Writer recalls govt 'slip-ups' in pandemic catastrophe

Sumit Bhattacharya | NT

Bengaluru: In a commemoration event held on August 16, at the Bangalore International Centre, the impact of the pandemic was the focus of discussion.

The occasion also saw the launch of a book, ‘Burning Pyres, Mass Graves’, authored by Harsh Mander. In a two-hour-long discussion, Harsh Mander, also a teacher and human rights activist, was joined by lawyer Arvind Narrain as a guest panellist.

Addressing the gathering, Harsh Mander criticised the functioning of Government of India during the pandemic.

He particularly highlighted the shortcomings in the central government's public policy responses to the Covid-19 crisis, emphasising the negative consequences of the “hasty and unplanned” lockdown measures.

Arvind Narrain, a guest panellist, delved into specific chapters of ‘Burning Pyres, Mass Graves’ during the discussion. He praised the author's “adept” narration of the events that unfolded during the pandemic year.

In a conversation with News Trail, Arvind Narrain underscored the “severe impact on mental health and education due to the pandemic”.

He suggested that educators convey the concept of digital learning more effectively. Harsh Mander expressed how people were deprived of basic necessities, attributing this to the authorities' failure to provide sufficient oxygen cylinders and medical facilities.

He recounted the traumatic experiences brought about by mass cremations across the country in 2020, which left a lasting stigma on the collective consciousness.

The event concluded with a question and answer session, during which Harsh Mander emphasised that the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns “disproportionately affected underprivileged sections of society”.

He criticised the abruptness of the stringent lockdown declaration and the lack of comprehensive plans to address the challenges it posed.

In a reflective tone, Harsh Mander remarked that the pandemic revealed the government's approach towards marginalised sections of society.

He noted that the world witnessed one of the most stringent lockdowns enforced with merely four hours' notice, highlighting the government's lack of foresight in handling the crisis.