2020 The year that turned around the world
Tags: Healing, Environmental Issues, Pandemic Diaries, Conservation, Transformation

I sit back and recall the destined time I received the new year, 2020. Just when the date was flipping from 2019 to 2020 what did the whole world do collectively to experience 365 days and beyond filled with challenges and changes. No one could imagine that the whole world be wrapped together to face a pandemic. Usually a war natural disaster or calamity, a political or economical melt down confines itself to a country or a region. But a phenomenon took over the whole world and paralysed life in every country continent and region in region in the world occupied by human beings. It all came together . There was crisis in every aspect of our lives be it health, finance, trade, social interaction, education just name it and include it in the list. I sit in silence and mull over it and cant shake myself out of the shock. Our way of thinking, greeting fellow beings, learning, trading and living just changed. Amongst us began living an invisible microorganism which made us alert of its existence inculcating a sense of fear. Have you wondered that you are in an elevator and just like experiencing the thrill in a spy movie your mind suddenly analyses the presence of the enemy sneaking in the vicinity waiting to pounce on you. The total culture of handshake changed, people touched their hearts or bumped their elbow to greet each other. Every citizen was isolated and trapped within the boundaries of their country. The borders of the countries have never been so rigid and shut since the advent of the global trading and open economies. Now a fly can cross over through the border to another country but not a human. Though I am making light of the situation it stirs a grimness within me. The Buzz of going local is overtaking the concept of globalisation. I ponder to think how the world will change after this pandemic is controlled most people are vaccinated? Will the world remain on alert for the advent of the next pandemic? Will the fears ingrained within us continue to disrupt trade, travel and trust between nations? The practice of wearing a mask that has become an integral part of our life may or may not be for long but I hope the mask of fear and speculation in our minds is removed. Born to a buddhist dad and a Hindu mom and being an Indian the concept of Karma is deeply ingrained in my ethos. A friend who has stringent religious thoughts and a phd in cell mutation researching to find the cure for diabetes and aids happened to bring up the karma quotient during a conversation. The whole world will have to take responsibility about their actions and what has been happening so far, she said. I was all lost speculating over her words but on a deeper level a lot made sense as to what she said. We have to rethink collectively as a human race where we are heading? How our actions are impacting our world, the planet and in turn our lives? Aren’t we actually paying the price for what we have been doing so far. Deforestation, polluting the oceans, extinction of animals, deterioration of air quality, increasing carbon foot prints, phenomenal increase in waste due to careless consumer habits. Our world is taking a toll because of countries and corporations economic and financial greed. Will we have a habitable world to give to the future generations? Will the future world citizens continue to live in the fear of pandemics rising often. Will sanitisers, vaccines and other chemical and biological concussions save us? Wont a total turn around in the way the world functions be the real solution