K B Jandial
The lockdown amidst coronavirus outbreak has quarantined us in our homes for no fault of ours. Our all out-of-home activities have abruptly come to stand still, making most of we ex-civil servants restless as to how to pass time. Family as well as the administration warned us against COVID-19, being above 60 years of age fall on high risk category which probably Coronavirus is fanatically looking for as their unwelcome ‘host’. And honestly nobody is willing to risk his life for nothing.
After retirement, we somehow managed to ward off the concern of idleness by exploring many itse-bitsy activities that take us out of the home for some part of the day with Sunday still observing a holiday as before. In pre-lockdown time, the favorite timepass was revolving along many activities- starting from the morning walk and group exercises with friends and acquaintances for about two hours that would energise us sufficiently for the day.
Straight Talk
Smarter among us would also head for health clubs and more affluent for golf course, and return home around 11 am. Quite satisfying daily morning experience for all of us! Then there were coffee sessions for two to three hours that too was used for interactions on tropical political or social issues. Periodic meetings of some NGOs and Forums with which we started associating after retirement to pass time genuinely or may be under pretext of doing some charitable social work, had also come handy for some of us for timepass. Evening walk was at time a bonus for meeting known people and charming faces whose number is directly proportionate to weather conditions. Unfortunately, all these “useful” activities have come to standstill, thanks to Chinese Corona ‘gift’ which has brought the world to a grinding halt.
Modi ji first called for 14-hour Janta Curfew on Sunday, 22nd March which all of us enthusiastically observed, rather ‘celebrated’ as a “fun” too by beating thalis & utensils to express gratitude and solidarity with Corona-warriors. This unusual experience was immediately reflected through these pictures posted on social media. But we didn’t know that it was just a trial and actual drill was yet to come. After demonetisation experience, Modi’s 8PM address to the nation always sends a chill to the spine, and Pradhan Mantri ji, in another 8PM address on 24th March announced 21-day lockdown from same midnight. What midnight has to do with lockdown as all people are at home around mid-night? But he unmindfully made people panicky who ran out to fetch whatever they could lay their hands on, not taking notice of his another part of speech that shops of groceries, milk, drugs other essential commodities would remain open.
Sitting tight with “hoarding” of some items to last even three months, we welcomed the dawn of lockdown, even though had no choice. But timepass became a matter of concern. Being in the category of high risk, we were told not to cross “Lakshman rekha”; so the first thing to give up was the morning walk and entertaining group exercises culminating with high-pitched OM and prayers for good of the self, families, friends and the nation. So, what should be its substitute in the lockdown? A real problem indeed! I started preparing bed-tea for myself & the family and enjoyed it. Now, I have found a way out for short morning walk at roof top. And come down by the time newspapers are dropped. But with J&K under lockdown with no political, development or economic activities, the volume of the newspapers too have become thinner and papers are read in just twenty to thirty minutes. Honestly I don’t find much news as the newspapers are filled with news of Coronavirus and Coronavirus which have already been bombarded on TV Channels day-in and Day-out.
After puja and breakfast, it haunts as how to spend time? It is no less serious than invisible ‘enemy’. This ‘enemy’ is no less problematic. Thanks to Prakash Javdekar, morning and evening re-telecast on DD Bharti/National 4-decade old most popular serials -Ramayana and Mahabharata is a well-thought decision to make our timepass entertaining, at least for four hours in a day, congress objection notwithstanding. These serials had enforced voluntary lockdown during 80s and 90s and nobody had ever thought that these serials would be replayed 40 years later to enforce forced lockdown to prevent spread of deadly disease.
Resetting almirah, dusting study table and bookshelf, watching TV; all these activities didn’t take much time. As our fixed coffee session time comes nearer my eyes transcend over the gate with urge to drive out but deserted road whose silence is broken occasionally by a vehicle or two, reminds me of “Lakshman Rekha” imposed by the PM. I have no choice to look for other timepass.
Yes, grandchildren have extended post-exam holidays. Good thing is that for them, I have re-learnt rummy, Chess, lido etc. There are other choices for their timepass like Cartoons and Science of Stupid, National Geographic, Animal Planet on TV that needed my intervention to bring peace among them on diverse choice of TV shows which is always at variance. In the process I have to part with my mobile for their video games. Mobile too is a timepass for me. When I manage to get my mobile back, I spend some time on reading and forwarding messages on what’s app but soon lose interest as friends post and repost same messages, videos and Govt orders. Perhaps they too didn’t have much else to do. There are plenty of What’s App orders, unsolicited advice on every issue including treatment of every health condition- COVID-19 too. One day I tried to follow a suggestion for meditation but had to leave it with unstoppable notification tunes detracted my ‘looking inward’. Another friend shared his analysis that our Whats App group got 239 posts in a day. Everybody seems to have timepass problem!
Strangely, in the past, quarantine was for the patients but now it is for healthy persons. We were advised to stay away from “negative” people but now it is advised to stay away from (Corona) “positive”. Looking at the surging positive Corona cases and death counts with many Coviots not following social distancing and quarantine like Talbighi Jammat, we are being pushed closer to COVID-19, negating efforts of PM Modi and local administration. Trust me, can’t stand to a longer quarantine with difficulty in managing timepass with ladies in the house getting irritated with increased domestic workload as maids are skipping work in lockdown.
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