Contents „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ MONTHLY BULLETIN, MARCH „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ „ From New New ______60 A„Year„into„COVID-19:„Glancing„through„a„Journal„ One„Year„Journey„by Trends„of„ ______41 COVID-19„Pandemic„and„Workers„in„Informal„Sector„in„India„ Managing„the„Post-COVID„Economy„______38 ______35 Academic„Publishing„During„the„COVID-19„Pandemic:„Overall„Trends„ Educationally„Yours:„Nothing„Remains„the„Same„______32 Building„Our„Resilience:„Practising„Agility„in„the„Realm„of„„ Trials„and„Triumphs„of„Students„with„Autism„During„2020„______26 ______22 Counselling„in„Corona„Times„„ Boredom:„Plaguing„Youth„during„Pandemic„„______18 The ______12 Corona„and„I„ How 4 President's„Column„______David„Washbrook„(1948-2021):„The„Youth„„as„I„saw 2 Agenda„of„Monthly„Meeting„of„March„2021„______icvr„fBreeCi„or„nteSi„fAsm:SnaprFns ___ 3 ______Discovery„of„Burmese„Coin„Hoard„in„the„Soil„of„Assam„:„Sundarpur„Finds„ Prasun Chatterjee Sabyasachi Chatterjee Goswami Sanchita De Mitu DasGupta Satyajit Chandrima Biswas Subhamita Maitra Pabitra Sarkar Amiya Kumar Bagchi Ray Kanta Rajat Bose S. K. Arun Bandopadhyay Chakraborty Gorky andAsok Sanyal Kanti Basu, SudiptaMukherjee Soumen Anirban MitraandSaswata Ghosh Ishita Mukhopadhyay Achin Chakraborty New Lce„onEdryBan„______15 „Locked„Down„Elderly„Brains„ „Arrivals„in„the„Library„during„February„2021„______71 „Books„from„Reader's„Choice„______65 „I„Spent„My„Time„during„the„Pandemic„______10 „Generation„Teaching-Learning„Platform„______29 teDs„fteGnrlSceay______1 „the„Desk„of„the„General„Secretary„______COVID -19:„Understanding„Facets„of„13„months„of„the„Pandemic„______46 „COVID-19„Express„______55 2021 „Him„at Wr„______8 „Work„______

espite many ‘negatives’ during the corona period and despite the fact that the word ‘positive’ be- Dcame a dreaded word during the corona times when people went in for testing, one positive effect of corona period was the huge time available for me to read books, journals and periodicals which were lying idle at my house for a long time and again those which were available through the net. I cannot resist the temptation of reviewing one such book viz., The Presidential Years 2012-17 by Pranab Mukherjee, the ex-President of India which was published only in January 2021. It was a fascinating experience for me to go through The Presidential Years, 2012-17 (Rupa Publications, 2021) by Pranab Mukherjee, the ex-President of India, who had an unfortunate expiry a few months back. Written in the first person form and published posthumously only in January 2021, the book is a scintillating account of the experience of that veteran statesman and politician of not only what happened during his years of Presidency from 2012 to 2017 but also contained many anecdotes, observations and references to the course of Indian poli- tics during the last several decades. An autobiographical account of an Indian President is not new, as The Wings of Fire, by the late President, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam would tes- tify. But the present work is not an autobiography in the strict sense of the term in the sense Kalam’s work is, which is an autobiography covering the entire span of his life. Nor is it a Diary in the sense of a date by date account of what happened during the said Presidential Years. On the other hand, the major areas are thematically distributed and discussed – with antecedence where necessary, in the inimitable lucid style of writing of Mr. Mukherjee. In this first person accounts the author recollects the challenges he faced during his years as President – “the difficult deci- sions he had to make and the tightrope walk he had to undertake to ensure that both constitutional propriety and his opinion were taken into consideration” (blurb of the book). After completion of his term as President,

