The marauding Covid pandemic in India

 I was just watching the reporting of the current Covid catastrophe in my motherland India 🇮🇳 on CNN. It was an objective coverage with some heart wrenching visuals of perpetually burning funeral pyres and Covid patients literally gasping for breath on makeshift beds in temporary outdoor facilities in 100 degree Fahrenheit heat as Oxygen supply was running out. The poor patients left high and dry like fish out of water. The scenes were chaotic and ghastly.  

We may say the Western media projects a negative picture of India. No denying and there is some truth to it. Yet we feed enough fodder to them by adding fuel to the funeral fire. We have a popular Odia Adage - "BAARA BARSA RA TAPASYA SUKHUA PODA RE GALA", transliterated, "Twelve years of penance has been swept away by consuming barbecue dry fish". 

It simply means, down the time travelled road all the accumulated efforts and perseverance in creating the image of India as a powerful, emerging economy, a vibrant, aspiring middle class, a burgeoning global powerhouse - all stand decimated by a single stroke of these devastating visuals. Like the story of the monkey on a bamboo pole, if we climb one foot of development ladder, we are brought down by couple of feet - back to square one.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. In this divided world I can't change someone's perception, nor I thrive to do so. But we can't deny the fact that this marauding virus is claiming lives in droves every day, driving all crazy. It has impacted my friends and relatives - some too close for comfort. A clueless administration is running helter skelter like a headless chicken. How much ever we try to sugarcoat the situation, we have failed ourselves at every level. The truth hurts and absolute truth can hurt absolutely. 

Feel sorry for those who are trying to choke facts, control a section of the media, social or otherwise. We want to be a champion Democratic society. But when it comes to freedom of expression and reporting truth not palatable to the ruling dispension we want to be like China. A la good terrorists versus bad terrorists, we are treating BJP led government in Delhi as good, Kejriwal led government in the same city as bad, or vice-versa depending on which side of the spectrum you are. Blame game and finger pointing at this point is not going to help.

I am remind of this epic Kishore Kumar number :

SACCHAI CHHOOP NAHI SAKTI,
BANAWAT KI ASOOLON SE;
NA KHUSBOO A NAHI SAKTI,
KABHI KAGAZ KE PHOOLON SE.

(Truth can't be suppressed,
By manipulation of powers.
Fagrance can't ever come,
From paper flowers).

Yet Hats off to the less vocal section of people who are doing a commendable job by working tirelessly in a challenging time. Having said that, let's hope we learn our lesson from prematurely letting our guard down to see this day and going forward stay a step ahead of the next crisis. Nothing lasts forever. This too shall pass.

The saga of PETA GARAM

 During our childhood days in Odisha, a dry cough had a medical term ascribed to it - called PETA GARAM (warmth of the belly). No one really knew what exactly it means, but it was suppose to be the symptom of many diseases, especially related to cold and allergies.

The term PETA is more famously associated with the acronym for "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals". But here, the treatments for PETA GARAM is associated to a species of mammal called humans, ethically treating the outer belly as a prevention which any day is better than cure.

The cause of a lingering dry cough is always blamed on that elusive PETA GARAM. In case of fever, especially during the summer, it is advised to take a bath with sprinkling less water on head, but a liberal flashing of mugs of cooler water on belly (PETA) to prevent it from going hot (GARAM). If your Pee resembles Mustard oil in color and viscosity, it's the symptom of legendary PETA GARAM.

Shower and ablution those days were a combination of water, bucket and mugs, the fad of toilet paper was still elitist. The concept of toilet paper was as alien as aliens were to me. Toilet and paper were two separate entity, juxtaposing them was strictly fantasy. In 40 degree heat and after hot food water feels a lot better than paper.

An NRI in India once went shopping for Toilet paper. The store was out of it. Said the furious NRI, "What kind of store you have, you don't carry a necessity item like Toilet Paper ?"

"Sorry Sir", The storekeeper responded. We don't have toilet paper but we have plenty of Sand papers. TIKE ADJUST KARANTU or THODA ADJUCT KIJIYE, ("Please adjust a little bit)".

Brahmins were expected to take shower in a semi naked state to prevent their PAITA (sacred thread worn over their shoulder) from getting MAARA (spoiled). And it should involve pouring mugs of water on your belly to keep it in cool and forming a barrage against disease.

