be a great wastage not to learn from them. I consider discipline of living in one’s own means is the most important message of present times.

  79. Thank you Sir for sharing once again a thought provoking article. Nature has definitely given a sign to humanity how to behave going forward or else you will be in a great trouble. It is expected now that most of yhe people all over the world are going to respond positively and going to change their life style.

    I would like to add a sixth point here: The reinforcement of Indian system of education and cultural values including Yoga. It has proved once again an important tool in hands of humanity to fight with adverse situation of life and guarded as a shield from suffering. Regards.

  80. Shri Arun Tiwari Ji I compliment you for identifying the various issues which are fully exposed During Lockdown It speaks that’ We always ignored advice given by Mahatma Gandhi and APJ Abdul Kalam for welfare of the state and people living in villages But over last seven decades industrialization job opportunities and Best educational institutions were opened in Big cities State capital sand this led to migration from peripheral areas of the Nation to Metros resulting in crowds Chaos and Many problems of slums where people live Lockdown forced situation narrated the tales of sorrows and miseries which are created by state and looks man Made Lack of education and disrespect to Nature causing irreparable damage to the Society Hope This lockdown is taken aas an opportunity to to correct the follies made it the past Shri Arun Tiwari Ji the Five keys you have mentioned earlier Will surely unlock the situation provided it’is rightly applied Thanks for provoking my thoughts on this issue

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