“I was privileged”

In the entrance hall of the Indian Parliament, there is an old Sanskrit verse which reads “Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” (means the “world is a family”. Yes, we are supposed to be one big family; not separated by the thick borders of nationalism, religious identities, linguistic differences, caste, creed, sex or occupation. But, we prefer to stay divided. We want constant fights with our brothers. We want to attack our neighbours.

And, then came a virus, an unseen enemy, a disaster. The world had no option but to be one big family, to be in solidarity and fraternity in order to fight this “global pandemic”. I left my home for studies in 2009 and started my professional life in 2013. The entire decade, I was away from my home and never got a chance to stay “long” at home.

But, I should acknowledge that I was privileged enough to have a comfortable professional and personal life this year because 2020 had been cruel to many others. It destroyed the livelihood of families; killed many small businesses; pushed many to the brink of suicide; and had stolen many lives.

2020 made me return to the home (I should confess that it had been more like the prodigal son returning home and realising how beautiful it was to be at home) or, it made me realise that “family is all (courtesy Breaking Bad). Since the world is still in the clutches of the COVID-19 virus, it would be insensitive to call 2020 a great year, but a year of learning.