India is quiet like never before.
I woke up this morning not to the sound of vehicles, but to the sound of the chirp of birds.
I have never before heard the rustling of leaves during the day hours when the predominant sound is usually of passing vehicles.
Today the entire nation -- a population of 1.33 billion -- is staying indoors between 7 am and 9 pm. No public transport. No passenger trains. Only trains that have begun the journey before 7 am are running. No buses. No metro. All businesses shut. It's a total lockdown. Only medical services, online delivery services and media are working.
This follows an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on March 20, to observe a Janata Curfew or People's Curfew - of the people, by the people, for the people - voluntarily stay indoors between 7 am and 9 pm. He said we have to do it because the crisis we are facing is a very unique one, and we have very difficult days ahead, for which we need to prepare ourselves.
THE FIVE-MINUTE JINGLE OR CLAP AT 5 PM
The Prime Minister also exhorted everyone to come to their doorstep or to their balconies and clap or ring a bell or tap a steel utensil for five minutes in honour of every health and medical professional who is struggling out there taking care of the people who are ill.
Accordingly, in our apartment complex, many residents joined the rest of the nation, came out on to their balconies, and clapped.
HARD DAYS AHEAD
When the Prime Minister announced just a day's shutdown, the immediate thought that came to everyone's mind was how will a single day's lockdown help in any way. But he had prefaced it saying this lockdown today is to prepare ourselves for the hard days ahead.
That's what is happening now. A number of places in the country, including big cities like Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, have now declared complete shutdown till March 31. Indian Railways today announced that no passenger train will run till 31st. Buses and metro have drastically curtailed their services.
I don't think we will return to our normal routine any time in the near future.
Take adequate care of yourself. Be safe. These are very uncertain times.
I woke up this morning not to the sound of vehicles, but to the sound of the chirp of birds.
I have never before heard the rustling of leaves during the day hours when the predominant sound is usually of passing vehicles.
Today the entire nation -- a population of 1.33 billion -- is staying indoors between 7 am and 9 pm. No public transport. No passenger trains. Only trains that have begun the journey before 7 am are running. No buses. No metro. All businesses shut. It's a total lockdown. Only medical services, online delivery services and media are working.
This follows an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on March 20, to observe a Janata Curfew or People's Curfew - of the people, by the people, for the people - voluntarily stay indoors between 7 am and 9 pm. He said we have to do it because the crisis we are facing is a very unique one, and we have very difficult days ahead, for which we need to prepare ourselves.
THE FIVE-MINUTE JINGLE OR CLAP AT 5 PM
The Prime Minister also exhorted everyone to come to their doorstep or to their balconies and clap or ring a bell or tap a steel utensil for five minutes in honour of every health and medical professional who is struggling out there taking care of the people who are ill.
Accordingly, in our apartment complex, many residents joined the rest of the nation, came out on to their balconies, and clapped.
HARD DAYS AHEAD
When the Prime Minister announced just a day's shutdown, the immediate thought that came to everyone's mind was how will a single day's lockdown help in any way. But he had prefaced it saying this lockdown today is to prepare ourselves for the hard days ahead.
That's what is happening now. A number of places in the country, including big cities like Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, have now declared complete shutdown till March 31. Indian Railways today announced that no passenger train will run till 31st. Buses and metro have drastically curtailed their services.
I don't think we will return to our normal routine any time in the near future.
Take adequate care of yourself. Be safe. These are very uncertain times.