What a respect to the caregivers!

Kajal Chatterjee
 Far from questioning what concrete action is being taken to stop the march of the dreaded virus, why our health infrastructure is in such a mess with allocation being even lesser than 2% of the GDP, why adequate preventive measures were not taken earlier despite outbreak of the menace in just our next door China and its spread to various parts of the world; the gullible Indians unquestionably marched out in balconies and streets with plates pots pans bells and what not and made a mockery of "social/human distancing"! Had Newton seen this spectacle, perhaps he could have come out with another law --- "To every joke, there is equal and opposite joke"! Rightly has a reputed journalist quipped we have won the World Championship of Stupidity!
"Stay at home" had been made the mantra of the times! Yes, it is necessary; but is it practically feasible! Where would the homeless go! How can one survive without food and medicines if he/she locks himself/herself for weeks! Would the concerned authorities ensure supply of such necessities to every door! Or would they starve at home! Yet  deluge of posts have inundated the social media almost "criminalising" people going outdoors for procuring necessities as if they are intentionally spreading the virus!  It clearly depicts that ground is being prepared for a "Head I Win, Tail You Lose" syndrome! If India manages to succeed in limiting the number of causalties, all "credit" goes to XYZ "leading from the front"; if a calamity takes place, of course the blame would lie upon the "callous" people who ventured outside by defying the call of "Stay at home" rendered by XYZ! Not to forget innumerable vulnerable poor who are already homeless! Yet "Stay at home"! What a cruel irony!
If Indians are indeed so "respectful" of the Doctors for whom plates pots and pans were beaten so zealously, they should also have time  for a Mahatma named Dr.Kafeel Khan also; isn't it! If not a metallic plate, will at least a small spoon be reserved to clap in honour of Dr.Khan!
Or the act of clapping or not clapping is required to be done according to instruction of SOMEBODY!
BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur. Dr.Khan was the lecturer there. On August 2017 number of kids died as the vendor had cut supply of oxygen to the hospital as Himalayan dues remained unclear since long long period.
One by one the kids and babies started dying. When all appeal to the supplier and the authorities went in vain; Dr.Khan purchased 250 oxygen cylinders through his own money and worked almost 24 hours in consecutive days to prevent further loss of lives of the Little Gods!
Far from bestowing Bharat Ratna on him, Dr.Khan got suspended on ridiculous charges and was arrested. After 9 months he came out on bail and after more than 2 years of the incident, he was acquitted of all charges!
No question of tendering any apology from any quarter!  No question of compensation or reinstatement in job!
What a prize given to this gallant-hearted responsible humanitarian Doctor by the Who's Who of the nation paying mere lip service to the Doctors!
Can at least a small spoon be please be beaten in honour of the God the Divine Dr.Kafeel Khan! Or some powerful sector dominating Uttar Pradesh and the nation would get angry if claps are made in honour of much hated Dr.Khan!
Instead of dancing to the whims of somebody and indulging in the circus of plates pots and pans; the Indians should learn to respect the Doctors, but in own terms without caring about green or red signal of powerful individuals.
Ending with another heartless farce. After beating plates, pots and pans in "honour" of the caregivers, now it is time to beat them up with perhaps again plates pots and pans and evict them from homes as "they pose a health risk to other residents"!
Selfies and videos taken on 22nd March, 5 pm indulging in farce comedy of plates pots and pans! Pics and videos posted in social media! Counting of "likes" completed!
Now let's beat up the caregivers and evict them from house and residential complexes who are endangering their own lives for safety security and recovery of us! Lot of applause got received after rendering an "unique" call of lauding the caregivers through beating of kitchen utensils(never mind lack of protective gears for the Doctors and inadequate medical infrastructure)! In response to it, the "whole nation" came on streets or common balconies collectively thereby making a mockery of "social distancing" theory! Popularity quotient "proved"! Photo opportunities utilised to boast in posterity "I was also there"! The end!
When a society and it's "role models" turn into a crass crude joke with "playing to the gallery" directed at "lowest common denominator" calling the shots; this type of cruelty crudeness bruteness ignorance coldness and indifference are most expected.
             
The writer is based in Kolkata