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Bravery in the face of Covid virus
Health service workers: Our heroes
Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings. – William Shakespeare
Disasters have hit humanity since time immemorial and gain meaning only when life’s smooth sail is disrupted. For this reason, one may say, mankind and disasters are wedded inseparably. Mankind has seen major disasters were in the form of hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods and the like. Not only humans, even other living beings, have learned how to survive various disasters in their secret to successful living.
In the past, nature was the major destructor but natural disasters had their benefits, for they had preserved the nature’s bio-rhythm as in the case of floods that fertilised the land with sediments from reservoirs.
In this background, the coronavirus pandemic is threatening the whole world irrespective of a person’s gender, social status, wealth or education. At present countries are bent on investigating and averting the disaster by finding the antivirus therapy.
While therapy is an important aspect, the flip side of the crisis is the basic instinct that is instrumental to the survival of mankind – bravery. Bravery is an act that saves another life in peril at the risk of one’s own. This behavioural aspect, which is instilled in our genes, has saved not only human beings but also other forms of lives, when in danger.
Often, military personnel trained to risk their lives are associated with bravery. This perception is changing today. In the current Covid-19 situation, men and women in the medical profession, public servants, bank officials and other social service workers are in the forefront the fight against the deadly virus.
The government is using digital communication to deal with the problem. However, it should be borne in mind that social media do not reach the common masses at grassroot levels. Only about 60 percent of the population have access to social media. The reason: When the curfew is lifted, people at the grassroots level are seen to be ignoring all warnings about the need to maintain social distancing.
The system of communicating important messages could be strengthened using persons of standing in the community. Engaging good local leaders will help convey the message and the guidelines to be observed during the lockdown to prevent the spread of the disease.
It is evident that the Government’s message to the people urging them to stay at home has not reached out to certain sections of the people. Instances of people violating the law and their reluctance to come forward for testing if they show symptoms or have come in contact with those tested positive for Covid-19 are many. While it is the duty of every citizen to obey the Government’s directive, religious and area leaders need to come forward to explain and communicate the message to the people.
The application of force to make people comply with the guidelines is indicative of the failure of the programme, as told by Duryodhan to Vidura in Mahabarath: “He becometh a foe who seeketh to control others by force.”
During the past 25 years, the Foundation for Civilian Bravery has recognised civilian bravery. It recognises civilians who risked their life in various adversities, natural or man-made. The hunt is for excellence of human behaviour among men and women irrespective of race or religion. Through this process, civilians numbering around 500 have been identified and honoured for risking their lives.
In the present context, those in the medical profession and the health service have won accolades for their bravery. It is important that the military and civil society stand by their side. Risking one’s life does not mean careless behaviour that can expose them to harm, but a sacrificial selfless act that saves another life.
Again, bravery is the capacity to perform properly in the face of overwhelming fear. The wise are admired, the brave are elevated. The brave stand up in the wake of disaster, and they fight, even sacrificing their lives to save the rest of us from peril.
Wars are fought at any cost and they are fought to win. This war is being fought by medical personnel—doctors, nurses, and the like—who are the generals, against an enemy not visible to the naked eye. This is the hour of the medical personnel, who have braved themselves to fight a foe that threatens to wipe out the human species from the face of the earth.
It is important, that we the civilians stand by them at this hour and extend our support in this time of adversity to eradicate the corona pandemic.
(The writer is the President and Founder of the Foundation for Civilian Bravery)