It's not uncommon for folks to come out of bathroom with drenched and dipping cloth, a la male version of Mandakini, of Raj Kapoor's "Ram Teri Ganga Maili" fame. In summer such an experience was pleasant. In winter one needs to shiver for minutes before changing to dry clothing.

In our college hostel, there would be a beeline in front of the standing showers when the municipality supply water comes running at noon. The line used to be longer during the winter months as the running water was relatively warmer than the stored one.

The first couple of mugs of water would be poured over the body with a burst of latest Bollywood hit song at top of his voice. That would instantly kill the fear of cold water. The BESURA (tone and beat less) song continues as mugs of water are flashed on the belly to prevent PETA GARAM. The song slowly dies down, as the next person in line keeps knocking on the door, a terse reminder to wrap up with soaked GAMUCHA and tip toe back to your room.

Not sure if those preventing measures against PETA GARAM really prevented us from common ailments. But am sure, it is just another name for dehydration. By drinking plenty of water one is better off than flashing liters of cool water on the torso.

I would like to end this blog with an ode to the talented, blind author of many Odia short stories known for his sarcasm laced writing. His description of minute details was amazing - especially of the human feelings. As he was very young when he lost his eyesight, he could never fall in love at firstsight. He described his blind feeling of love in Odia - "PETA RU GARAM PABAN BAHARI CHHATI KU KUTU KUTU KALA PARI ABHINGAYA" (Love is the feeling of a hot air emanating from the stomach and tickling your heart). I fell in love with that expression of a person who could see it without able to see anyone. Such a feeling of PETA GARAM isn't too bad.

Persecution and pampering

 The saga of two eminent personalities of our history - Chhatrapati Shivaji and Subash Chandra Bose whom our Right wingers treat as their idols. Both were undoubtedly great patriots who fought for the freedom from occupation. Shivaji built the Maratha empire from scratch, strived for independence from Mughals, troubling Aurangzeb to no end to earn the sobriquet "Mountain Rat". The eloquent and charismatic Subash Bose was a perennial throne to the British Raj. Like Shivaji, Subash escaped from the clutch of the mighty ruler to organize resistance from outside.

Yet both were smart unlike their current Right wing eulogizers not to antagonize the minority community by playing  divisive politics. Both ran their Military not based on a Hindu fanaticism platform. They had Muslim soldiers and Generals in their armies (Bose had his Azad Hind Fauz) who served with extreme dedication, loyalty and professionalism.

Why were both successful ? Because both leaders realized the value of secularism. Both knew very well that persecution and pampering of minorities can backfire. Subas Bose recruited POW (Prisoners of War) from the British Army which included good number of Sikhs and Muslims. He treated them professionally - neither pampering them or making them dwell in fear of getting persecuted. Shivaji Maharaj never destroyed any Mosque he captured, nor mistreated any Muslims, their women folks included. By doing so he just neutralized any Jihad (Holy war) card by the contemporary Muslim Kings to be used against him, for he was surrounded by multiple kingdoms ruled by Sultanates. He treated all his subjects, Civilian or Military equally, without any fear or favor, pamper or persecution, irrespective of caste, creed or religious. Being just, his strategy paid well.

In contrast the unjust Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb followed both principles of Persecution and Pampering. He established Zizia (Religion) Tax on Hindus and Sikhs. During his tenure many temples were destroyed, Hindus were persecuted, the Sikh Gurus were brutally tortured and killed. He overturned the long time secular policies of his predecessors. Akbar treated Hindu scholars highly, had many friends including Birbal, the witty close to his heart. Jahangir preferred wine, women and opium to sermons from Mullahs, keeping them at bay. Sah Jahan maintained the status quo. The fanatic Aurangzeb changed that policy, as an end result only to oversee the beginning of the end of his empire.

In modern days, blatant minority (aka Muslim) pamperism by Congress at the national level and Mulayam, Laloo etc at local level led to the rise of BJP. More recently, the abject pampering by Mamata Banerjee in Bengal has led to a spectacular rise of BJP in that state where it was virtually a non entity not so long ago. But a growing BJP hasn't learnt any lesson from the past. Its divisive policy of pampering one community versus persecuting the other is going to backfire sooner or later.

Moral of the story - a balanced, secular approach has led to building of nations. A parochial, right wing with Fascist, supremacy attitude may have led to temporary success but ultimately led to failure. Best examples are Hitler and Mussolini who pampered a section and persecuted another, leading their nations to gotterdammerung. The end - Hitler committed suicide and Mussolini was killed.

