Social distancing is good in turbulent times but don’t make it a habit

It’s a lockdown situation. Countries after countries are declaring a lockdown. The only solution to face the coronavirus challenge to humanity is social distancing. Lockdowns have been created so that people stay at home and maintain a social distance from each other.

Colonies and apartments are locked. People have been advised to stay at home. No more early morning walks or jogging. Kids are not seen playing in the park. The logic is that the chain of the virus spreading can only be broken by maintaining social distancing.

A sacrifice to face the challenge

To overcome the challenge posed by the novel coronavirus the citizens of this country are making a lot of sacrifices. Social distancing by getting lockdown at the house and not able to step out has its challenges. People are stocking food and ration at home. Grocery shops are running short on supplies.

Strict enforcement by the authorities has resulted in the complete disruption of the logistics chain. The delivery trucks are stranded on the highway. Factories are unable to manufacture food items. Britannia is unable to make biscuits and bread as raw materials like wheat, rice, white flour are not reaching its factory. Flour mills are not getting wheat to grind and make atta (flour) or maida (white flour). The trucks delivering fresh vegetables and fruits are stuck at the mandi’s (wholesale vegetable market) in the city as authorities are not allowing to ply empty trucks on the road.

The purpose of social distancing gets defeated by the huge migrating population

A new challenge in days of social distancing which the government never visualised is the migration of daily wagers. All across cities in India, labour is returning to their native place as their place of work has closed down. With no money to pay the house rent and buy essential items, they are seen walking on foot. The government is feeling helpless seeing the plan getting defeated. With no other alternative, state governments have swung into action arranging for their food and transport. I hope that this humanitarian drive saves the lives of our poor migrant workers without whom our daily life will grind to a halt.

Waiting for life to come back to normal

Getting quarantined at home has suddenly made us feel the importance of freedom in our life? Everybody is waiting for the problem to get over. The dream of walking in shopping malls, eating at the favourite restaurant or watching a movie with the family is high on the priority list. Routine activities like going out for a walk in the park, jogging and cycling in the morning, watching kids play soccer all have become so important.

Let’s take a pledge that once the days of quarantine are over we will avoid practicing social distancing in our life. And what are these situations where we would love to show our closeness?

No more social distancing with our old parents

Life is precious and we are only complete as a family when our parents are with us. This goes for all the families whose parents are not living with them. They either live in a different country or a different city or maybe in a different housing society. We will make it a habit to meet them more often and spend quality time with them.

If they stay in India, we will visit them at least once or twice a year from a foreign land and spend more time with them. If they stay in their native place, we will convince them to come and stay with us in our city and spend more quality time with their grandkids. Take the grandson to the park or play the kitchen set with granddaughter. It’s time to realise that sitting in the balcony, sipping morning tea and reading newspaper along with dad is a privilege. Enjoying the poori(fried bread), halwa (pudding) and Kala chana(black lentils) on Navratras made by mom is like a dream come true.

So no more social distancing with parents and time to relish their love.

Time to hug friends and families who drifted due to a misunderstanding

He was not only your peer but also one of your best friends in the office with whom you shared your day to day problems. Then came a time when he moved to another organisation for a better career prospect. The separation was not smooth with some misunderstanding and you lost touch with him. It’s time after the social distancing gets over to give him a call and ask him to join you for drinks.

There was a time when you were very close to your chachi (aunt). She was your favourite pampering you with gifts and chocolates. The entire family looked forward to her visit as she brought a lot of happiness along with her. A time came when difference cropped up between your dad and chacha(Uncle) and you lost touch with them. It’s 15 years since the Berlin wall got erected between both the families.

Dad has also become old now. There are times when his eyes get moist talking about his childhood memories with his younger brother. He would love to narrate how he was possessive about him and used to shield him in front of his dad.

The social distancing has taught you one lesson. No difference is big enough to last an entire life. So pick up the phone and call your Chacha and Chachi over dinner.

No more social distancing with the local grocery shop

In these days of quarantine, the one person who has taken care of our daily needs from milk to bread to other grocery items is our next-door Kirana store wala. All established e-commerce players have failed to deliver during the days of hardship. Milk basket, Big Basket, Gofers, Amazon, Licious, Zomato, Swiggy have failed to help when we needed them the most. It may not be their fault but considering that they are backed by some of the biggest investors in the world they could have done better in these trying times.

On the other hand, the next-door Kirana store wala is working in close coordination with the RWA’s of the society and trying to manage the daily need inventory. Whether it is fresh vegetables or milk, bread, eggs or atta(wheat flour), chawal(rice), dal(lentil) and masala(spices) he has become the sole supplier to us. A word of praise for even the next-door chemist shop also. He is trying his best to stock the medicines even in days of shortage.

So once the situation normalizes increase your monthly billing with him and let him prosper.

Social distancing with social media

Social media has been your friend helping you tide over this difficult period. But it has also at times created a feeling of negativity within the house. Your spouse, your friends, and family are daily forwarding messages with a negative tone which end of the day turns out to be fake.

It’s time to keep some distance from social media.

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