COVID-19: Dictating a New World Order!

Gone are the days when we used to shake hands. Something enough to believe how a tiny virus has successfully enforced a new world order into action!

These are – without a doubt – the hardest times that we as a global community are facing together since the second world war. But, remember, this too shall pass. The only important point worth holding on - would be the lessons that we will take with us; if we survive.

By now, we all are well acquainted with the terms like “Quarantine”, “Self-isolation”, and “Social distancing”. And being a hopeless romantic, I had to take a gig at one of my favorites, currently floating lingos – “Quarantine”, which still is making rounds virtually as this deadly Coronavirus continues to pave its way across the globe.

Quarantine Love:

"Love is an evil enchantress!”, she said.

He disagreed, "Isolation is the worse, my love!", he retorted. "Isolation kills. It haunts you. It aches you in the places you don't even know exists in the core of your existence.", he added.

"But, doesn't love also ends you up in isolation?", she snapped, "Doesn't the fear of abandonment creeps in through the cracks of your already broken heart at the hands of deadly infectious love? Love is contagious, so is heartbreak. You must stay away from me; for I'm accursed by the evil love. It holds the power to kill your hopes and dreams; just like death!", she went on. "Here's a caution warning: don't come close to me. You can't know more about me. I may spread my curse to you as well!", she sobbed. "I must run away into the unknown and quarantine my broken heart before it breaks yours too!", she disappeared.

As time elapsed, he stood there watching her disappear in the wormhole of quarantine, leaving behind the bloody marks of haunted love in the ghost-town where once life thrived.

The end!”

Moving on and brushing off this a rather poetic version of Quarantine, this article will touch upon some not-much-talked-about-points that have enforced a new world order, which will be our reality for a really long time to come.

Leveling the ground for everyone: We all know that the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. And as March 2020 is approaching its end, the entire world has already fallen prey to Coronavirus. One thing that I ought to say: this virus is neither fascist, capitalist, communist nor nationalist – or any other sort of dividing forces that have created exclusive strata of the human race. But, how did it spread to so many countries? Was it because of our sheer negligence or our never-dying monolithic ego? While some may call it the “Chinese Virus”, some may please themselves by calling it the “disease brought by rich people who keep traveling aboard”; I, on the other hand, call it an “Equalizer”. This virus does not see your social status. It does not care if you live in a palace or on a road. It will find you and kill you – if you are out there breaking the security protocol of the hour. It’s amazing to see how almost every profession is now streaming online and “Work From Home” is surely taking charge of saving lives. If I talk about celebrities, seeing them turn into ordinary people like us – washing dishes, sharing stupid memes online and tagging friends to take meaningless challenges; one thing is clear now: Everything around us is temporary. In the end, what really matters is our Family, Home and of course the Hope, Faith and Love surrounding it all.

Are pandemics punishments from God?: Being a Muslim, many people in my community say it’s a punishment from Allah that we as a degraded community are facing collectively! But is it? Even if it is, hasn’t our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) already guided us to act responsibly in times of crisis first – and then leave matters to Allah? So, even if it’s a punishment from Allah, we are required to take precautionary measures along with the repentance.  It’s worth mentioning to say that Iran is suffering because they just hoped a holy help will save them. Resorting on measures like self-isolation or a lockdown was something they didn’t think to follow diligently. I know, succumbing to the miseries of our alter reality unwillingly can be depressing. That’s why faith in God takes us a long way; for it demands patience. So, remember him while you also take your precautions as well.

What’s this hype about?: As you are reading this article, someone, somewhere in the world is battling for his life against the deadly coronavirus. If I may, however, try to find a small ray of hope amidst these black clouds; we also know one thing: “The recovery rates of COVID-19 cases are more than to what is being added to list of mortalities.” But with finding no definite pattern of generation or mutation that this virus has, we sure have a really tough time ahead, too. So, until the time we are blessed with a vaccine or an engineered antibody, overreacting about this situation is the only key to survival.

Why Quarantine should not be compared to Kashmir lockdown?: How sane is it to compare saving yourself against a deadly virus to a draconian military siege of a place that remains under curfew for months at a stretch? Imagine being stuck in your home with no internet, broadband connection, landline facilities, mobile network, and sometimes even no cable or news channel access, too! You won’t have any option to do your “Netflix and Chill” or any social media platform where you can romanticize your quality quarantine routine. Getting essential services like groceries and medicines is a struggle. There is no “#WFH”, businesses collapse, students lose an academic year and people just sit in their homes – scared. Well, of course, there are bouts of threats and anxiety that there will be a war of stones and bullets and then teargas shelling will be hurled into your beautiful garden. Not to talk about the panic that overtakes you seeing your asthma-struggling-grandmother choke to the fumes of chilly gunshots. A military siege thrust upon the locals against their will is different than choosing to stay home for your and your communities’ safety.

Nature at its best: Just like you, I also thought that the world will end in nature’s fury against humans. But surprisingly, the situation seems to be different; if this is our end! With this global pandemic confining humans into their homes and putting locks on every toxic, pollution adding humanmade industry; nature seems to be finally at a happy place. So, as the flora and fauna flourish around us, it’s just the Karma taking revenge on humans, only. Clear skies, pollution-free air – shouldn’t we hold on to them after all this ends?

Stay home; for you have one: There’s a famous Kashmiri saying by Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA) – that is apt in these pressing times of crisis. “Ghare wandai ghare sasa, bareh nyerhai ne zah.” (Oh, home! I can offer you 1000 homes, and just won’t leave your doors.) If simply put, “No place like home!” But have you wondered, home is a privilege, not everyone has it? If I just talk about South Asian countries, there are millions of people who are homeless. They live on the streets. Where should they go? How are they going to survive the dancing angel of death on roads? Imagine the repercussions the densely populated countries of this region - that don’t even have decent healthcare facilities – will have if these homeless people are exposed to this virus!

Another homeless - but a war-torn - a community that lives across the globe are “Refugees”. How do you think refugees living in crowded, unhygienic refugees camp are coping with this pandemic? With tens and thousands of them already having a lot to worry about, establishing social distancing or resorting to healthcare facilities is yet another struggle that these communities are battling silently. 

To end, one won’t be wrong to say that COVID-19 has brought a new world order for not just the elites but has also worsened the already bad conditions of the unfortunates as well. So, stay home with your family; for it will not only save you but your entire community as well.

Author: Shuja Tasleem
Published in: Rising Kashmir (02-04-2020) and Kashmir Dispatch (18-04-2020)