Saturday, March 21, 2020

Philosophy in the times of Corona

Raju Korti
The tiny never fall. It is the exclusive preserve of the high and mighty. I am alluding to the world's reigning obsession, the Corona virus. As is my won't, I will spare you the pulpy conspiracy theories and the wisecracks on what is believed to be mankind's latest scourge. I will also skip the pompous sermonizing that you are being served day in day out by self-styled experts on the subject.
The parasite has been weighing down on my mind for reasons more philosophical than scientific. Going by the data coming from medical journals, I gather that the parasites are spherical particles with a diameter ranging from the smallest 0.06 microns to 0.14 microns. For the uninitiated, it adds up to roughly the size of a minute dust particle. Put even more simply, it is so tiny that it is 500 times smaller than the diameter of the human hair. This infinitesimalness is what makes it a Biblical David to us Goliaths in the current battle. It has brought the mighty world with its mighty superpowers and mighty egos to its tottering feet. Presidents, Prime Ministers and dictators never sounded so helpless, crestfallen and humbled as they do today. Little wonder, in their dissipating egos, they are talking of a "world war" against these tiny beings. In the thick of this pandemic hysteria and trepidation there seems to be no clear clue on how to rein in this sprightly little Frankenstein that seems to have emerged from its fictional existence to ferment humans like rarely witnessed before.
Philosophy and metaphysics take over when rationale goes into a lock-down. Not equipped with the intellect to enlighten on a subject in which I am as confused and lost as everyone else -- especially those who have the resignation to admit so -- I can only philosophize. So here it goes when lesser mortals talk of "war":

Jayega jab yaha se
Kuch bhi na paas hoga
Do gaz kafan ka tukda
Tera libas hoga
Matalab ki hai yeh duniya
Kya apne kya paraye
Koi na saath aaya
Do din ki zindagi hai
Kar le jo dil mein aaye
Yeh thaat baat tera
Yeh aan baan teri
Reh jayegi yahi par
Yeh sari shaan teri
Itni si hai musafir
Bas dastaan teri
Kaandhe pe le jaayenge parivaar waale
Yamdoot le pakadkar daalenge apne ghere
Peetega chhati apni, manwa hoga udaas
Chun Chun ke lakdiyo mein rakh de tere badan ko
Mitti mein mile mitti, baaki khaak hogi
Sone si teri kaaya jalkar khaak hogi
Duniya ko tyaag tera, marghat me waas hoga

काहे अपने रंग, रूप, अमीरी, होशियारी और अधिकार का गुमान करते हो भैया! 

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