- This day last year proved to be so monumental and earth-shattering in many ways as the Prime Minister announced a National lockdown on the back of growing cases of coronavirus, already declared as the global pandemic, which had crossed 500 across the country. The decision was so sudden and abrupt leaving millions of people greatly affected rendering the entire country’s economic activity to an unprecedented standstill. Aftereffects of the decision back then continue to rankle the countrymen even now in diverse ways amply demonstrating how debilitating those successive lockdowns proved in the end. The recovery process is still underway is stating the obvious.
PC: Ishani Duttagupta
- · The opposition ranks were unanimous in proclaiming that the stringent lockdowns imposed hardly served any purpose but severely precipitated the hardships on the gullible people, especially from the marginal and deprived sections of the society. No denying the fact that the government move proved to be decisive in stemming the virus from spreading its dreaded tentacles thereby allowing the health authorities precious time to spruce up adequate infrastructure to face the mounting challenges wrought by the pandemic. Nevertheless, the international community was fulsome in acknowledging the move as timely and necessary.
- As the country went about picking up bits and pieces returning to a semblance of normalcy amid a deluge of challenges to keep the engine of the economy chugging along, there was a cautious sigh of relief everywhere with the belief that the worst is behind us. Any number of horror stories originating from every single sector having to undergo unparalleled challenges did cast a pall of gloom everywhere. Unfortunately, scores of people have lost their near and dear ones, as well as dignified livelihood owing to the pandemic, created havoc cannot be expected to erase those dreadful memories sooner nor can be expected to go about their lives nonchalantly oblivious to the unpleasant surroundings/happenings unfolding.
PC: Maria Stavreva
- The profound damage inflicted on the psyche as well as traumatic experiences of the past year has left the entire humanity scarred for life. Even die-hard optimists, as well as positive-minded individuals, would not flinch one bit in accepting the fact that it will take years to emerge out of the pounding received in the past year. Alluding to returning of normalcy will be construed as nothing but forceful enactment of pretentions far from the truth prevalent on the ground. As we complete a year of the lockdown imposed on the nation, this is one anniversary we all wish to forget in a jiffy without even making attempts at recalling horrendously turbulent times given a choice. A bad dream has left us shaken enormously nonetheless making us emerge wiser.
