By Rev. Lyndan Syiem
Those of us who have been charged with enforcing the government’s SOPs in religious places of worship have been shocked by the utter disregard for such rules in recent government functions and political events. In Churches and in other places of worship we have tried our best to strictly observe the SOPs, in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19 in our premises. We have obeyed the government even if it meant inconveniencing our members, changing the pattern and timing of our worship services, and restricting certain age groups and those with comorbid conditions. Unfortunately, these very same rules have been blatantly ignored and brazenly flouted by some of the very authorities that enacted them. There is a glaring disconnect between what the government prescribes for religious places of worship and what some of its functionaries actually practice on the ground.
Being a staunch social and religious conservative, it is difficult for me to voice grievances against what the Bible describes as “the governing authorities … which God has established.” But as a person with eyes, ears and social media access, one cannot ignore the danger signs of a population resentful of this inconsistent application of laws and rules. There are memes and slogans in English and in Khasi that the virus apparently operates only in churches and public transport; it does not operate in civil functions and political events.
Memes are the communication tools of this age, that quickly and decisively shape public opinion. Comments on YouTube videos are often more influential than official advisories. Visuals and videos of crowds breaking all norms of physical distancing and masking only reinforce the growing conviction that SOPs apply only in selected premises and not in others. People therefore ask their religious leaders why do we continue to follow and enforce SOPs when even high officials do not. The answer obviously is that SOPs help guard against viral infection, irrespective of whether others follow them or not.
But people then move to the second question of why the government keeps asking religious leaders to help with enforcing SOPs and promoting vaccination, when the actions of some of their own functionaries obviously contradict the official position. Many religious leaders have worked very hard to convince their flock about SOPs and vaccination. In the process some of us have become unpopular because we are perceived as being over-submissive to our earthly rulers and impervious to our own members’ fears about vaccination. Despite their grievances, most of our members have generally remained obedient to their leaders. However, if this continues, it will become very difficult to restrain the upsurge of public opinion against what they perceive to be double standards.
These functionaries may well have good intentions, with the breaking of SOPs being occasional, unintentional slips due to public enthusiasm (although this is difficult to believe). But in a digital world where ‘Perception is King,’ the sight of high officials addressing massed crowds of tens of thousands certainly undermines the official messaging. Contrast this with couples who have to apply for government permission just for a small gathering of family members at their wedding. Or churches that require official permission for a regular meeting of fifty, physically-distanced people in a spacious church building.
Amidst such disparity, there will naturally be complaints against the arbitrary application of rules in religious functions and the complete absence of such rules in civil functions and political events. Such an inconsistent policy will unfortunately beget radical, populist leaders who will tap the mood of resentment and create a base of anti-establishment followers, as has happened in some Western countries, notably in the USA. I need to emphasize here that many religious leaders (as well as many leaders of local dorbars and social organizations) are totally with the government. We are together in the fight against COVID 19, as we have been since the very beginning. Our position has not changed. So please do not demoralize us with the inconsistent application of SOPs.
The government has also enlisted the help of religious leaders in promoting vaccination, which we announce regularly in our respective religious places of worship. Many religious leaders have done their best to create awareness and allay fears about vaccination. However, there is a point beyond which pushing the issue of vaccines in a worship service becomes counter-productive. Most of our churches are conservative, and the Law of Diminishing Returns operates the moment we digress from traditional Bible messages to public-health messaging.
We understand there are vaccination targets that the government has to achieve, and we appreciate the sincere efforts of our beloved health-care professionals. However, the task of creating awareness and combating misconceptions is not the primary role of religious organizations. We can certainly help, but the greater responsibility is upon government agencies. It certainly does not help when the actions of their own functionaries dilute the official messaging.
Yes, we are grateful that Meghalaya’s daily COVID deaths have fallen to low single digits and the daily infections have drastically reduced from the 800-850 peak in May 2021. But this does not mean that we become complacent, because we do not know how this unpredictable virus will further mutate. The Health Department has not officially lifted pandemic restrictions and neither should the public relax their guard, nor religious places of worship, nor high officials. Health experts are speculating about a third wave in India but many of us are praying for God’s intervention in preventing this.
In any case, Meghalaya does not want to be caught unawares again, as happened to many of us in the month of May. Tens of thousands of COVID patients suffered tremendously and over a thousand died, leaving behind broken hearts and shattered families. Some of us survived severe COVID pneumonia, I believe with a purpose, to call the general public to guard themselves against this pandemic and to request our political leaders for responsible behaviour. Many people in those huge crowds which you addressed will not be able to afford the expensive treatment in case, God forbid! of severe COVID complications.
There are many good societal and behavioural changes as a result of the pandemic. There are smaller crowds at funerals these days. Some people, especially those with comorbid conditions, now go to pay their respects several days after the funeral. Weddings have become less ostentatious and less expensive. With no pressure to invite hundreds of guests, many couples have been able to afford a proper wedding rather than the unfortunate practice of cohabitation. Churches have successfully innovated with online worship services during the lockdown; they now hold multiple services with lesser congregants in obedience to government SOPs. Perhaps these examples will inspire our political leaders to also innovate amidst this pandemic, to showcase their achievements and present their message without amassing huge crowds.