Editor,
During the lockdown days I have listened to sermons on YouTube organised by my church as well as other churches in Shillong. While the messages are inspiring, especially in this time of crisis, none of the speakers implored the people to observe and practice precautionary measures given by the Health Department, namely social distancing, to stay at home as much as possible and to wear face masks to contain the spread of corona virus. The closest a speaker got to was last Sunday’s message from a very senior and revered pastor, when he said that it is a sin to not take care of ourselves. But it never got enlightened or expanded further. Why? Is it because this is not the responsibility of the department of religion and is therefore not in the portfolio of the priests?
This is a global curse and there is an urgent need to use all available resources to fight against this virus. On the part of the government, mammoth efforts are expended to stop this disease from spreading further, but the corona cases continue to grow nationwide and worldwide. Is there something we have failed to see? I believe there is. This is the resource or the power of the church in our state. I focus here on the Christian church as the majority of the population in Meghalaya are Christians.
Many of those living in poor rural areas are still ignorant of preventive health measures while most in the urban areas know what to do and yet do not act accordingly. Ignorance and motivation are two important factors that could spread or stop a disease from multiplying. But how do you banish ignorance and how do you change human behaviour? How do you motivate people to think and act differently? We must find ways to impact large numbers of people. We need to ask—is there anyone already positioned who is capable of doing the job? I sincerely believe that religious leaders occupy an ideal position for eliminating ignorance and promoting behaviours that can defeat this virus. Religious leaders have regular weekly contact with large numbers of people—usually all age groups. They promote values that influence personal behaviour. Technology further helps messages to be delivered without actual physical contact as we have seen. What then would prevent religious speakers to simply appeal to people to take good care of themselves by adopting the preventive measures to ward off the corona virus?
The God–intended role for religious leaders is clearly outlined in the Bible. Biblical commentaries on the Book of Leviticus state: “Priests were public health officers in addition to their religious role.” Biblical admonitions also include avoiding contact with those who have contagious disease. The Bible acknowledges that body fluids can be a vehicle for transmitting disease (Leviticus 15). Nasal discharges, sputum fall under this category. Those coming into contact with fluids from a sick person had to wash their hands and clothes in water, bathe, and remain isolated from other people until evening as a precaution against spreading disease (Leviticus 15:11). Are these not similar to the anti Covitd19 measures that the government constantly appeals the public to follow? The various forms of media have publicised the same and the local dorbars are also doing their bit. The only bit – a big bit – that has not been tapped yet is the Church. I am sure that as Christians we would take heed of what the Pastors say and I therefore implore the Church leaders to please act soon.
We will continue to wait and hope that the wait will not be in vain. Let not the words of the following verse by an English poet, Lady Mary Montgomerie Currie, come true:
‘Ah, all things come to those who wait/ (I say these words to make me glad)/But something answers soft and sad/ They come, but often come too late.’
Yours etc.,
Darilyn Syiem,
Via email
Tablighi and the RSS
Editor,
One was pleasantly surprised to hear the RSS Chief, Mohan Bhagawat, in his discourse last Sunday, April 26, evening calling for a united fight against COVID 19, and also for efforts towards self-reliance of the country. He was also categorical that mistakes, intentional or otherwise of a few should not be attributed to the entire community.
In the majoritarian discourse that has been dominating the country today this is a welcome break. Perhaps, the RSS Chief is pursuing the Central Government’s line, so that there is no further damage to the social fabric of the nation. Recently, some quarters blamed the Tablighi Markaaz for the spread of COVID 19 in India, and pointed fingers at a particular community for this fiasco.
It was so surcharged that Arnab Goswami, the Anchor of Republic TV, went on air to state that protests during COVID 19 pandemic were happening near Masjids. All these were very unfortunate. The RSS Chief’s remarks should help in cooling the environment in the country, so that people of all walks of life across India, come together to fight the virus, and its consequences, economic or otherwise.
Yours etc.,
A Bhuyan Nagaon