History vindicates that neither Persecution nor Pampering a section of society has succeeded on the long run. It's a lesson History has taught us over centuries. No wonder those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.

RIP Jeena Bhaina

 Sorry to inform that today my cousin, Chinmay Kumar Dwibedi (Jeena Bhaina), son of my mother's sister passed away from a massive heart attack in Bhubaneswar at his residence near Lewis Road. He was only 53 years old.

He had the stroke soon after 1 AM in night after he returned home. Ambulance was called which arrived late. No wonder it is said back home that a Pizza ordered arrives sooner than an Ambulance. He passed away on the way to the Care Hospital.

From what I know he had been ignoring his persistent chest pains for a while blaming it on gas and acidity. The disaster was waiting to happen as this time the stroke was fatal and left him without any scope for recovery. A case of sheer bad luck and a bit of negligence.

He is survived by his wife and a son, not to mention lots of childhood memories of us growing together. Difficult to fathom he would go away way too soon for comfort. Can't forget our jolly good times together - ANTAKHYARIs during childhood, attending common family functions, sneaking away to experiment with "Charms" cigarettes out of teenage curiosity, jumping into village pond and watching JATRA PARTY (Folk operas) along with other cousins during summer vacation at my maternal Uncle's house. Very difficult to fathom this sudden loss. May God bless his soul in heaven. Om Shanti. RIP Jeena Bhaina.

First Anniversary of Working from Home

 Today I completed one year of working from home which coincided with the first anniversary of Covid-19 Pandemic when it started to spread its tentacles in the United States and many other countries. Never in my wildest of dreams I thought of working from home for more than a year. Now here I am, still working from home and won't be surprised if I complete one more year doing the same.

As I complete a year of work from home, religiously social distancing, rubbing sanitizers and frequently washing my hands, I retrospect how a year of pandemic wheezed past and how it has impacted my habits. These days I shave only once a week. While I am reminded of the popular Palmolive Shaving Cream Commercial on Doordarshan, the only TV Channel available in India back in those days - "Kapil Dev, tough cricketer, tough beard". I am not a tough guy from any angle, but my razor stumbles on my stubble gained in a week, giving me a tough time. Shaving saga apart, so far I have managed to save my job as tens of millions of Americans join unemployed bandwagon every week. We are not out of the woods yet.

Two-third of US Economy is fuelled by consumer spending. I did not help Uncle Sam much by putting a break on my spending, as my expenses were inadvertently curtailed. No vacations, no trip to India, no restaurant visits. Even with record low gas price for most part of the past year, I rarely drove more than 10 miles a week. Filled gas in my cars only once every couple of months, as I don't commute to work. Under normal circumstances, I fill up my gas tank at least once every other week. Not anymore. That's a first time in America for me in nearly quarter of a century. 

Yet on a positive note, I help the environment. Lesser use of car means less emission of toxic greenhouse gases. My support to the environment doesn't stop there. Lesser use of Office resources like computer printouts, electricity, elevators, AC and so on. I can proudly proclaim of saving some trees and restricting the use of CFC (CloroFluoroCarbon).

When I feel bored I used to loiter around the local Groceries and Pharmacy Stores, Strip Malls (I usually avoid Malls. I feel them artificial and boring, though I love their food courts). Now I am the only person in my family who ventures out, very frugally no more than 2-3 times a week to buy groceries and run other errands. Define monotony.

I hate alcohol during the day. But the Coronavirus has forced me to do so - in the form of hand sanitizers and alcohol soaked hand wipes. While entering the store, I use hand sanitizer and after returning back to my car I use it again. I wash my hands way too often and way too long, thanks to this nouveau virus. Would have easily branded as SUCHIBAI ROGI (An Odia slang for a psychological patient with the habit of compulsive cleanliness, a tell-tale sign of insecurity). Just taking no chances. Have no desire to get infected and gift it to my family. Twitching the usual Odia proverb a bit - "HATHA DHOU THA, GUNA GAU THA" - Wash you hands, sing paeans of praise ( of COVID-19). So far (torchwood) I have managed stay safe the hard way.

