No man is an island

No man is an island

By now there must be a sense of fatigue on everyone's mind when it comes to the issue of coronavirus. After all, it's there in the air, in every nook and corner, all across the earth, like a very sinister presence. Yet, from a very personal point of view, when I look at Mumbai, the city I live in, I can't help but wonder at the casual or lackadaisical attitude of the citizens here. While of course by this I don't include everyone but the majority, the people who are either raised here or the immigrants who have well imbibed the changing values and norms of this global city.

In my conversations with people here about the Covid-19 or coronavirus, they have mostly laughed it off, calling it just a passing flu that kills only one per cent of the population, an issue that the media and the government was just blowing out of proportion to create a sense of panic among the citizens. According to them, there was absolutely no need to follow the media or stop living our normal lives. They called it a rage created by the super-sanitised culture of the rich countries like China, the US or Italy. There was no need for social distancing either. Incidentally, outside on the roads and restaurants too, people were seen gathered in numbers, walking around, sitting around tables, carousing over mugs of beer, leading their normal lives, in a lot of places.

Meanwhile the Maharashtra (the worst-hit state in India so far) state government announced closure of all malls, gyms, pools, cinema theatres and all places where people mill in numbers. Citizens have also been advised to stay put in their homes and maintain 'social distancing' for the good of everyone. Over the weekend, there was yet another announcement on Section 144 being imposed by the Mumbai police on people who would be seen travelling in groups either to a domestic or foreign destination.

Hyper-individualism

While Mumbai spirit is well-known and well-revered across the country, the increasing culture of individualism is affecting everyone. The neighbours don't want to know each other and people feel unwelcome in other people's houses. They do not want to invest time in cultivating connections or meaningful relationships. Within their own families too they are seen not be connected with each other. Even when they are cooped up in their own small spaces in the city, they prefer spending their leisure hours munching popcorn and binge-watching netflix, amazon prime. During this time, the interruption from a neighbour or a surprise visit from a relative is clearly annoying for them. Also, the increasing work hours and long commute leave them with little time for anything else. And they don't see the value in social relationships. Hence, the outcome is lack of value for a collective existence. Faced with any sort of crisis, they feel the fight is their own only, the consequences too their own. 

The fallout of hyper-individualism is always destruction, depression, anxiety, insecurity which the people have clearly managed to mask with their decent paycheques and personal goals. Though even when they themselves fall sick they are at the mercy of doctors, nurses, family people- all the interconnected resources. They strongly feel that interconnection is passe and the most evolved mode of survival is individualism.

Clearly then, a sight of people dying in China or Italy on TV, is still sheer entertainment for them. It doesn't move them or bother them since it's not their business. Social distancing too does not matter to them because they feel strong enough to endure this and how this would impact others is not their concern either. Also, in a country of 1.2 billion citizens where people are dying every other day due to malnutrition or poverty, the wiping out of a part of the population will only save resources, help them to live better.

Move towards creation

I feel the sooner we start realising the value of collective existence or interconnectedness, we will be able to get out of the trap of death, disease and destruction. Even when we are living away from our families, in bigger metro cities in our country or in megapolises overseas, we will feel less burdened by our own issues. Also, even when we are leading our lives in small spaces, we will feel less alienated or lonelier. Hence, when we are putting our foot down to maintain social distance during such crisis hour, we are actually caring for people around us. I do not mean to sound preachy but with this mindset, we will move towards more love, light and healing. 

ENDS