A few months back, in November, I was making plans for 2020.
I had got a diary for the year 2020 and was marking my
dates. Generally I list down what all exhibition and events I would like to
attend. Then there are customer visits planned for outstation customers.
Our spring manufacturers Association had a big even marked
in March 2020. Before that I had planned to participate in 2 big exhibitions in
Lucknow and Dubai. There were other tours planned to Delhi and Bangalore.
A couple of major export orders were in waiting from Middle
east and Europe. And I had plans to visit them before the actual production
begins. Then there were a few industrial visits planned there for a possible
joint venture. This was the time when
the bi-yearly trade show happens at Dusseldorf which is a mega event for spring
manufacturers. It’s like a mecca for us. We all were geared up to be there.
Trying to schedule meeting and getting appointments of all the people
participating there.
IT was in mid – January that I first learnt the outbreak of
corona virus. It was in China as we know it. Personally, I thought that it was
not a major threat and it was a media hype. Anyways, such epidemics seldom
affect India as the temperatures are high and the immune system is a bit better
than other.
So I went to Lucknow and participated in the expo there.
Being defence expo, no Chinese company or Chinese official were allowed at that
venue. However, there was a Auto expo happening in Delhi and there was news
that how people travelling from China were not allowed in Delhi then. This was
my 1st experience of how critical the situation was. I was more
worried about the pollution in Lucknow and the AC in our exhibition halls.
Upon returning from Lucknow, I had my sister and her family
visiting us from US. They told stories about the way US is handling the
situation. My 11-year-old niece had temperature for a couple of days. But that’s
normal for any kid travelling from US. We then travelled to Jaipur and Ajmer to
attend a wedding. My sister and her family flew back to US from there and
everything felt normal.
Meanwhile, I had planned my itinerary for almost a month
long Europe tour in April. I had fixed appointments in Germany, Netherlands,
Czech Republic etc. My hotels were booked, flight tickets were confirmed and
even the visa had arrived.
So the focus was on the 2-day conference in GOA. Our
association committee met a few times in February and all the planning was
done. The guest who were supposed to come from Europe had confirmed their
participation. Everything was set. Members from all across the country were
ready to fly to Goa and have a great time for a couple of days.
Meanwhile, we got the news that Europe was shut and the
Dusseldorf expo was postponed. I was
frustrated. After doing a meticulous planning, I had to cancel all my booking.
After the preparations were done for Goa, I flew to Dubai
where we were participating in another major exhibition. There is where I
experience the terror of the virus for the 1st time.
AT Dubai WTC, where such a huge mass gathering was expected.
The officials took no chance at all. We were scanned for body temperature, sanitisers
and masks were distributed. People were told to maintain distance from each
other.
In fact UAE had not allowed people from nearby countries to
fly in. The foot fall at the expo was reduced. Chinese companies had backed out
of the exhibition. So even the halls looked empty. Not only Chinese, but many
of the German, Italian, Spanish companies had left their empty stalls behind.
The empty halls were a shock to us. But the bigger shock
came from India. The resort where we were scheduled to have our Conference
advised us to postpone the dates to June. They said the Government was
discouraging any meetings. So with just 10 days to go for the event, we had to
cancel all the booking and plans.
That was bad enough. But I still believed that we were over
reacting.
I was scheduled to fly to Bangalore the next weekend. My friends
suggested not to go but I still went ahead with my plan. And that weekend Bangalore
was in a lockdown. The malls shops food joints everything was closed. And it
felt sad. Just then news broke of a patient who fled from Bangalore to Agra and
had been at the Bangalore airport. And the whole city was in an panic.
That was the 1st time I felt nervous. I was
scared. I felt that going to Dubai and coming to Bangalore was a mistake.
Upon returning to Pune, I decided to stay confined to my
house and my office. There were not many options to hang around either. Our
customers and suppliers advised us to stay indoors and not visit their premises
unless it was absolutely necessary. I opened my diary again and scratched out all
the plans that I had made. That was the
start of frustration
Just around then, the PM called for Junta Curfew. The whole
Sunday I spent within the house without. And after that came the lockdown for
21 days.
Since then life has taken a U turn. I am staying at home.
This was how I used to be when I was job less in UK. There still I was in a
better state because, I could step out. Meet people … find a job, give interview. do something. Now
there is nothing.
The government has permitted operation of very important
services. My company is shut. We all are sitting at home with absolutely
nothing to do. Its as good as being jobless.
The other day, I stepped out of the house for doing
groceries. On the way, I saw sweepers sweeping the streets. I saw watchman guarding
their property. The staff at the mall was fully operational. They were
controlling the crowd. but otherwise, their routine was very normal. The police
and the doctors and doing their duty. The medical officers are almost working overtime.
The banks are running the market is on. The communication is running because of
the telephone companies. I just could see so many people working. In fact, they
were over loaded. And I cannot even assist them when I have nothing to do.
And I wondered, I have a two graduation degrees from best of
the universities.
I have travelled and worked in various countries around the
globe. I have an experience of more than 10 years. Every day I try to update
myself by learning something new. But as of now. it’s of no use. It is what
government has terms as – NON ESSENTIAL.
While all these people are out there doing their job and
serving people… I am good for nothing.
Not even volunteering.
The educational institutes are closed. So the place where us
go to share my knowledge is also not important for the society right now.
And the most heart breaking thing that I experienced is …
the need to maintain distance. People are not supposed to touch each other.. a
nice handshake.. a worm hug .. a pat on the back .. can terrorise people. We
have to cover our mouth even while speaking. A random touch and we run towards
the sanitisers or wash our hands for 20 seconds.
It feels that humans have become dangerous to each other.
What exactly went wrong
!!!
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