4 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 President's Column

Pranab Mukherjee writes, in the Epilogue the constitutional norms. The Presidential Section, “when I look back on my years as Years is a living testimony of how successfully President, I derive satisfaction from the fact Mukherjee could function as the President of that I followed the rule book in letter and India, fulfilling that role. spirit in dealing with Governments and issues As already noted, the whole gamut of of the date, but also because I never veered experience and activities have been arranged from the constitutional parameters that have thematically delineating the activities in been laid down for an Indian head of states. several areas like Reflections on Parliament, The satisfaction is also from the realization Presidential Addresses, Experiences with that I took several initiatives to expand the the Judiciaries, Foreign Visits and Foreign scope of activities within Rashtrapati Bhavan Policy Issues, Interaction with Leaders, Path and the larger Presidential Estates, most of breaking decisions, President in relation- which yielded tangible results during my ship with his Prime Minister and his overall tenure" (p. 177). assessment of the situation etc. In all these Pranab Mukherjee entered the Parliament narratives, Mukherjee has continuously kept at a young age of 34 and in mind his momentous and from that humble position constitutional role as the he rose to become the thir- President of India, who is teenth President of India. His the constitutional head of experience in Government is the State but not the head of unparalleled having variously the Government. But candid held the positions as Minister expression of the sentiment of Defence, External Affairs, and his personal opinion on Commerce and Finance. He some crucial issues and de- was elected to the Rajya velopments have also been Sabha five times and to the expressed through these Lok Sabha twice. He was a narratives. Pondering over member of the Congress the election debacle of the Working Committee, the Congress in the 2014 Lok highest policy making body Sabha election, Mukherjee of the Congress Party, for a says “… I do believe that the period of 23 years. A closest Party’s leadership lost po- aide of Mrs. Gandhi, undisputedly the number litical focus after my elevation as President. 2 man in her cabinet he was bypassed many a While Sonia Gandhi was unable to handle time as the most eligible candidate for Prime the affairs of the party, Dr. Singh prolonged Ministership from the Congress Party. There absence from the House put an aim to any must have been a huge bitterness in his mind personal contact with other MPs”. He fur- for this, but gentleman and farsighted as he ther comments “if I had continued in the was, he never expressed it in public. From Government as Finance Minister, I would this position of active politics, when Pranab have ensured Mamata’s continuity in the Mukherjee became the President of India by coalition. Similarly, Maharastra was handled securing the support of parties across political badly, partly due to decisions taken by Sonia line – he got 69% of votes, which was much Gandhi. I would have brought back Shivraj higher than what was in the kitty of the Con- Patil or Sushil Kumar Shinde, considering the gress party – there were many who surmised dearth of a strong leader from the State like whether he can function judiciously, apoliti- Vilasrao Deshmukh. I don’t think that I would cally and conscientiously as President as per have allowed the State of Telengana to be

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 5 President's Column created. I firmly believe that my presence in whether the President’s speech should be active politics would have ensured that the cleared from the Government beforehand. Congress would not have faced the drubbing On this, he says, “I wish to make one thing in received in the 2014 General Election” (pp. clear. I have never shown my speech before 20-21). any event to any official of the Government. There is an interesting entry in this work But at the same time I have refrained from capturing his mood in the pre-election period being reckless or popular, taking care not to of 2014. As he was the President, he even say anything against the Government policies refrained from exercising his voting rights in and programmes … I had to be careful and the General Election as, he thought, that he calibrated in my address” (pp. 27-28). But it had been voted to the constitutional post of was not so in case of address before the joint President by a number of parties. But he was session of the Parliaments which was scru- ready for a post-election intervention if the pulously left to the Government to provide situation wanted him to do so. His candid a draft. On the decision of the Government admissions are recorded in this work. “I had to scrap the Planning Commission and to expected a hung parliament with the BJP appoint a NITI Aayog in its place, Mukherjee emerging as the single largest party with says “I was not personally not enthused by the about 190/200 seats. In such a situation it idea of the scrapping of the Planning Com- would have been my constitutional respon- mission, (though) I did not wish to rake up a sibility to ensure stability. Had the Congress controversy by opposing it publicly”. emerged with fewer seats but promised a Surprisingly, in his memoirs, Mukherjee stable Government, I would have invited that touches on many points affecting the body leader of that party to form the Government, politic in so many ways like Article 356, Centre keeping in mind their previous track record State relations or the functioning of Gover- in managing coalition Government success- nors in States but he scrupulously avoided fully. I was convinced even before that 2014 any reference to the Emergency Period which election that I would not be neutral between was proclaimed in 1975. The Emergency stability and instability”. He further wrote, Period has only been mentioned cryptically after the BJP got decisive majority and the only once and, that too, while speaking about Congress had a dismal performance, it was Mrs. Gandhi, who had ‘mentored’ his career difficult to believe that the Congress had and had a steely resolve, whether in success managed to win just 44 seats and he was dis- or in adversity. In a tour to London in the appointed at his onetime party’s performance post-Emergency period where Mukherjee ac- (pp. 22-23). Again he writes “ahead of the 2019 companied Mrs. Gandhi, one Journalist asked election, I did not have any advice for the her about the Emergency. She promptly said, Congress, having quit the Government year’s "in those 21 months, we comprehensively ago. However, I did believe that there was a managed to alienate all sections of the Indian possibility of a coalition Government coming people” (p. 38). to power in 2019”. Eventually, Modi returned In a chapter on Path-Breaking decisions : to power with even a greater majority. The story of demonetization and GST, Mukherjee above account shows clearly how and where discusses at length the procedure adopted the President could decisively intervene in and the substantial issues involved in those Government formation. decisions and he disagrees with both of The President should also have indepen- them, though, as he says he had nothing to dence of function in the sense that he must do in those areas in his capacity as President. not be circumscribed by Governmental inter- He sarcastically comments, “in the last six ference on every step. He poses the question years of the Government, we have seen the

