Government and scientific establishment have failed
THE WEEK|May 30, 2021
As early as April 2020, molecular biologist Partho Sarothi Ray had warned India of mutant variants and of a deadlier second wave of the coronavirus. Ray is an associate professor in the department of biological sciences at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, and is now abroad on a research project. In a new interview with THE WEEK, Ray discusses India’s response to the second wave. Excerpts:
RABI BANERJEE
Government and scientific establishment have failed

Q/ Where did things go wrong with the response to the second wave?

A/ This is a manmade disaster. [This has happened] because of incompetence, unscientific handling and premature triumphalism by the [Narendra] Modi government.

Q/ Unscientific handling?

A/ In my interview with THE WEEK, as early as in April, 2020, I had stressed the possibility of mutants and the need to prepare for them. Nothing was done. Sequencing of virus samples was not started before December, when the INSACOG (Indian Sars-Cov-2 Genomics Consortium) was set up. I had also spoken about a resurgence with higher mortality.

Q/ Many people say mass vaccination could have prevented the catastrophe.

A/ Vaccination has its limitations. Vaccinating 1.3 billion people in a short while is a logistical impossibility. It is clear now that vaccine production facilities are woefully inadequate. Two doses have to be given to achieve an adequate level of immunity. It should have been made clear that vaccination could not and would not prevent a second wave.

Q/ And what about a possible third wave?

A/ That will also happen. But people who are talking about the third wave in the middle of the second wave, for which they had no preparedness, are just trying to escape responsibility.

Q/ But why did the World Health Organization not warn of a possible second wave in India?

A/ Everyone knew there was going to be a second wave. Europe and the US also had their second waves. This is not rocket science that there should be a special warning for India. And the Indian government was already proclaiming to the world in February that it had defeated Covid-19. It did not care about any warning given by anybody.

Bu hikaye THE WEEK dergisinin May 30, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye THE WEEK dergisinin May 30, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE WEEK DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
War Over Wounded Earth
THE WEEK India

War Over Wounded Earth

For the BJP andthe Congress, the ravaged farmlands of Vidarbha represent a cxitieal battleground in their larger struggle to win Maharashtra

time-read
9 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Say no to continual elections
THE WEEK India

Say no to continual elections

Following the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind to streamline the widely scattered schedule of national, state and local elections, the Union cabinet has reportedly approved two constitutional amendment bills for likely introduction in Parliament. Predictably, the return of the ‘one nation, one election’ issue to news has set off a flurry of objections by several opposition leaders.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Fabulously, fashionably funny
THE WEEK India

Fabulously, fashionably funny

The third season of the Karan Johar-produced Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives dropped on Netflix, but articles criticising the show appear in some news site or the other almost daily. If it is so bad, why keep writing about it? And if it is so bad, why would the superpowers at Netflix, who are harder to meet than the prime minister, commission the show season after season?

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
All in the family
THE WEEK India

All in the family

The Chitaras have been passing down the secret art of Mata Ni Pachedi through generations for more than 400 years now

time-read
6 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Raise a toast to Vidya Balan
THE WEEK India

Raise a toast to Vidya Balan

Vidya Balan is a New Year baby. At 45, she is aglow in the most beautiful way, having won the hearts and admiration of countless fans across the world, who watched the supremely talented actor take a public tumble on stage at a high-profile promotional event recently, sharing the platform with no less a dancer than the eternally graceful Madhuri Dixit.

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
Death no bar
THE WEEK India

Death no bar

Being alive is not a legal requirement to be elected president of the United States

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
The Lotus POTUS
THE WEEK India

The Lotus POTUS

You should visit us one of these days— there is so much excitement in our USA! No, I don’t mean the famous USA—the Ulhasnagar Sindhi Association of Mumbai.

time-read
3 dak  |
November 10, 2024
RAY OF HOPE
THE WEEK India

RAY OF HOPE

Actor and cancer survivor Lisa Ray talks to oncologist Dr Jame Abraham about inner strength and her surrogacy journey

time-read
5 dak  |
November 10, 2024
LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK
THE WEEK India

LEVERAGE AI TO ENHANCE WORK

AT THE WEEK Health Summit, Siddharth Bagga, head (retail, CPG and health care), Google Cloud, elaborated on the significant work that Google has been doing in health care through artificial intelligence (AI).

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024
PRESSURE POINTS
THE WEEK India

PRESSURE POINTS

Author and MP Shashi Tharoor and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das on how to find healing and meaning in today's world

time-read
2 dak  |
November 10, 2024