My first tryst with Corona was not virus, rather a brand of shoes. During my childhood days there were only a handful of decent shoe stores in Bhubaneswar, prominent were Bata, Corona and BSC brand carrying stores in Unit II. I could relate Corona to a friend of mine who had this aura about him. His claim to fame was following the English music - ABBA, Boney M etc. There were hardly anyone to fact check on him. Often he used to sing something with snorted lips, which resembled "Corona Shoes.. my Corona Shoes....Shoooooes.. Whoooos". I was completely spellbound. Ignorance can be bliss, but it metamorphosed into sheer adulation for the guy. That's the only Corona I was aware of until the arrival of the virus bearing the same name last year.

On March 18th last year the Pandemic was its nascent stage. It could have been stopped at that point. Stopping the spread of a virus is akin to keeping a secret. If you know a secret and don't want it to spread, just don't tell it to anybody. When you are telling it to some one, the probability of keeping it secret gets reduced by 50%. If that person tells to another person it get reduced to 25% and so on.

A year down the road the cat is already out of bag. Like a gossip or rumor, diligent imposition of social distancing or quarantine could have stopped it from spreading further on March 18, 2020. Down the road one year from that point, now we have passed that stage. The disease already had spreaded its tentacles and claimed more than half a million in US 🇺🇸 , though the infection rate has gone down 70% from its peak in January.

A la a joke which becomes stale and people start losing interest after hearing it multiple times, people have become immune to the news of the death and spread of Covid-19. Yet there is still light at end of the tunnel vaccinations across the globe is gaining steam. In the past year humans lost the battle against the virus, but I am sure ultimately humans will win the war.

Naveen vs Joe Biden

 What's the similarities between Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha, my state back home in India and Joe Biden, the President of the United States ? Apart from both being politicians, there are plenty other similarities.

Both came to power as their previous incumbents screwed up governance, especially during calamity and pandemic in respective lands. The Congress government mishandled the killer Super Cyclone of Odisha in 1999 to pave the path for Naveen Patnaik to ascend into power. Trump's administration made a complete mess of Covid-19 which cost him his reelection for Biden to step in. Both Naveen and Biden are suave and soft spoke but men of silent actions who eventually get their job accomplished.

Both are firm implementators of schemes and projects in contrast to their respective right wing opponents (BJP for Naveen and Republicans for Biden) who are good in rhetorics but short at action. Unlike his predecessors, Naveen has ensured that his populist measures like KALIA JOJANA (Scheme) and several other measures directed to the women and the poor are properly implemented for the recipients get the benefits. 

Unlike the Congress regimes prior to him when the intended beneficiaries rarely got the largesse, Naveen Patnaik's socialist doles have largely reached the doorsteps of the poor and downtrodden. It has helped immensely in enhancing his image with the larger section of the society as a go getter - a man who gets the job done, resulting in reaping durable political benefits.

On the other hand 10,000 miles away on the other side side of the globe, Joe Biden has started on a silent note unlike his loud mouth nincompoop predecessor Donald J Trump. No sooner he came to office, he hastened the roll out of Covid-19 vaccines which has resulted in 70% reduction in daily death and infection ever since he was inagurated as US President on January 20. Millions have already got vaccinated and Trillions of dollars as direct payments as part of the stimulus package are on way to jumpstart the moribund economy. 

The steps taken by Naveen Patnaik in Odisha is simple and direct for the poor people to feel, understand and translate into votes. Politics is after all a game of perception. During my last India trip when I went my village, I talked to several people on ground. Most of them heaved paeans of praise on him for the free rice and other doles they actually received unlike during the Congress regimes when they received a fraction of it. 

In America, Biden seems to have learned his lessons when he was the VP during Obama's Presidency. Obama did a fantastic job in salvaging the fledgling economy which was virtually on a free fall, handed over to him by an incompetent George W Bush. The recovery came slow for the commoners to recognize it on a mass scale, as the Republicans muddled the environment with Tea Party activism movement. But it is a different situation now during a bad economy when 70% of Americans including a large number of Republicans approve the $1.9 trillion stimulus package. Because it is the layman who is getting some real, tangible cash in hand to spend and sparkle a consumer driven economy. Most public, irrespective of political affiliation give a thumbs up to the rolling out of vaccines.

Politics is a matter of perception. In the game of perception both Naveen and Biden are winning. Their Right wing opponents, BJP in Odisha and Republicans in US respectively are a  clueless lot. They can't do anything more than just opposing for the sake of opposition. BJP in Odisha is confused and probably given up until Naveen's death. In America the Right wing media and Talk Radio are struggling to find a narrative against Biden when a big chunk of Republicans (a sizable number in a divided nation) are approving Biden's handling of Pandemic and the economy. Both Naveen and Biden are on firmly on the driver's seat - at least for now. 

