“What to do” was the one question that weighed heavily on the minds of people once Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 21-day lockdown beginning March25 to try and keep COVID-19 at bay. Life as was hitherto known was to turn on its head. But then resilience came to the fore; gardening, cooking, house cleaning became the pastime of many who would never have given such activities even a passing thought. The Shillong Times spoke to a cross-section of society to check what they have been doing as they marked the days on the calendar. Now, with barely three days to go for the lockdown to end, however, news started trickling in on Saturday that there may be an extension as the pandemic has not only taken strong root across the country, but spreading by the hour; watering of the plants will have to continue, the cobwebs missed out will have to be traced and removed, another recipe has to be fine-tuned or yet another book read…
River Wahlang
(Former diplomat) :
We have a large family and so buying time is not a problem. My son and I run a farm in Umroi and we have a special permit to take the feed to the farm and bring back the products. So I am not stuck at home. I do get an opportunity to visit the farm twice or thrice a week and manage things.
Jiwat Vaswani (Babloo, Hotelier ) : We have a small garden and gardening is my hobby. Besides, we often clean and help in managing the house. I am also managing my business over the phone and here and there.
Mukul Sangma
(Former Chief Minister): There are challenges posed by the lockdown and there are various kinds of constraints in trying to remain connected with the people, but it also gives me an opportunity to understand what is happening on ground zero in different corners of the state . As we receive several distress calls, we try to ensure that these are attended to and addressed by the concerned authorities.
Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh (Defence PRO) : On the professional front , we are managing with a skeletal staff in our office and I try to work from home as far as possible as we try to make the best use of all resources and improve our efficiency. On the personal front , I am utilising this time in learning new skills like yoga and cooking in addition to catching up on reading.
(CSWO President):
My mind has been busy and I am concerned about those who may not know about COVID-19, yet many rural people know about “Khlam” (epidemic) as they have witnessed poultry and pigs affected by it many times. I am wondering if there was any specific research. What about the poor who would not have access to essential commodities. Some villagers, due to circumstances, are taking PDS from another village not near to theirs, and with lockdown how can they go and get their PDS. Some poor daily wagers are not getting help. I try to share whatever government directions or orders are circulated. With so many thoughts, I feel this COVID-19 is man-made destruction and more such viruses may come if we don’t respect humanity and protect environment. I keep myself busy with my flowers and learn from them, that they too are living plants; I salute the doctors, nurses, police and media, all in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19
Naba Bhattacharjee (CPC President): While at home, besides physical exercise, introduction to yoga and meditation , my focus is to spend quality time with family, cleaning and disposal of heaps of unnecessary files, documents, magazines etc. The goal is giving finishing touches to my book which is in the final stage in addition to writing articles et al. Also appreciating how nature is breathing easy.
Vivek Dutt (SP, CBI (ACB) Shillong): I am using my time to read various books which I always wanted to read but never had the time. Right now I am reading Amnesty by Arwind Adiga. I also spend a lot of time in doing Meditation the Heartfulness Way. I do it twice a day, which helps me in keeping anxiety and depression at bay. I also help my friends in doing meditation over phone. I ensure that I keep fit so I work out at home using Nike Training App and keep a target of working out twice a day for one hour each. I have been able to lose a kg so far since lockdown. I have also started cooking on my own and I am trying my hand at new recipes these days.
Ampareen Lyngdoh (East Shillong MLA):
The last few days have been hectic and challenging for me as an MLA. I never imagined that I would live to see and experience this unprecedented crisis of COVID-19. I have personally fetched stranded students from both Guwahati & Umroi airports three to four times, as panicked parents were left stranded without any mode of transportation to bring children safe to their homes. Several patients in my constituency were also stranded with the sudden discontinued public transport so again, we had to provide ambulance and mortuary service to constituents on uncountable times. During the lockdown we also had an unprecedented forest fire in the Bijini Complex, then, too the SP extended exceptional assistance averting another crisis. I don’t recall the need to go to Iew Mawlong or Paltan Bazar, but of late, the situation required me to go there often. There has never been a day that went without an emergency, and honestly I’m praying that this uncertainty ends quickly.
HM Shangpliang (Mawsynram MLA) : As a leader, my time during lockdown is used a little differently- I am giving my time to my people. An oath as a leader during dark times, is to ensure supplies for the people, assurance of financial security, making sure people are fed and not left starving, distribution of requirements to ensure their comfort and safety, speak to those in panic, be in touch with my people. I am using this time to pray to Almighty God to protect my people and unite them under the arms of Faith, Hope and Love and also using this time to encourage the spread of humanity.
Aldous Mawlong (IAS officer) : I am busy arranging eatables for the family besides helping the kids with their online assignments. I am also attending to urgent official matters.