2020 and 2021 became sad and traumatic years for many of us. As the pandemic spreads far and wide many of us have lost our near and dear to the covid 19. As we are all well aware of how deadly covid 19 is now and the precautional guidelines issued by WHO has been made mandatory to be obeyed by all. We were literally confined in our home totally cut off from the outside world just like a prisoner is confined in a small room with less freedom. We would be punished with heavy penalty if we were caught roaming on streets with no propose. We are advised to avoid meeting friends, maintaining social distance and using of sanitizer when we are back home from outside. Sometimes I feel that we are forced to change the living pattern and forcefully imposed a strict life style which is so weird and unpracticable as well. I support the guideline issued by the government and abide with rules and regulations which is mandatory to all of us. Gradually the feeling of division taken place in human consciousness that those we follow the guidelines are considered good citizen and those who breach the rule are bad and are subject of severe punishment. Police are strict as usual and their patrolling and presence on roads makes violators more scared and if got caught they would have a quick justice on the spot. Masks are made compulsory to prevent the virus from spreading but for some people mask becomes worse than a nightmare.
Schools and colleges are closed and the new trend of online learning becomes popular among students. Now a new problem for parents to face that they have to buy their children smart phones for online classes. During the pandemic many of our parents could not afford it because they have lost their job which is the sole income source for the family. I heard many of us might have heard that the parents borrowed money from relatives or friends for the smart phone so their children could continue the online classes. I salute to those parents who sacrifice their life for the sake of good future of their children.
Nationwide lockdown and their impact on the poor
On 23 March 2020 our government imposed one month nationwide complete lockdown to prevent the virus from spreading in the mass. It was a big problem for the poor whose livelihood based on daily wage. They were confined in home with an empty stomach in the hope of getting some relief from government. Many left for home as they lost their job and no money for food and rent. Thousands walked hundreds of mile to reach home. Many succumbed to exhaustion. As the lockdown went on people got more panic thinking they have to confine in home as the covid cases were spiking day by day. India, the second most populated nation in the world, if failed to tackle the virus India would India will lose millions of life.
Our tiresome bus journey to Ladakh
Our Ladakh government took a crucial initiation to lift up our people trapped in different parts of India. We were all well aware of that lockdown would stretch to many months ahead as the new cases of covid were increasing day by day. We were living far away from our home. Our parents were so much worried about us. On 10th of April we were told to get ready for home as our government had arranged two buses for us which would take us home. We were super excited and thankful to the government. It was a tiresome journey especially when you are travelling continuously on bus for several days but our excitement of reaching home kept us alive and happy.
Reaching home
We reached our home on the sixth day of our tiresome journey. Our parents were waiting for us at the bus stand. We were told to keep a distance from our local people and were quarantined for 15 days in an isolated government hospitals. When our result came out negative we were happy and ready to leave for home. We bid our last farewell to our friends and we left for home. I went home and was received by parents with excitement and joy. They prepared for me very delicious local dishes. Far from city life, my home located in a remote village. We have a small village consisting of less than 100 houses. People are always busy with farming and house chores. I met my childhood friends, we had a long conversation as we met after a long time. Sometimes we planned to go for hike to the high mountain and campaigned on the top of it for a night. Sometimes we went to the river for swimming. However, on auspicious days we visit to the monasteries for offering and pay our homage to the Buddha.
