Prayer Vs Pandemic!

Aditi Joglekar was a teen aged girl.  She was an ardent student of Hindustani classical music.  28th February, was the birthday of her first musical guru and her grandmother late Sulabha Joglekar. It was time for Aditi to recall the fond memories of her grandma.

Mercurial Sulabha Joglekar was passionate about many things.  Besides, classical music she was very much interested in handicrafts, painting and fashion designing too.  She was very much fond of black rabbits.  A few years before her death she had brought a black rabbit which was very cute.  She used to call it by the name 'Shalu.'  Towards the days of her waning health, 'Shalu' had become her only companion. There was a century old story behind 'Shalu,' the black cat remembered Aditi!  

Sulabha Joglekar, was born in the year 1909.  Her father Dinanath was working in a saree weaving factory, in a village near Bombay.  When she was seven years old, Sulabha's mother, had brought her a black rabbit.  Sulabha had named her 'Shalu.'  Sulabha grew happily with Shalu for two years.  But Sulabha's father Dinanath hated pets.  Just because of the love of his daughter, Dinanath was tolerating Shalu's disturbances.  Moreover Dinanath believed that black rabbits were ominous and they bring bad luck to the family. Therefore one day Dinanath took away Shalu, the black rabbit and left it in a nearby forest.  Sulabha was very much upset and was missing Shalu very much.

It was the month of August during 1918.  Now, Sulabha was nine years old.  One day, when Sulabha was coming back from the school along with her 3 elder sisters, there was heavy rain.  All the four sisters were soaked in rain.  Sulabha's mother had to wipe the heads of all his daughters with a thick cloth.  When the daughters woke up the next morning, all the three elder sisters of Sulabha were running fever.  Disturbed Dinanath checked up with the neighbouring panditiji (village doctor who practices with herbal medicine).  Panditiji gave some medicine, but warned Dinanath to be careful because there was a peculiar fever around, which was not subsiding easily.  There were rumours that a strange disease was spreading through soldiers, who were returning from              "world war I," through ships reaching Bombay. Therefore people had started calling it 'Bombay fever.' Government had warned people to be cautious about a disease called the 'Spanish Flu,' which was highly contagious and deadly.

Sulabha's sisters' fever never subsided.  Within two days, they all started bleeding in the nose.  They used to gasp for breath.  During the same week, Dinanath was also down with  the similar disease. Several cases of similar ailments were reported all across Dinanath's village. The village pandithji was going around giving medicines to all the sick people.  Pandithji was advising people to inhale steam every three hours during day time, take boiled milk with turmeric and drink plenty of hot water.  Those who could, were advised to  stand in sunlight everyday, for about 20 minutes. He had also warned people to maintain distance between individuals, as the chances of the spread of the unknown disease were very high.

Pandithiji advised people not to lose hope and keep praying God. He was of the opinion that faith and hope are two great immunizers and healers too! Pandithiji used to tell people that faith leads to prayer, prayer leads to confidence and confidence was the most essential factor, in ensuring early cure. All villagers had great faith in pandithji, and they were religiously sticking to his preachings.

But not much improvements were seen. Reports of large number of deaths were heard from the neighbouring villages. Sulabha's mother was caught up with the fear of losing her husband and daughters. Innocent Sulabha had said to her mother then, 'sending away Shalu, my rabbit has brought bad luck to our family.'  Sulabha's mother had no answer.  Mood of the entire village had become gloomy.

One day Sulabha and her mother had gone to the forest to bring some fire wood.  When Sulabha was looking around, she was thrilled to find Shalu, her black rabbit.  Shalu came running to Sulabha.  Sulabha was extremely happy to take Shalu back to her home.  The very next day Dinanath was relieved from fever.  Within a couple of days all the  three sisters of Sulabha too were relieved from illness.  Happy days were back for the family.  Sulabha said to her father that good luck has come to them with the return of Shalu, the black rabbit. Dinanath had to nod in approval.  

Barring three cases of death, 27 people had recovered in the village.  Pandithji of the village received a special award from the local King for saving lives. 

More than 100 years ago, when the world's worst pandemic 'Spanish Flu-1918 broke, India was also severely affected.  In an era, when modern treatments were unheard, a village pandithiji, could save people with his humble medicine.  Pandithiji boosted villagers confidence with the super medicine called the 'prayer!' In this modern era of negative news from all media sources 24x7, has this story a message for us? Can avoiding listening to depressing news and retaining our confidence, help us in boldly facing the present pandemic?  I appeal for reactions from my readers.

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(I have written this short story, to be included in my forthcoming book 'India fights Corona.')