Your cover story Thank You, Nurse (May 4) is heart-wrenching. It speaks volumes of nurses’ and other paramedics’ hard work and sincerity. One such instance of extraordinary resilience emerged during the Crimean War of 1854, when soldiers dying of infection rather than war injuries were given a new lease of life by the lady with the lamp, Florence Nightingale. As she says, “The greatest heroes are those who do their duty in the daily grind of domestic affairs whilst the world whirls as a maddening dreidel.” The genesis of nursing can be traced to that transformative event, which changed the contours of medical care. She emerged as a beacon of hope and drastically reduced the number of deaths. In the present catastrophe too, this noble profession has emerged as our main line of defence against the virus. It is said that doctors are next to god. However, nurses too are no less than god when it comes to saving precious lives. Social insecurity with low pay, long working hours without adequate rest, highly skewed nurse-patient ratio and inhospitable working conditions are issues that need urgent attention.
Vijay Singh Adhikari, Nainital
I am grateful for your cover story on nurses. Indeed, nurses get a raw deal even though they stand in the direct line of fire. I have composed a piece dedicated to these brave hearts.
Salaam Sisters!
Your care
Always extraordinaire.
Our neglect
Always gross and severe.
Today, as the grim reaper
Holds us to ransom once again,
We seek you more than ever
Diseased, desperate, defenceless.
As you go about, steadfast like usual,
Healing not a few
But an entire society’s pustules.
Our immense gratitude
to all you nurses,
A collective appreciation from the heart
For holding us together
For not letting us fall apart.
Thank you for your dedication,
Thank you for being with us
Even in our isolation.
Sangeeta Kampani, New Delhi
Boston-based RR Auction has invited bids for this letter by Mahatma Gandhi. The auction concludes on May 13 and is expected to fetch $15,000. The letter pertains to the All India Untouchability League, which he founded in 1932. It was later known as Harijan Sevak Sangh. The group helped lower castes access public spaces such as temples and wells.
This refers to Trauma In The Age Of The Virus (April 20). While the lockdown was needed to avoid mass deaths, its planning was woefully inadequate. It was a trial by fire in which the flames of hunger and anxiety consumed the most vulnerable sections of society. While the rich can afford to withstand the rigours of a prolonged lockdown, the poor cannot. The central and state governments failed to prepare for human behaviour in desperate situations and anticipate the movement of migrants. Stories of people riding or walking long distances to reach home abound. But this is not the time for blame games—both the central and state governments must take joint action to mitigate migrants’ misery. It is their job to create conditions for everyone to abide by the lockdown. They must single-mindedly pool and deploy resources towards this end.
David Milton, Maruthancode
Citizens are at the centre of a democratic set-up. It is most appropriately stated in the Preamble to the Constitution, which starts with “We, the people of India...”. Though there are multiple pillars in this set-up, like the legislature, judiciary and executive, these are subject to the will of citizens. During the lockdown as well, people’s safety should be a priority. While the police are expected to maintain law and order, the present crisis can hardly be considered a law and order issue. The need of the hour is community policing rather than high-handedness and baton-wielding.
D. Bhutia, Guwahati
This refers to your cover story Is My Job Safe?. I wonder how India will emerge from the lockdown. Unemployment is a big problem. According to the World Bank, 76 per cent of the population of India is in vulnerable employment. The pandemic is affecting sectors like tourism, hospitality, transport and entertainment, but the worst-affected is the unorganised sector. Regardless, the way India has dealt with this crisis is appreciable. Albert Einstein rightly said that in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. I hope India will fight against unemployment after this turmoil.
Mahendra Singh, Jind
This refers to your cover story Corona Warriors (March 30). India needs enhanced primary healthcare services and more general practitioners aware of the health and nutrition needs of their community. The Cuban model provides a good example of how the needs of everyone, including the poorest, can be met. Cuba has many doctors—some are even sent to serve in foreign countries. Recently, they went to Italy to assist the healthcare system overwhelmed by COVID-19. Medicine is a calling, not a profession. Young people ought to know that healthcare involves long hours with hard work. Perhaps, COVID-19 is a blessing in disguise for it will filter out those who are fearful and motivated by self-interest or grandiosity. Good doctors understand responsibility and practice accountability. As Hippocrates said, “Where the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love for humanity”.
Aires Rodrigues, Goa
