God helps those who help themselves

After years, I visited Pashupatinath on Sunday. I don’t visit temples usually, Pashupatinath and the family Kul Devata being the only exceptions. I regretted, for the first time, after the visit.

First, a narrative of what happened. The 15 minutes walk from the parking lot to the temple was unnecessary. It’s not a long time if one looks at it in terms of a “pilgrimage”. But in the past, the parking was not so far away, or at least one could be dropped off much closer to the temple. The current long walk involves running a gauntlet of stalls selling prayer offerings ranging from garlands, incense and, of course, rudraksha. Having forgotten the incense I had brought from home in the car, I had to stop and buy some. Now we come to the point. After buying the incense, I asked the lady storekeeper why she wasn’t wearing a mask. She shrugged and said that she does, sometimes. For someone wearing a double mask, that was a bit of a shock. I looked around and at least 50 of the “pilgrims” were also mask-less. Trying to keep the physical distancing protocol, I gingerly made my way to the temple. I must have been the sole practitioner of physical distancing. The line for the open window to the inner sanctum was pressed body-to-body with a profusion of mask-less people. I wasn’t planning to join the line anyway. I opened my incense box and started lighting the incense. Some sort of enforcer harshly told me to go outside the gate and burn it. Apparently, this “rule” has been around for a while. When I turned to go outside, I saw others around with flaming incense. So I made use of an elevated corner, inside the gate, which had a good size Shivalinga and from where I could see the open window of the temple and burnt my incense. Not sure what the reason for this incense rule is but surely it could not be more important than ignoring protocols to contain a worldwide pandemic! The whole situation would be ludicrous if it were not so dangerous and pathetic. The primary responsibility of enforcing Covid protocols is (a) awareness-raising by the Ministry of Health and (b) the Police securing the protocols are strictly followed. The Coronavirus is around and there is no end in sight. Even with the vaccines, there are still many questions scientists are trying to resolve. Faith in Pashupatinath is commendable, but that does not mean science is to be ignored. Over 278,000 Nepalis have been infected by Covid-19 and 3,032 have lost their lives. Fortunately, over 273,000 of those infected recovered. But that good news is scant consolation to the thousands who died and their families.

Now it seems there will be a shortage of vaccines because India, from which the government is buying them, is dealing with its own infection spike and cannot spare the vaccines. The 1st shot vaccinations have been mostly limited to the front-line workers and those aged 65 and above. With only 5 of the population vaccinated so far, and that with only the 1st shot, we have a long way to go. Diversifying the source of the vaccines may be a solution but with limited scope. Most countries are busy trying to get their entire population vaccinated by this summer. There are rumours that the Chinese vaccine may be available to Nepal. But there are little details on it and its efficacy though apparently it is being used in the Middle East.

Another wave of infection in the near future is not unlikely. Already infections are rising. Is the government prepared for it or is it following a “Trumpian” blinders approach? Politicians must listen to epidemiologists and follow their advice. Belief in divine protection goes only so far.

Modern science has to be considered. People cannot go around in the blind belief Nepalis have developed immunity to Covid-19. After a year of Covid-19, those that were not infected may have developed inflated complacency which makes them even more vulnerable.

The title of this piece is a saying that emphasizes the importance of selfinitiative. The expression is known around the world and is used to inspire people for self-help. The phrase originated in ancient Greece as "the Gods help those who help themselves”. Some Christians have criticized this expression as being contrary to the Bible’s message of God’s grace. Let us not follow their folly. If we are going to keep our temples open, and that per se is not a bad thing, Covid-19 protocols must be strictly followed. No one to be allowed in without a mask, properly worn; and 6 feet physical distancing among individuals at all times. This needs to be police-enforced. A society without discipline is not worth to be called “society”.