They say
hindsight is a 20/20 vision. In the sense, in hindsight, the problems of the
past are blurred and one can see very clearly and dispassionately dissect what
should have been done. Interestingly, we are in 2020 where we are facing the wrath
of the virus and there is a plethora of hindsight assessing every action of
every government.
So, one can
dismiss my blog as being smart after the event.
But, this
is an analogy. A comparison of the human body and the country – both of which
are living organisms.
Japanese
cell biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2016 for his
research on how cells recycle and renew their content, a process called
autophagy.
Fasting
activates autophagy, which helps slow down the aging process and has a positive
impact on cell renewal. When deprived of food, cells break down proteins and
other cell components and use them for energy. During autophagy, cells destroy
viruses and bacteria and get rid of damaged structures. It’s a process that is
critical for cell health, renewal, and survival.
When the
Corona virus hit the world, all countries had to go into deprivation mode –
what they call the lockdown. Depriving the economy of work – its food – so that
it could heal on its own.
And,
therein lies the trick. While fasting is good (intermittent fasting is the
latest fad, if you haven’t heard of it, you have been in space), prolonged
fasting can have damaging effects. Also, prolonged fasting has different
impacts on different personalities. A healthy individual can last longer
without suffering while an unhealthy person (having co-morbidities to quote the
latest lingo) is advised not to take long fasts. In case of inadequate protein
intake, a body moves from metabolism to catabolism (it starts eating itself to
stay afloat).
Taking the
analogy forward, the European economies
are healthy. They have high per capita incomes (Japan, England, France - ~
40000 USD, South Korea – 31000 USD) and lesser GINI coefficients (means the gap
between the rich and the poor is not so stark). So, their lockdowns could last
long enough to cure the country of its disease, without having a long term damage
on the economy.
In contrast,
the Indian economy has several ills. A massive
population, low per capita income (About 2100 Dollars), inadequate growth, poor
GINI coefficient (it has the Asia’s richest man and possibly the poorest people
of the world) and economy concentrated in a few cities. A classic case of a
country which could not afford a long lockdown or fasting.
But, our
government chose otherwise, without taking it consideration our health and its
incapability to last long if fasting.
What we are
facing today is a crisis because a solution was adopted that the body was not
ready for.
Unfortunately,
this will scar the body for a very long time.
The revival
task is Himalayan and will ask for the best talents of the country to come
together and chalk out a plan.
Hope the
Government moves quickly enough, any more starving of the economy can push us
into the ventilator.
