Covid-19, Curfews and Silence

Silence can be overwhelming for some of us who have been accustomed to the fast pace, the noise and thrill, which might even result in unpleasant, depressing emotions. Because this indeed is such an unprecedented change and that too in an unexpected way amongst the pandemic scare.

And for majority of people to walk through it, to deal with it is a major concern because they've forgotten what it is like to hear the birds, the rustle of leaves, the wind, the people talking slowly yet loudly.

An experiment was conducted few years ago in which a special room was constructed where people could hear the sounds of processes inside their bodies, the breathing, the heart beating, the blood pumping etc. It was found that no person stayed in that room for more than a minute because to hear all those sounds of our body was so frightening.

 Can it be related? Presently, the sudden halt on all the external noises is uncomfortable. We can hear our thoughts as they get louder and for some people it might be too frightening an experience. Because really, people have forgotten how it used to be like hearing their voices, their loved ones' voices without the grrs of vehicles going by, the chatter of people as they stroll through the market, the ever loud speakers. Forgotten? Younger generations don't even know how it was like to be in an atmosphere like that. Our grandparents, parents have known that and no wonder why do they despise so much of this noise and this rat race. You completely get them now, when they want you to sit beside them and talk. No tik- TALK. Real Talk.

This is going to be different, for all of us stuck in this crisis. But given the circumstances, it is the best opportunity we have to get in touch with ourselves and the people who matter. These are the moments to indulge in this silence, appreciate it, and explore it. To be ourselves. To introspect. To appreciate nature. To think about humanity, the dire state it is in. To be grateful for the people who are helping us in getting through this havoc. Isn’t silence imploring us to do that?

This silence in a way has come like a gift in the truly testing times. In the end, it all depends on how we react to it. We can ponder over what Neruda wanted to tell us in “Keeping Quiet” or we can drown ourselves in how depressing this silence outwardly seems like. Our reaction is what matters.

No matter how hard it seems right now, we will get through this. Stay strong. Stay safe.