India Will Emerge Stronger After Corona

Political leadership has exhibited the right resolve to fight the pandemic, and is being well assisted by civil society and businesses

NAVEEN JINDAL

When faced with an existential crisis or an external war-like situation, a nation fights back as a unified being. It’s during these circumstances that leaders are born. The COVID-19 crisis is arguably the biggest challenge being faced by India since Independence. The virus is a great leveller, too — it doesn’t discriminate between those living on the fringes and those occupying high seats of power. The contours of the crisis in India are, however, unique, and so should be the responses. It’s during times like these that national resolves and systems are tested, and leaderships put under the scanner.

During the present COVID-19 crisis, when PM Narendra Modi gave a call for a Janata curfew, followed by a lockdown to enforce physical distancing to prevent the coronavirus spread, the countrymen rose to the occasion.

States, too, acted in tandem. The Kerala health apparatus was in overdrive; Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Maharashtra swung into action; UP and Delhi showed pro-activeness. Together, they have been at the forefront of this national battle.

It’s, however, going to be a long haul. And, the crisis has multiple dimensions — humanitarian, healthcare management, societal, sociological, and, of course, economic.

Prepare for the worst