Panikia - The Odia Multiplication Table

 Does anyone, especially from Odisha remember PANIKIA, the Odia equivalent for "Multiplication Table" taught to be memorized during our primary school days ? For most of us KODIEKA PANIKIA MUKHASTA or memorizing the multiplications from 1 to 20, e.g., (1 × 1 till 1× 10, 2 × 2 till 2 × 10, 3 × 3 till 3 × 10... 20 ×1 till 20 × 10) was challenging.

I managed to rote it by heart. Whenever someone would ask me "18 PANCHAA KETE" (what is 5 times 18) ? I would reply NABE (90) without having any clue how that figure is arrived at but would get accolades for doing MUKHASTA (memorizing) of PANIKIA. GHOSA (rote) or BALADIA (like a bullock) method of rote was the norm of those day. 

The person who remembers the most was considered the smartest, nurturing creativity always taking a backseat. Switching to D M school was a smart step. In the late 70s, the famed English medium school decided to take students from the Odia medium schools through an entrance examination, a written test followed by a personal interview for those who get through it.

Not very keen on travelling all the way to Unit IX from BJB Flats, I appeared in the Exam half heartedly. Thought that only a few will turn up for the Entrance Exam. I was wrong. To my surprise there were hundreds sitting inside multiple classrooms competing for only a handful of seats. Anyway, I managed to qualify in the written test.

Then came the invitation for the personal interview. I was sure it's going to be my Waterloo. During my interview a bunch of General Knowledge questions were thrown at me. I answered all of them correctly. I remember one question - what's A.I.R. stands for. I replied, "All India Radio". The last question was asked by Headmaster, Late Mr. K.C.Das himself. He asked me to name the author of the book "Good Earth". Pearl S Buck was my answer. 

The gentleman sitting next to him exclaimed - "ARRE BAH", complimenting me for being the first one so far in the interview to answer all questions correctly. Sri Das, Headmaster nodded in agreement. I came back, dismayed at the prospect of getting selected. My memorizing skills probably clinched me a seat to the arguably the most coveted school of the time in Odisha's capital. 

D M School had some excellent teachers who taught me go above and beyond roting and focus more on understanding. But my father who taught Physics and later his counterpart Mr. Raghu Nath Panda, my Chemistry teacher in College and Mr. Banamali Mishra, Math teacher and a moving encyclopedia taught me to how to think and analyze. 

I found Chemistry, especially the organic part of it extremely boring as I could not make any head or tail out of those complex equations. R N Panda Sir told me to come out of the mugging mode and try to understand the subject. In a few months Chemistry which was as tough as a teak stump to crack, felt as smooth as a hot knife through butter. I realized that the fun of learning lies in understanding, not in roting the subject which was unhelpful and strenuous.

Reminds me of this scene from iconic movie "3 IDIOTs". When the Hindi speech writer told Chatur Ramalingam to understand the text of the speech before speaking in public, he said "Don't worry, I will rote it". Then Aamir Khan who did the playful and witty role of Rancho went on to change the word "CHAMATKAAR" to "VALATKKAR" and so on in the script. We all know what happened to Chatur who read it out loud on the stage without an idea of what he was talking about. That famous scene from the movie reminds us the perils of studying without understanding.

Chatur memorizes a Sloka (hymn) in Sanskrit meant to eulogize his Principal and spits it out on the stage, without understanding a single word of it, not realizing that the original one was altered by Aamir Khan. As Chatur on the stage was about to vomit out the Sloka, the later warms his friends to get ready to hear some sermons about Chatur's farting prowess. Chatur recites:

UTTAMAM GAD GADATA PADAM,
MADHYAM PADAM TUCHAK TUCHAK;
THUR THURIYA KANISTAM PADAM,
SUR SURIYA PRANA GHATAKAM.

Roughly transliterated...

"Loud farts are majestically thundering;
Medium farts come along stuttering,
Small Farts arrive whisteling & sirening;
The silent ones can be life threatening."

As the crowd went berserk, poor Chatur got kicked out of the stage. Rancho's dark humor teaches us another lesson in academics - Knowledge acquired through roting sans understanding may earn you a Degree. Rancho tells this to his friend, "You can pass by roting and get a job, "LEKIN AGLE 40 SAAL TERA VALATKAAR HI HOGA" (you will be screwed all the next 40 years of your life). He stood so vindicated.