The scourge of novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) for mankind has surpassed all past epidemics. The extent of its impact on global economies have been colossal, causing large-scale retrenchment of jobs, closures of factories, business houses, educational and research institutions and others.
Free movement and travel of people has been drastically curtailed forcing people to stay indoors for months together. What is needed as a safeguard against the pandemic, literally turned out to be a sort of “Social Distancing”, instead of “Physical Distancing” from our fellow human beings.
Doors are no longer open for neighbours, visitors and well-wishers. Overzealous visitors have become suspects who might contaminate our hygienic sanctity.
Among the frontline workers who have been valiantly fighting the menace of this pandemic are people of the medical fraternity, police and janitorial personnel in particular. Our favourite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who stands out as a unique embodiment of the fighting spirit of Bengal, in the estimate of some, next only to Mahatma Gandhi, monitored in person the initial lockdown restrictions arousing astonishment of all of us as to how she could single-handedly tackle the situation, though we are aware of her exemplary ability in the pooling of overwhelming energies within herself.
Her frantic effort, involvement and encounter with Covid-19 have been exemplary and laudable. People of the police fraternity also put up a brave front against Covid-19 and many a ministering spirit emerged as “Good Samaritans”. Not only have they taken charge of law and order, but they also helped procure food and medicines for the elderly and took responsibilities for the hospitalisation of the sick. I have personally witnessed how one inspector of Kolkata Police, Shri Debjit Bhattacharyya, O/C Burtolla rescued a succourless PG student of Rajabazar Science College in the dead of night from the hostel and hospitalised him during the initially panicky days of sudden lockdown. The young boy hailed from a suburb district and was running high temperature with no one beside him to attend to. Role of such police officers raises hopes, dispels the darkness of isolation and rekindles gratitude towards mankind.
