By Albert Thyrniang
Death is inevitable. It is the surest eventuality. John Donne might have chided death not to be proud. Saint Paul of the Bible may question,”Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” but death is a reality we have to face. Only ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ are hidden. The last day will arrive. The last breath will come.
For this generation the worst has been the last one year or so. We have seen deaths during COVID-19 pandemic more than ever before. The coffins in mortuaries, the long lines of military trucks heading to the burial grounds in Italy, USA and elsewhere, the unprecedented funeral pyres and dead bodies floating in the Ganges river in India are visuals associated with the cruelty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps there is no one left who does not personally know someone who has passed away due to the present outbreak. Like all other pandemics in the past the exact number of deaths will never be known. History will only estimate the loss of lives in millions.
Personally, I sadly came to know that a classmate succumbed to the disease in Kolkata last week. The 51 year old had just lost one of his family members two/three days before the gentle and kind soul went to his eternal rest. Another person whom this writer knew personally died in Tezpur. He was buried at 2.30 am the next day with 12/15 attendees. He was just 34. Hard breaking indeed!
A list compiled by the editor of a Christian weekly who keeps track of the deaths of priests and nuns due to Covid-19 in India tells that the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic has so far claimed 181 priests and 166 nuns. This is viewed as a great loss for the minority-within-a-minority community. It is also a reminder that is best to treat the virus from a scientific view point rather than discounting its hazard via religious lenses.
Yes death is inescapable but what Coronavirus has inflicted is untimely deaths. The first wave affected mostly the elderly. The second wave respects no age groups. Al-Jazeera, in one of its reports branded the India COVID crisis a ‘graveyard of the young.’ Reports from Bangalore (Karnataka), Tamil Nadu and Delhi inform that more young people have become victims to the fast spreading virus. The trend is global. It is not just Indian. Unfortunately hospitalizations and deaths of younger people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s has been one of the tragedies of COVID-19. Even in the first wave nearly half the COVID-19 victims in India were younger than 60. In Brazil thousands of children have died.
Another unspeakable thing COVID-19 has done is the dishonour to the dead. Due to lack of firewood or man power or whatever, dead bodies were dumped into the holiest river,the Ganges. This is shocking. We also see bodies were pushed by JCBs into the graves, loaded into hand pushers and even transported on cycles.
What happens after death? Where do the dead go after they leave their bodies? Or is there life after death? Religion may provide an answer. Near death experiences may give a clue. But this is not the time to philosophise. According to a yogi the state to which the soul passes on to the next life depends on the last few moments of his or her life. If an individual is serene before death he/she will continue in the serene state in the next life. But if the person is agitated before death probably he/she could be in a restless stare even after the passing over. This makes sense because all loved ones try to facilitate a peaceful ending for a dying person. Their wishes are honoured to satisfy the dead person. It is painful therefore to see that many died agonisingly during the pandemic. Heart attack, stroke, panic and the unavailability of oxygen are contributing factors to many deaths in addition to the virus. To die due to the above causes is excruciating. That the state, the hospitals and the family members are helpless in easing the process of death is hurting.
Burial is a social obligation. All are invited to a funeral. The dead are given dignified funerals. COVID-19 has abruptly altered this practice. We can’t attend funeral functions even of our dear ones. Suddenly volunteers have to perform the last rites. Unclaimed bodies have to be buried by unknown people. Corpses have to be fished out from river bodies. The unthinkable has happened. Forced upon by COVID-19, dignity in death is most unfortunately suspended in many an instance.
Could we see a similar situation in Meghalaya? No one wishes to see a Delhi like disaster but the signs are worrying. 75 per cent of COVID-19 beds have already been occupied. In East Khasi Hills bed occupancy has reached 87 per cent. The number of beds in all 11 districts look to be highly insufficient in case of a worsening situation. Could we see hospitals overwhelmed in the coming days? Could we see mortuary vans waiting outside? Will there be acute shortage of oxygen? Would patients die in distress for want of a bed and oxygen? Will doctors have to choose which patients to treat? Could families be unable to dispose the remains of their dear ones? The other day a Youtube video alleged that a family refused to bury a new born and so entrusted the job to the Shillong Municipal Board. We do not know the circumstances. We can conveniently blame COVID-19.
Another inevitable effect of COVID-19 is suffering. The diagnosed and symptomatic patients, particularly those who have to be hospitalised and are shifted to ICU must be undergoing untold anguish. The pain is both physical and psychological. The suffering extends to family members, relatives and friends. In serious cases, even if recovery takes place, the road could be long. If a father, a mother, a husband, a wife, a son, a daughter loses the battle against the virus the pain is never diminished. We know it is not easy to be a widow, a widower, an orphan or someone who loses a son or daughter. COVID-19 has increased human suffering.
Again, this is not the right time to be philosophisers. What is the meaning of suffering? Why do we have to suffer? Do we deserve to be infected with this virus? Even if we want to delve into these questions no satisfactory answers can be given. We may ignore these questions. We may even say that this pandemic will not last for ever. This pandemic will come to an end. But to get over this plague we need to suffer. By the fact that we are under lockdown we are inconvenienced. Medicos have suggested a state-wide lockdown to contain the surge. This may be necessary.
Historians say that 4000 years ago the ancient kingdom of Mari (Syria) was ravaged by a mysterious disease. King Zimri-Lim ordered infected people in his palace to be placed in isolation in separate buildings and rooms. He extended the edict throughout his kingdom. Ultimately the contagious disease was contained. Lockdown, isolation and quarantine and other protocols cause fatigue but they are indispensable if the pandemic is to be beaten. Suffering for a greater and common good is meaningful. Suffering for a better future is worth every bit.
Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong courted controversy when he advised Meghalayans to exclude meat from their diet during the lockdown. Hope the suggestion has not come from Hindutva circles who want to take control of our mind spaces by entering our kitchens. Probably the minister wanted to convey to the citizens that during this ‘abnormal’ time they can’t expect normal food.Hope the minister did not mean to absolve the government’s responsibilities from extending aid to the needy during the lockdown. Hope the labourers, stranded persons, footpath sellers, BPL families, farmers, sex workers are supported during the zero earning days.
While the rest suffer there are unscrupulous individuals who take advantage of the situation for their personal benefit. In Delhi dealers hoard oxygen cylinders to make windfall profit. In our state probably not all the Rs. 399 crore was spent judiciously. The Rs. 51 crores meant for special assistance to labourers, daily wage earners, BPL Families looks a suspect. According to the civil society group,Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR) from the amount 2,42, 857 persons would have received Rs. 2100 each in their bank accounts. But even those who got the government support, a mere Rs 700 was transferred into their bank account from a single instalment. Where has the rest of the money disappeared? Who has pocketed the money meant for the needy? Politicians or officials or both? It is unpardonable that people have no qualms in placing self-interests before the suffering of the less privileged.