6 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021

In Memoriam

David Washbrook (1948-2021): The Youth as I saw Him at Work

I met David at up in arms against Canberra and Cambridge. Cambridge where Clearly class was central to their ideology we were both Tri- and they contended that the force behind pos students in Indian nationalism was ‘the bourgeoise’ the class of 1969. or alternately ‘the English educated Indian Upon clearing the middle class’. Sociology had by them arrived Tripos Examina- in South Asian history and Canberra (which tion in that year, was a shorthand term for the then influential we enrolled as re- elite theory proponents) contended that class search students of was not the true explanation of the Indian Dr Anil Seal, with David taking up the politics national movement. Professor D. A. Low, and of the Madras Presidency (1870-1920) along his students in Canberra and Sussex, spon- with our batchmate Chris Baker, who took sored this theory influentially but it needs up the twentieth century Madras politics as to be emphasized that Dr Anil Seal and his the matching topic. I concentrated on the first generation research students (Gordon political history of Bengal, and Tom Tomlin- Johnson, Judith Brown, Francis Robinson son, also a student of Dr Seal, focused on the among them) were also proponents of the Indian National Congress in the late colonial elite theory. Professor Low, Dr Seal and their period. I was close to them as part of a circle PhD students argued that region, commu- and we interacted almost daily in our com- nity and caste, not class were the real thing mon endeavour to reinterpret the politics and were factors peculiar to India’s modern of British India. The upshot was the theory politics. David, and his close associate Chris known as ‘The Cambridge School’, which I saw Baker, rebelled against this theory. David was emerging before my eyes in around 1969-73. I the key spokesman for a new hypothesis. It was not part of this school, nevertheless I had came to be known as ‘The Cambridge School’, the rare opportunity to observe the process and its manifesto, inspired by Jack Gallagher, at close quarters. Anil Seal and David Washbrook, was locality, Since David’s contribution to the crystal- province and Nation (1973). lization of the reinterpretation is so critical, I The Baker-Washbrook duo dismissed both have to say a few things about the meaning caste and class as red herrings, and they also of the term Cambridge School. argued that the real arena of politics in the Those were the days when ‘Cambridge’, Madras Presidency was the locality and not ‘Canberra’ and the ‘Marxist School’ waged a the province or the nation. The late Profes- bitter intellectual war on the politics of na- sor C.A. Bayly, who was then at Oxford, had tionalism in South Asia. Marxists had a strong floated this idea in his study of politics in presence among historians in India and were nineteenth century Allahabad, and had

8 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 In Memoriam spoken of ‘connexions’ as an important fac- the more+ quiet neighbourhood of Mylapore, tor in Allahabad politics. David applied the which, at the time David was speaking of, same idea to his idea of South India in the housed some key Southern members of the nineteenth century, and demonstrated that Congress High Command of India (a space the emergence of ‘provincial politics’ (by the Egmore men wanted for themselves). which he meant especially the politics of the Later on, whenever I would recount David provincial leadership of the Indian National Washbrook’s tale of Egmore and Mylapore Congress in the Madras Presidency) was pow- in the History class in Calcutta, the students ered by cross-caste factions in the rural and would be lifted above their boredom – every urban locality. time and without fail. All of us in Cambridge We admired his ingenious demonstration were struck by his skeptical treatment of the of the possibility that the warring Moderates subject. This, said critics, was ‘Namierism’. In and the Extremists of the Madras Congress India there was a furious Marxist recollection at the turn of the twentieth century were, of Lewis Namier. The comparison with that respectively, the dominant Congressmen august person was, of course, flattering to the residing in the elite locality of Mylapore, the young researchers in the circle at Cambridge. extremists being the less well-to-do profes- David Washbrook made a critical contri- sionals condemned to living in the not-so- bution to the emergence of a whole new posh neighbourhood around the Egmore interpretation of South Asian history. He Railway Station. I had not been to Madras knew that I did not see Indian nationalism when I read David’s Fellowship Dissertation from his gesichtspunkt. That did not matter. and was subsequently much entertained We were friends. when I boarded a train going to Trichinopoly from Egmore (the station for provincial trains bound south in contrast to Madras Central Rajat Kanta Ray with its all-India ‘connexions’). I also visited Formerly Professor of History Presidency College, Kolkata

