A pregnant pause
Could the coronavirus be a portal to a New Earth, asks Suma Varughese
That we are living in the strangest of times is possibly an understatement. Even the most florid imagination could not have summoned up a situation in which the whole world would have submitted itself to a lockdown that kept the streets empty, malls, schools, theatres, offices, and industries shut, and all citizenry indoors, thanks to an invisible virus whose name I hardly need to spell out.
A virus has arrested the wheels of industry, put a halt to the ceaseless pollution of our air, water, and soil, prevented the depredation of nature and the fearful release of technology, such as 5G, that may well destroy what is left of the world, stopped the fishing, made man realise his vulnerability, brought him back to the family fold, and above all, put the whole world on pause.
There can be nothing more powerful than a pause. It is the pause between the notes that causes the music, the pause between each alphabet and word that renders this piece you are reading intelligible. A pause is cause for great creativity and great change.
For those of us who consider ourselves to be proponents of the New Earth, this pause seems very hopeful. For sure, the world is not going to be the same after all this is over. Whether the economy will survive is an open question, but even if it does, it will be vastly depleted. And, perhaps, just perhaps, many messiahs of capitalism will use the pause to consider how much better the world appears with industry closed. The skies are blue, the air is clear, and the rest of the species is taking back their space. Surely it will occur to them that clean air, soil, and water are immeasurably more precious than any product on earth?
Meanwhile, trapped at home, families are finally spending quality time together, eating home-cooked meals. Men are finally picking up the household gauntlet and working shoulder to shoulder with their wives. With housemaids gone, everyone is taking responsibility for cleaning up their own messes. The virus is forcing us to shape up, toughen up, and get stronger.
There is also greater recognition of the interconnection of humanity. We are all in this together. Either we all win or we all lose. Even if there is one person left in the world with the virus, we are not safe. And have you noticed how the virus has put an end to all the conflicts and turmoil in the world? No more riots in Delhi, no insurgency in Kashmir, no trouble anywhere in the world, because we are all too busy fighting a common foe. Under these circumstances, can we finally start moving towards the formation of the human family?
A good number of people are working from home, but for many, even their livelihoods are on pause and it is easier to be in the present moment and to simply partake of the events of the moment. To enjoy the call of the koel, to relish the simple joy of family time, to do what needs to be done. Finally, our busy, scheming mind has been put on pause, and who knows what change that may bring?
The pause is also going to make us introspect on our life and choices. Am I loving my work, or am I in it only for the money? Are my relationships doing all right or are they frayed at the edges?Am I moving in the right direction or have I gone off the grid? What kind of a person am I? Am I proud of who I am, or is there scope for change?
So, here is what I am hoping. This pause could well be the portal to the New Earth. If enough of us wake up, we could perhaps create a way of life that is more holistic, less materialistic and greedy, more loving and kind. Whew, what a masterstroke on the part of the Universe!
Suma Varughese is a thinker, writer, and former Editor-in-Chief of Life Positive. She also holds writer’s workshops. Write to her at sumavarughese@hotmail.com.
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