If you set aside the consequences of the Pandemic which the present day world is suffering, one thing is for sure and that is our names have forever been written in the history books. We had heard from our elders who talked about the freedom struggles or the wars or the riots. Now we are the generation who will be talking about this historic lockdown. We will be talking about the times when the planet came to a standstill. The times when environmentalist will be finally having a sound night sleep.
The last time we saw an epidemic in such a large scale was somewhere in 1920s, the Spanish Flu. Though the flu originated in England but as World War I was going on, the political leadership refrained from disclosing the same in the media. Whereas when it had reached Spain the news finally broke to the world and hence it got the name Spanish Flu. It had literally made the planet bleed with approximately 500 Million cases and a death figure ranging between 17-50 Million.
When you look at the above the figures obviously you might breathe a sigh of relief. Because as I am writing this the current count of the Covid 19 pandemic stands at 1.7 Million worldwide. But then again I am not an expert to enter into a debate as to whether this will increase or which way it will go in the coming days. But one thing I can be sure, that this is going to have a H.U.G.E impact on the economy. Again, I ain't an economist too but being a common man whose life is dependent on the monthly salary which I receive. When I received an email from my company that there won't be any salary increment this year I can say one thing that we are yet to see the consequences of the Covid 19 and those are going to be more drastic then the current lockdown.
Even the way lockdown was announced was a bit dictator type announcement in my opinion. When you can give a two days notice each time for the theatricality of banging plates and lighting lamps why weren't the people given atleast a day or two notice before putting us in a lockdown. Everyone saw how Singapore went into lockdown. Why not us? Ofcourse this will never be debated by the contemporary media as we have more of cheerleaders than real journalist. The latter count is diminishing on daily basis.
A lot of things (Alleged or Controversy) were happening behind the curtain which not many people are aware as this never comes in the media. The only good thing about being on Twitter is you get access to lot of information.
Lets see a few of them. The moment we saw a spike in cases there was a demand for more testing kits to be manufactured in the country as the only way to tackle this pandemic was to test as much as possible. In the mid of March 2020, there were some firms in the foray to manufacture the kits. However the government (Health Ministry) changed the rules and added a condition that only US FDA or European approved kits will be used. That meant only one company based in Ahmedabad will be allowed to manufacture the kits. The trick here was the other firms who were waiting for their kits to be validated were going to sell the kits in the range of Rs. 400-500. Whereas the kits manufactured by Ahmedabad company will be costing in the range of Rs. 4000-4500.
As soon as the lockdown was declared the government had started asking for donation from the public. Sometimes I wonder as a layman, why should we pay everytime a tragedy strikes. A common man already pays Income Tax (of different types) on whatever we earn. We pay indirect taxes, we pay Toll, we pay stamp duty and what not. And after all this we are asked to contribute in the times of disaster as well. It is not that I am against it, for even I personally made a contribution upto my level in the CM Relief Fund. The government uses tax payers money for lavish events such Namaste Trump or the huge swearing in ceremonies and not to forget the alleged toppling of government. And then they come to us again to contribute as much as you can, feed as many people as you can etc. I mean few days before lockdown government approved a budget of Rs. 20000 Crore for Central Vista, revamping the Rajpath area and other constructions. But the first announcement towards tackling the Covid 19 came later that and it was Rs. 15000 Crore. That shows our priorities.
The troubling part was even in the above mentioned donation asked from the public, we saw politics. The opposition leaders in our state asks to donate to the PM Cares fund. When even today there is no clarity as to why PM Cares fund was started when we already have a PM National Relief Fund. Also the contribution which are made to this new fund are eligible to be considered as CSR Contribution. But any contribution made to respective CM Relief Fund shall not be considered as part of CSR Contribution. Already with the implementation of GST, every state is at the mercy of Centre for getting their share in GST Contribution. And with these small amendments it is in a way demotivating the business houses to not contribute to CM Relief Funds.
Even when it came to donations by the people's representatives, they were trying to take the high road by donating their MPLAD funds to PM Cares. Firstly, this is a government money which is to be used for the constituency from where they have been elected. So how is that a contribution by the politician? Another decision that was taken by the Central Government was two years MPLAD funds shall not be given to the MPs. This will again dent the federal structure. MPs are using the MPLAD funds to fight the pandemic and they will also need the same once this is over to revive the economy. If for two years no funds are allotted to the MPs then again State will be at the mercy of Centre.
Then came politics over procurement of PPE (Personal Protective Equipments). There were already protest by the medical community over lack of PPE for the nurses and doctors who are all in the front line of this war. So as all the states were preparing to procure the PPE, suddenly Centre Government refrained all states from doing any such procurement and said that they shall do it and distribute amongst the states. India has always been a federal state. And our federal structure is indeed very strong. It is because of this federal structure that we have been able to keep the Coronavirus at bay, atleast our increase in figures aren't in the same ratio as that of the Italy, USA, Spain etc. The Chief Ministers, the State Health Minister, the local agencies (BMC) are doing everything they can to break this chain. Even before the Lockdown was implemented in the country, Maharashtra was already in the state of curfew. Nothing much changed in our lives as we were already asked to stay in our home till 31st March. So a layman question arises to me is why break the backbone of this federal structure in such times when we need to fight together? Also not to forget how the government caved in when the US President threatened our country if we do not provide them the medicine that is currently used on Corona patients in the absence of vaccine. Hydroxychloroquine, the medicine used for malaria. In the wake of the pandemic, India had banned export of all drugs in the end of March 2020. But with the open threat given by the US President, the same was decided to be exported to the US the next day. And the way media cloaked all this in the guise of friendship was simply unbelievable. I heard someone saying that US has all the infrastructure to kill the people around the world. But they lacked the simple infrastructure to save their own population. Such hollowness and then they call themselves super power.
