The light has nearly gone out of our lives in this year of the Covid-19, but that is apparently not enough. For 9 minutes on April 5, Indians will have to embrace darkness. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to turn off the lights in their homes that day. The light has nearly gone out of our lives — one million people infected worldwide, Italy brought to its knees and Spain too, even a doubting Donald has turned cautious after weeks of denial, 2000 upward cases in India, 56 deaths as of Friday — but what of it? When has light or the lack of it come in the way of a national selfie?
9 minutes of darkness
The lightness has gone out of our lives and we are in full battle mode. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare personnel are in direct line of attack of the virus. Many without armoury too. And that goes for the police as well. In the meantime, the citizenry is battling lockdown and the demons it has unleashed. The National Commission for Women has received 250-plus complaints since lockdown related to various offences against women. Indians from the northeastern states are facing the brunt of a fresh bout of racism, albeit “Chinese virus” induced. Last month’s religious congregation at Delhi's Nizamuddin and its consequent contribution to corona spread, instead of turning focus on poor administration and irresponsible Jamaat clerics, has become a fair-blown Islamophobia. And no matter the reduced pollution levels and rapturous blue skies, there is an unalleviated darkness already. But apparently we could do with 9 minutes more.
A contagion
On April 5, Indians are expected to switch off the lights inside their homes and light a diya at the threshold instead, wave a flashlight from a balcony, bring match to a candle at the door, all for 9 minutes. A touching gesture of national solidarity which just might jeopardise the national power grid, could lead to a blackout even... reportedly, reportedly. Something about the system not being ready for grossly reduced demand. The light has long gone out of our lives and darkness is much too contagious.
