Martyrdom – 3

Date : 3rd May, 2020…

As Lockdown 2.0 comes to an end and Lockdown 3.0 begins, am appalled at the situation where the Corona warriors (Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics and Police) are being beaten up in some places. It is not a story of one place, but many places in India.

Yes, India did stand in unison, a few days back to appreciate them too. But the way a few people are treating them is not only bad but goes to show how ungrateful, a certain class of people are.

Readers, I want to ask a few questions which are constantly coming up in my mind again and again. And I am sure they would be in your mind too.

Soldiers give up their lives guarding and saving our borders, and are called martyrs. And rightly so. But are the Corona warriors who are putting themselves at maximum risk in this situation to save us, to save Humanity, being rightly recognised and appreciated? For me personally I feel that those who have given up their lives are martyrs too. What do you feel?

The pictures of the kids looking at their father, who has just returned from duty after 20 days, but cannot go near him, hug him, are heart wrenching. He too is sitting outside the house, waiting to be serve the food. The longing for hug in both the pairs of eyes makes me numb. How can we be so cruel? But this is the time for Social Distancing. Do we realise the importance of our father, our family in these situations ? Isn’t giving up an opportunity to hug ones own children, martyrdom?

The nation may not consider them as martyrs, the society may not, their own families may not, but for me they are giving their lives so that humans can survive. They are doing much a bigger work then the soldiers at this moment. So I repeat, they are martyrs and they all should be honoured.

I would end with a a few lines… (have tried to write from the perspective of a policeman’s child)…

I spend my days waiting for you,

Mom tells me that you will return…

I would like to share my things,

Am waiting for the tide to turn…

The fight with this virus, we will win,

Promise me, God, will not see an urn…

Cause you have given up on all of us,

Just to see the neighbourhood not burn….