Another example of the position of the super power. A new thing happened w.r.t. Rapid Test Kits on 13th April when a consignment of four lakhs kits which was bound to Tamil Nadu had been diverted to USA by China. When some journalist asked this question to the Health Ministry official during the 4PM regular press briefing which happens, their reply was no comments.
In one of the above paragraph I mentioned about toppling a government. No matter how much the current establishment talks about fighting the epidemic, history will always remember that in the times of adversary the ruling party was busy toppling a government in the state of Madhya Pradesh and ofcourse not to mention how they adhered to the rules of social distancing while celebrating that victory. Also it has been almost three weeks since the new government was sworn in and the state still doesn't have a Cabinet. This is during the times when health department of the state itself has become a hotbed for Coronavirus with the health officials testing positive.
And what to say about the communal virus. Being a 90s kid from Mumbai who had seen the 92 riots, this communal virus has come to all of us as a by product. So as I grew up and when I started to understand certain things I had made up my mind that I should not be the one who will be passing on this communal virus to the future generation. But what happened in Delhi and the pattern in which the total count spiked and also how the media and government pointed it out, one thing for sure, the coronavirus will be defeated in the near future. But this communal virus is here to stay for another long term.
Now coming to some personal impacts of the lockdown. Most important aspect for me surely is the body weight. For someone like me who has been in the obesity for almost 28 years of my life, gaining weight is not something that will require time. It can happen in a matter of few days. With total lockdown, my regular routine of morning walk or cycling or running has come to halt. I had also registered for a challenge to complete 500 Kms of cycling in the month of March. But I could only complete 373 Kms. With my regular schedule of running or cycling totally stopped, there was no activity through which I was sweating out to burn those calories. No matter how much I walk indoors, unless I don't sweat profusely daily, I won't be able to keep my weight figure in check. So I knew I had to do things in a different way this time alongwith abiding the rules of lockdown.
Initially I thought my only target should be stay on Level 5 of the Step Set Go App. But then those statistics are not directly proportional to fitness, atleast in my case. I was proved right when in the first week itself my weight shot by a kilo. So something had to be done as I knew this lockdown was surely going to be extended till minimum 30th April. So I thought I need to do something more then just walking indoor. At first I started walking on my floors steps for around 30 mins and a 15 mins walk on the terrace whenever I got the open window. Atleast I felt I was doing something. But again that wasn't enough too. So next change was inevitable.
Instead of just walking on my floor steps, I started doing up and down of the total 14 Floors of my building, two times. And then landing up on the refuge flat and doing some walk there. But there an old lady joined me. So I wasn't comfortable doing my walk there. So this schedule lasted just for a day. Such tricks I kept on trying in my first week. But none could be finalized. And after almost five months I missed the weekly target of One lakh steps.
So finally I decided to go down in the building complex. Some people use to come down for morning walks. Hence I avoided the garden. I found a secluded area in my building near the Bank of Baroda branch and started doing my one hour walk there in a loop. Approximately I covered around 5 Kms in the one hour.
So this became a routine for few days. I was able to get some sweat out which made me breathe a sigh of relief. But then as the Covid 19 cases started increasing, stringent measures were adopted by the state and I had to stop going down. Not that someone told me to do so. But I personally found it risky. Plus I was not able to concentrate too. Whenever someone use to just pass by I use to become skeptical and try to maintain a distance. I was scared to touch something enroute too. So instead of having this distraction I thought to figure out something else.
When the skepticism started happening in my head a thought had struck me. This phase is going to change a hell lot of habits amongst all of us forever. These habit changes will be the scars that Covid 19 will leave upon us. Next time while shaking a hand or hugging an unknown or pushing in a crowded train/bus people will spare a thought. Not to mention the sales of sanitizer are going to sky rocket and very soon it will become an essential part of everyone's life. Ofcourse the change in habits are indeed good. But what makes me wonder is at what cost this is going to happen? Being a firm believer of a larger picture in each and every case this will be good. But for that we all need to come out alive in the current scenario.
Coming back from my skepticism to reality, I remember achieving the 150 Heart Points per week target in Google Fit use to be a cake walk as one good run was enough to achieve that. But now it has actually become a weekly target with no space left for walking/running. With the fear and lack of concentration creeping in, now going down was not an option. So stay at home and workout was the only option left. Hence I had to initiate what I have been avoiding for a long time. Exercises.
What is it that you avoid? Something which you are scared to do or you don't know about it. Same is my relation with exercises.
