Loss and profit

"There is some soul of goodness in things evil, would men observing distil it out”, wrote Shakespeare. Intriguingly, this is true of the ongoing pandemic too. Many have lost their loved ones, others have lost their jobs and financial distress has become all too rampant. Nevertheless, one perceives certain changes, which if adopted to our way of living, will prove salutary.

For a start, the world around us has become a quieter place. Silence, that for long was a luxury has become commonplace. No longer are our auditory organs assaulted day and night with deafening sounds. Traffic is at a minimum and, thanks to this, the blast of horns and revving of motors much less. The menace of loud music has at present come to an end. The ensuing silence not only soothes one’s nerves but encourages effective thought. We have been forced into a meditative frame of mind that allows us to ponder over the problems that face us individually and collectively. For the noisy set of people that we are, this is quite a bit of revolution.

Our environment has undergone a welcome change. There is less traffic and consequently much less dust. Our houses have a cleaner look. The necessity of using sanitisers and masks have rendered us more hygienic. We are prevented from sneezing, coughing and spitting as the impulse takes us. This exercise will hopefully induce cleaner habits.

Extravaganzas have come to an end. Social distancing has made opulent weddings, boisterous get-togethers and noisy celebrations taboo -- indeed a welcome development.

There is a definite need today to cut down on ostentation, to realize that in these matters, less is more.

The pandemic has brought to the fore the compassionate side of human nature. There were newspaper reports of those who came willingly to the help of the migrants. Many were those who paid their helpers full salaries though they were unable to come for work. Doctors and healthcare workers did all they could to care for the ill and nurse them back to health. This they did, in spite of long hours of work, clad as they were in very uncomfortable attire.

A great spin-off of the pandemic, and one that we should not forget, is the return to Nature. Human interference being less, birds and insects became more prevalent. One could see tailor birds, bulbuls, sun-birds and other feathered creatures inhabiting gardens and parks. More and more people, tired of being cloistered in their homes, adopted dogs and cats. They have proved to be as loving and loyal as their loftier cousins!

It seems, like every cloud, Covid-19 has its silver lining too!