Editorial

Death, Pandemic and Rajdharma

by the Editor: Siddharth Sehgal

There are no words to describe the pain and anguish the country is going through, constantly burning funeral pyres clouding the sky day and night and patients running from pillar to post to get an oxygen cylinder, a bed in a hospital, or a lifesaving injection. The scenes on TV screens are so gruesome that it would break the toughest of men and yet the government of the land was caught doing election rallies, campaigns in Bengal. When the country was, and still is, in its most dire crisis, the rulers of this country abandoned its people to face the battle of life and death alone.

Now when it is known that the scarcity of vital resources such as oxygen and hospital beds were highlighted, the government simply left the work to several committees and as government committees do, they simply make recommendations and go to sleep. Things are so bad that in order to get a drug, relatives of patients are waiting for hours and in some cases for days outside pharmacies and chemist shops. After reprimanding from the court, Prime Minister is now chairing high-level meetings on increasing the Oxygen availability, Air Force has to scramble oxygen plants and tanks from foreign countries, and our ally United States is denying to supply vital ingredients necessary to make Covid vaccines. Had the government done its job properly and timely, thousands of lives could have been saved. Now that my own family members are fighting this disease I am realizing I did a grave mistake by trusting an incompetent man and party with my vote.

Rajdharma is a Sanskrit term that describes the duties of rulers, in Mahabharata Bhisma describes various aspects of kingship but the primary duty of a king is to protect his subjects, regardless of the personal vices and shortcomings of the king but if he is able to protect the health and wealth of his subjects than he should be considered to have fulfilled his dharma as a king. PM Modi should rethink his Rajdharma, his vision of his duties is no longer seems to align with the expectations of people. Words now ring hollow and promises seem untrue. Trust is the biggest bond between the ruler and his subjects and that trust is damaged beyond repair in this crisis.

The need of the hour is to work in unison and fill the gaps in the available medical supplies and infrastructure in a very short time. The priority is to save as many lives as possible. We as Indians should not be gasping in breath in need of basic necessities such as a hospital bed or oxygen cylinder. Just as a Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister, or Chief Minister, an ordinary Indian also has the right to life and medical care. Hope the government realizes that in time.

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