Now this meant I had to figure out a new schedule. The one kilo rise was already a warning sign. So I finally decided to start some exercises. There is already too many stuff in my YouTube about the same. But just never cared to look into it. Well now it was the time to go through some of it and come out with a schedule.
So this is how I ma spending my mornings these days. I start with the usual. Begin my day with a walk/jog in the house for one hour. Approximately I cover around 5 kms in that hour. Walking in one room round and round. Sometimes I even try to do a slow run in the limited space without making much foot noise for the below floor people to complain. For regular running I use to get up at 5-530. But now that is not feasible as at that time there is still dark out. And dark means the connected balcony will be home to my worst nightmares, the dinosaurs descendents. Hence a new situation so a new timing. I get up at 645 and start my morning indoor walk at 7Am.
The walk goes on till 8. Then comes the most difficult part. For exercises I had shortlisted a few things to be done. Through out my life I have attempted Gym only twice. And each time I left for three main reasons:
- PushUps
- Pull Ups
- Surya Namaskar
I just cannot do it for I have never tried it till date in my life. And to avoid embarrassment in front of everyone I have left the Gyms on both the occasions. So this time I said to myself we have time plus we are lonely here. So no embarrassment. So why not start trying it out. Hence as per the beginner schedule I started doing pushups by taking support of a kadapa (Seating arrangement in balcony). It isn't easy too. So for the first week I did it 4 X 5 i.e. four sets of five reps each.
Before the pushups I do an initial warmup exercises for 5-7 minutes which I had learnt in my recent stint in the gym.
With push-up done, next is a 60 second Elbow plank. Earlier I was able to do more than 60 seconds. But now even that 1 minute feels so long.
Then a simple one. I call it sides. For this you just need to bend on your sides. So I do this 2 × 20.
After then another small exercise for the calf muscles. For this one needs to stand on a elevated platform, can be a small wood. Your half foot should be on the elevated platform and balance half in the air. So you go down by bending your bottom of the foot and go up again. This I do 2 × 20. This was a new addition recently so I must have done only twice I guess.
Then the normal squats. 2 × 20.
So these five exercises take around 30-35 minutes time. And then at 830 AM I get into my sports shoes and go to climb the steps. Our building is 14 Floors, so I have ample steps to exercise. So for the morning session, I climb the steps up and down of the 14 Floors, a total Five times. It takes 6 minutes per round. So a total of another 30 Minutes. Which finally makes the count of my morning workout to 2 Hours. Also I use to do sit-ups too. 2 × 10. But then the problem was when I use to go down that time I use to land directly on the ground as I do not have a Yoga Mat or something soft to keep below. Hence inorder to not injure myself I dropped it from the schedule.
After sorting out the timetable of what to do, next question was how much to do? Generally, during normal times I try to get something or the other on the weekdays and total rest on Sunday. But then these aren't normal times and exercises and me have a history of giving up. So I decided to follow my school pattern. In our school we use to have two weekly off. One, the usual, Sunday and one one Thursday. So I decided to use this pattern. On Thursday I do walk, climb some steps too. But exercises has a holiday.
I feel this is not at all bad. Ofcourse there is tonnes of scope for improvement and pushing my limits more further from the comfort zones. A lot many out there might argue upon why you need two days off, some may question the small number of reps in each exercise. But at the end of each day's session of two hours, I know I am sweating profusely. So it gives me a sense of satisfaction. I also drink a litre of water too in the due course which helps to keep my water limits per day in check as well and also saves me from dehydration as the mercury is rising upto 38.
Then I have a small evening session too, after my working hours are completed. This is divided into two parts. First is incase I miss out on any exercise in the morning, mainly because of my laziness, then I try to cover that up. Otherwise I directly jump to the second part which is going into my shoes again to go back on the steps climbing up and down the 14 Floors, but now only three times. Though, in this schedule, the second round when I climb the stairs up I skip one step while climbing. This puts some strain on the hamstring and gives it a exercise too. These three rounds approximately takes 15 minutes time.
So this is my daily schedule of 2:15 Hrs of exercise for the lockdown period. To further add to this I do a 45 Minutes walk post lunch and another 10-20 Minutes walk post dinner. I am not sure if this is going to keep my weight in check or whether it will have benefits in the long run to achieve my target of 42.196 KMS in Jan 2021. But this is the best I could come up with to keep the war against weight loss on.
Along with these I am currently (Or I must say still) reading Raghuram Rajan autobiography. And occasionally a newspaper incase we get it. I watched a few TV Series too like Special Ops, Samantar, Family Man, Jack Ryan and some movies like Farjand, Tanhaji, Ashi hi Banva Banvi. I try my hands in kitchen as well, trying desparately to get a round chapati. And also an occasional VC with friends just gives us all a much needed break.
Yes, there are lot of fears too. Fear of being laid off, fear of contracting the disease. But then one cannot stop living just because of them. Your fears are necessary for they keep you grounded. But they should not define you.
As the lockdown is coming to an end, an extension of the same is inevitable. Just an official announcement is pending. So till then Stay Safe everyone.
-SR.
PS: May The Force Be With You !!!
