How the year 2021 became the revival of humanity and a lesson for eternity!

The killing machine- Covid19 knocked on our doors at the end of 2019, ever since, life hasn't been the same. A few months of ease which seem like moments now, and we are back into the vicious cycle of national and international lockdowns as our fight against covid resumes in 2021. Homes being our safe havens, isolation and vaccination being our shields for defence.

Undeniably, these two years have been the toughest ones for humanity in recent history. Our close encounters with death, the pain of watching a close one pass away despite all efforts have overwhelmed us much. As we all felt powerless against this retaliation by mother nature, we, at the same time, are forced to look back at the atrocities we humans, have been inflicting on her, who has bestowed us with everything.

Being silenced and made to stay put and submit to this current pandemic as it took over the world, claiming lives, has imprinted unforgettable memories on our minds. Nevertheless, we persevered. We started accepting our penalties and helping each other survive.

But soon, we realized it wasn't an attack on our physical health alone. The effects of being laid off, losing a sole breadwinner, or being disconnected from family gave way to other mental health issues that drove the attention of the socially conscious.

Luckily, we have been witnessing the revival of humanity during this pandemic as well. The frontend warriors like the doctors, police force and the good samaritans in general who put their lives on the line played a vital role in ensuring human survival and more than that, survival of humanity.

In India, with the declaration of the nationwide lockdown, daily wagers were lashed to return home. However, their tiring journeys were acknowledged by the efforts of some who chose to donate for their safe homecoming.

At the beginning of this pandemic, to ease the patients fighting the virus, doctors and nurses started to comfort them emotionally in their fight against the deadly virus. Plasma donors, irrespective of religion, depicted humanity despite the ill-wills of some. People sidelined the comfort of their homes and traveled miles to spread awareness and offer assistance, and people have been continuously spending for the cause of dispensing help.

A joint effort by humanity helped save lives last year, but nature certainly wanted us to do more. Ever since the second wave dominated the world's countries, including India, efforts by humanity have nothing but doubled. It took some time, amidst its severity and the inconsideration of some, to restore the faith in humanity. India, in the present-day, has lost more than 2.38 lac citizens at a pace overtaking the countries of the world. While this number has moved not many, it is the visuals, the pleas for resources flooding our media that has juggled our conscience. The human agony that has dominated our hospitals and the roads leading to such help centers present excruciating realities.

Yet once again, the spirit of humanity was invorigated. Parallel to this damage, we witnessed multiple NGOs, self-help groups, and individuals coming forth to input their efforts in sufficing help. While some went unnamed, examples of hallmark humanities have surfaced during this interval.

Shahnaz Shaikh, famously known as The Oxygen Man from Mumbai, sold his luxury car to arrange the breathing units for more than 250 individuals.

Varsha Verma, the Lucknow-based woman, rented a van to carry the covid wrecked dead to the crematoriums for free. She undertook this duty in the wake of the transporters refusing to lift this last burden of the grieved.

In another instance, a Nagpur-based transporter Pyare Khan, spent a fortune of 85 lakh rupees to procure and transport 400 metric tonnes of oxygen for the city's government hospitals.

Even the international community came forth on humanitarian grounds to help in this overwhelmed state of ours. The tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and CRED have overwhelmingly invested to pull India out of this crisis.

Many Indian NGOs and startups also ushered in help in times when every little effort counted. Zomato, Paytm, Swast App, Hemkunt Foundation, Milaap, etc., to name a few, came forth to keep India from falling apart.

Besides, the countries like Saudi, Pakistan, Australia, China, Germany, etc., generously furnished that indispensable aid in the wake of this crisis.Many Indian NGOs and startups also ushered in help in times when every little effort counted. Zomato, Paytm, Swast App, Hemkunt Foundation, Milaap, etc., to name a few, came forth to keep India from falling apart.

Slowly and stealthily pushing ourselves in these crises, there are lessons to be learnt and moments to be remembered. Harnessing the forces of nature has backfired, yet the coming together of humanity as one has helped us survive.

Although, the pleas of our countrymen and women, our challenged efforts in the wake of deficiency of resources, and the heavy steps we took towards the overcrowded crematoriums can't be forgotten. At the same time, these life-saving efforts from strangers, the empathy of these selfless hearts, and the agitation shared by us all is something that will warm our hearts and help them heal.

May such acts never cease to represent the fabric of our world. May we grow to be kind, generous, and above all, humane.