An essay on Life during the lockdown due to coronavirus
Answers
Answer: COVID-19 followed by the lockdown is a challenging phase for most of us. But there are residents in the city who know how to keep themselves occupied. While some have started pursuing their hobbies, many see this an opportunity to spend quality time with their family. Gayathri Mani, Parvez Sultan, Somrita Ghosh speak to them
It all started with claps, clanging of plates and even firecrackers in the ‘janata curfew’ on March 22 evening — to express gratitude for frontline workers battling against the Covid-19. It was followed by the lockdown which has confined city residents like never before. But being in the lockdown doesn’t have to be boring, not if you keep yourself occupied.The Morning Standard spoke some of the residents and found out how they are coping with the home-quarantine days.
Turning youtuber
These days, 29-year-old Sudhir Kishore, a junior engineer at the Public Works Department (PWD), is busy writing and reciting poems for his friends, wife and five-month-old baby, teaching students on YouTube and cooking food for the poor.The lockdown came as a setback for Kishore as he was planning to visit his wife and the baby in Ranchi, his hometown. Now, his wife and baby are stuck there.
“My wife along the baby had left early for Holi. I was about to visit them on March 25, but a day before that, the lockdown was announced. Initially, we all were in a state of panic, had no clue what to do... I miss my family a lot, but I am happy that they are safe with my parents... Thanks to technology, we are connected via phone and video calls,” Kishore said.Sharing his experience during the lockdown, the junior engineer said: “The first few days were really tough. But since I am a government employee, it’s my duty to serve my country and at the same time, help my workers and labourers working under me.”
In the PWD, Kishore has been currently deputed to look after streetlights, sub-stations, pump houses and wages of contractual field staff. He also has to visit shelter homes to ensure that labourers and migrant workers are getting food in time. Kishore said the staff in his department are working on alternative days.
“So, I thought of utilising the time of my passion. I decided to teach students online and explore my love for writing poems. I created a YouTube channel and a small classroom with two-marker boards in my home to teach students of Class 11 and 12 preparing for board and competitive exams,” Kishore added.
Within a few days, the PWD official garnered more than 300 views and several comments on one of his videos. He teaches tricky chapters of science and physics such as scalar and vector, thermodynamics, units, measurements, triangle, and parallelogram law. Before joining the PWD in 2016, Kishore taught the underprivileged in Ranchi.
“I always wanted to be a teacher, so even after joining the PWD, I had been looking for an opportunity to fulfil my dream... The time may be hard, but this period is giving many a chance to explore their hobbies and passion... It’s up to us how we utilise it,” he said.When asked why does he carry extra food while going to his office, Kishore said: “Cooking had never been my forte, but since the lockdown, I noticed that children and women under the IIT flyover beg for money to buy rations. So, I have started cooking extra food to feed them.”
The evening is the time when four members of the Mitra family come together, play ludo over a cup of tea. This has become a routine of the family living in Uttam Nagar during the lockdown.Abhimanyu Mitra, 32, is a software engineer and his wife, Sukanya Ghosh Mitra, 30, is associated with an advertising firm. Much before the lockdown, their companies had asked the employees to work from home.“So, it has been more than a month since both of us are working from home. Initially, it was a bit difficult to cope with the style and communicate with my colleagues. But gradually, we adapted to the situation,” Abhimanyu said.
Sukanya got her work station shifted to her residence so that she didn’t face any trouble. “The best part is that we are getting to spend a lot of time with our parents. Us being into a tight work schedule would get less time for them…now, there is much more communication. And playing ludo in the evening is one of the occasions when we four come together and share some memorable times,” she said.
The couple, whose offices are in Gurugram, agrees that it would be a challenge for them to get back their workplace once the lockdown is over.
They are working from home
Abhimanyu Mitra is a software engineer and his wife, Sukanya Ghosh Mitra, is associated with an advertising firm. Much before the lockdown, their companies had asked the employees to work from home. The couple, whose offices are in Gurugram, agrees that it would be a challenge to get back their workplace once the lockdown is over
Lockdown period
On the evening of 24 March 2020, the Government of India ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire 1.38 billion population in India due to the rapid spread of Corona virus. It was really a challenging phase for all the people.
It was the time when people really could secure time for their family leaving behind their busy schedule. I learnt many new things back at home during this period, tried cooking, tried creating innovative things using papers and all. It was the perfect time to catch up with family and friends, attend online internship regarding future career when i wasn't sure about it. Also, helped my mother in the kitchen, spring cleaned my room, decorated my space and what not.
Lockdown period had some positive impacts to life as well. It helped in digging out the best in me, all I could do, and i could know more about my self during the months long lockdown.
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