UPites’ spell out post-lockdown wishlist

First of all, I would like to visit my departme nt (if the university opens) and meet my students. I will ask about their well being and then will focus on completing the curriculum. Later, I will visit the holy land of Sarnath, where Lord Buddha had given his first sermon, to offer prayer to Lord Buddha.

Prof MP Ahirwar, BHU

I am happy that we will be slowly moving towards some normalcy.

However I intend to be very cautious and observe maximum restraint from the very first day after lockdown and so do nothing out of ordinary. I shall continue with the routine which I set for myself during lockdown: Wake up early and take my morning walk inside my compound from 5 am to 5:45 am, Yoga for 45 minutes followed by breakfast before heading to my library to clear files and plan the day. Then I will visit the Centre at my home and inspect the packaging of ration to be distributed to the needy, speak to the DM for a review of the situation in the district and then address problems of people received via social media account as complaints received on my personal helpline at Lucknow. I will try to minimise public contact, avoid crowded places and observe social distancing norms and wearing my face.

Rita Bahuguna Joshi, BJP MP

I will visit ghat to offer aarti to Maa Ganga. If allowed, I would like to play the sitar there to offer musical prayers to the holy river. Sitting at the ghat. Later, I would like to take a walk. I have been missing being on the ghats.”

Pt Shivnath Mishra, Sitar maestro

The first thing I will do after lockdown is to go to my brother Baba Azmi’s house, hug him, my sister-in-law Tanve and my beautiful niece and nephew Meghna and Viraaj. Then I’ll go for a walk on the beach. These days I’ve been in touch with my girl gang on Zoom - some of whom have been having a hard time with no domestic staff. I’ll make tons of food they like and call them over for a long day together.

Shabana Azmi, actor

The first thing I would like to do would probably be to get my work team together and have a thanksgiving party with a potluck and maybe some dancing and let go of the ordeal each one of us may have been through. This would be followed by informal meetings with close friends. My work defines me and if anything stressed me it was my team’s well being! Family, household chores, cooking was fun yet overwhelming at times! I would thus kick my heals in the sun and put on Celine Dion’s number ‘I’m Alive’ and enjoy. Pray to lord for beautiful days sans fear ahead!!

Mala Mehra, principal of Hoerner College

When people are allowed to move out of home, first of all, I will offer prayers at Sankatmaochan temple. Thereafter I will offer prayers to Baba Kashi Vishwanath. Followed by prayers at lord Kaal Bhairav temple and darshan of Durga Kund. Then I plan to call my friends at the tea stall where we used to hold long chats and discussions over range of issues, including local issues, national and state politics, education, and international relations. I am missing my friends and those long discussions.

Prof Kaushal Kishore Mishra, BHU

Much though I enjoyed the sounds of birds and squirrels during the lockdown, I missed the bustling of the Lucknow bazaars. I wish we have a happy Eid meeting people face to face if not in a loving embrace. Two of my friends lost their brothers during lockdown, my first priority is to go and commiserate. I call up my research scholar for discussion and thank all my lovely creative students who have helped me make a video magazine for the University in its hundredth year.. I will strongly lobby for ‘Chikanari’ workers using vocal for local. I have been all alone all this while I need to visit Delhi to connect with my family.

Prof Rakesh Chandra, LU

During the lockdown period I had been distributing food, water, clothes and slippers to migrants but authorities have hampered my movement owing to the lockdown norms. Once lockdown is relaxed I will be able to move freely in different parts of city and distribute essential items to migrants who have been walking long distances without any assured availability of food, footwear, clothes, etc. Children have been the worst sufferers as long distance travelling without food and rest has been weighing heavy on their health. I am also looking forward to visiting Sangam as-well-as Bade Hanuman temple for Darshan as I missed going there due to lockdown.

Anugrah Narayan Singh, CWC party in charge for U’khand

Whenever there will be relaxation in lockdown and people are allowed to go out, I would like to offer prayer to our Kuldevi Goddess Maa Dhupchandi to seek her blessings by visiting her temple in Naati Imali area of Varanasi. Thereafter, I will start calling my students for riyaz. I will ensure that each of my students strictly follow social distancing, wear mask and sanitize their hands before their entry to the riyaz rooms. We have a separate room for music practice in my house.” Pt Vikas Maharaj, Sarod maestro