We Shall Overcome Soon

-Prof K G Suresh  

 

 

From the ideals of Rama Rajya to Maveli Nadu in Kerala and Utopia in the West, from the concepts of Avatars and rebirths in Indic religions to life after death in Semitic belief systems, human society has sought to look for the silver lining even among the darkest clouds. And perhaps it’s that resilience which have seen us through our worst phases in history.

 

 

It was, therefore, no wonder, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to draw the attention of his fellow country men to the rays of hope in the dark and gloomy times.

 

He said, “Friends, in such a crisis it is not right to compare our situation with any other country. However, it is also true that if we look at Corona-related figures in the world’s big, powerful countries, India today is in a very well-managed position. A month, month and a half ago, several countries had been at par with India in terms of Corona infection. But today, Corona cases in those countries are 25 to 30 times than that of India. Thousands of people have tragically died in those countries. Had India not adopted a holistic and integrated approach, taking quick and decisive action; the situation in India today would have been completely different.”

 

This statement inspires one to look at some of the events and trends in recent days that point out to a better tomorrow, even as we continue to battle with Covid-19.

 

 

Forecasting the “worst economic downturn since the Great Depression”, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday that growth for the year was likely to end up at minus three per cent. The IMF also slashed India's growth projection to 1.9 per cent but the good news is India continues to be one of the fastest-growing nations, with its projected numbers still staying in positive territory.

 

 

India is the biggest producer and largest exporter of the anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine which has been identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a possible treatment for Covid-19 and it is being tested on more than 1,500 coronavirus patients in New York.

 

US President Donald Trump praised India and Modi for lifting the restrictions on the export of the drug for the benefit of mankind."Extraordinary times require even closer cooperation between friends. Thank you India and the Indian people for the decision on HCQ. Will not be forgotten! Thank you, Prime Minister for your strong leadership in helping not just India, but humanity, in this fight!" Trump said in his tweet that went viral.

 

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro also wrote to Modi thanking him and compared India’s move to the legend of Hanuman bringing Sanjeevani booti for Lakshman in the epic Ramayana. “Just as Lord Hanuman brought the holy medicine from the Himalayas to save the life of Lord Rama’s brother Laksmana (sic), and Jesus healed those who were sick and restored the sight of Bartimeu, India and Brazil will overcome this global crisis by joining forces and sharing blessings for the sake of all peoples,” Bolsonaro’s letter stated.

 

With the world expected to adopt an aggressive health-centered investment agenda post Corona, India can look forward to supplying doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians and other medical professionals to the world. It can also supply valuable data and analytics. India’s health industry, strategists and foreign policy think tanks should start working on this now.

 

 

Down south in Tiruppur, India’s hosiery capital located in Tamil Nadu, is fast emerging as a hub for the production of life-saving masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as the world fights against the spread of novel coronavirus.

 

Over 100 manufacturing units are working round the clock to produce these crucial life-saving face covers so critical for the safety of the medical and para medical staff at the forefront of the crusade against the pandemic.

 

 

Telecom and Education Technology are among the two key sectors which are expected to witness unprecedented growth in the post corona era. Educational institutions across the country are taking classroom teaching to the drawing rooms, study rooms and bed rooms of the students.

 

With travel restrictions across the globe not likely to ease so soon, many students planning to study abroad are expected to take admission in institutions back home thereby giving a major boost to the education sector. Faring better than many developed countries in dealing with Corona, India is also expected to draw a large number of foreign students to its campuses in the coming academic session.

 

Also like the back end offices and call centres which in the past had given job opportunities to lakhs of youth in the past, educational content creation is expected to be the next big revenue generator for India in the near future given the efficient manner in which it delivered such material to its student community during the Corona crisis.

 

 

With many people unable to visit banks and ATMs to collect cash and others apprehending that usage of currency may lead to transmission of virus, usage of digital payment platforms too has witnessed a sudden growth during the lockdown. In fact, in many localities, even grocery shops are insisting on PayTM, UPI and BHIM payments to avoid cash transactions, in the process prompting many consumers to shift to the digital mode. This is bound to enhance transparency and digitization of the economy.

 

 

आओ फिर से दीया जलाएं

भरी दुपहरी में अंधियारा

सूरज परछाई से हारा

अंतरतम का नेह निचोड़ें-

बुझी हुई बाती सुलगाएं।

आओ फिर से दिया जलाएं

We shall overcome, Deep in our hearts, we do believe, We shall overcome soon!

 

(Prof K G Suresh is Founder Dean, School of Modern Media, UPES, Dehradun & former Director General, Indian Institute of Mass Communication)