“I fully agree that we need to explore and examine subordinate classes of Indian Society, to look at their role in making the major themes of history, their relations and their initiatives.” David Washbrook Frontline, December 2, 1994

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 9 Octogenarian's View

How I Spent My Time during the Pandemic Amiya Kumar Bagchi Emeritus Professor, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata

I went to an international conference or- a Nazrulgeeti or a Lalan-geeti. Almost every ganized to celebrate Engels’s two-hundredth evening my grand-daughter, Rinku (Sriyani birth anniversary in Wuppertal, Germany, Bhattacharjea) spoke to me at that time. from 19-21 February 2020. My younger Barnita skypes me once in the forenoon, and daughter, Barnita, who teaches in Utrecht once in the early evening, speaking about her University and lives in Gouda, Netherlands, work and keeping me posted about European collected me from Wuppertal and took me developments. She also occasionally sang a to Gouda. I stayed with her and her husband, Tagore song. Both my daughters sent money Jan, until the 15th March and left for India, to me from time to time, ignoring my protes- arriving in Kolkata. By then COVID-19 was tations. One of them kept me supplied with raging in Europe and the United States, and Bengali sweets, and the other paid my bills had begun to spread in India. So I went into for electricity, mobile and broad-band, sent voluntary quarantine from the 16th March. At some household consumables and a special that time two persons were working for me, meal every two weeks. one was cleaning the flat and the other was Uttam Bhattacharya, an ex-student and cooking the meals and staying at night. But ex-colleague visited me every week, bringing after a week official lockdown began, with some cooked items, sweets and occasionally, no trains or buses plying. So one was stuck fruits. My eldest sister, Rita also occasionally in South Barasat and the other in a village sent cooked food to me. On one occasion, near Canning. After that I have lived a rather Achin and Indrani Chakraborty and Simantini, isolated life, like many elderly persons, but accompanied by her 7-year old daughter, Tu- have remained connected with my daughters, tus, brought cooked food and dined with me. sisters and many friends. During these ten months, I have written At first, food was supplied to me by a three papers, refereed two articles and en- nephew of mine, Avik Roy, and Sarottama, dorsed two books, and written a new intro- an ex-student of my late wife, Jasodhara and duction to the Bengali translation of Private close friend of Barnita, my younger daughter. Investment in India 1900-1939 (1972). I have Food was also provided by Avik Roy, a nephew attended one webinar of the department and Simantini Mukherjee, an ex-student. of history Calcutta University in memory of Then a permanent arrangement with a home Professor Hari Vasudevan, and another in delivery service, which provided me with memory of Professor Dwijendra Narayan Jha ordinary Bengali meals. My older daughter organized by the Delhi Historians Society, Tista rang me every day to find out if my lunch Aligarh Historians Society and Sahmat. I have has arrived and skyped me in the evening attended webinars mostly organized by the when we talk about various things. Almost Institute of Development Studies Kolkata and every evening she sang a Rabindrasangeet, the Department of Economics, Presidency

10 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Octogenarian's View

University, but also those organized by the on a young girl pedalling several hundred Institute of Human Development, New Delhi kilometres to bring her parents home, many and the Indian Institute of Management, Cal- were crushed by trains when they lay down cutta. I go to bed at 12:30 AM after listening tired on railway tracks. When they came back to Rabindrasangeet, occasionally Nazrulgeeti home, they were jobless. In West Bengal and or Lalan-geeti, Indian classical music, mostly Odisha, moreover, Amphan devastated them. Sarod or Sitar and Western classical music. There was very inadequate government help Kanai Sardar, the security guard cleaned for them: what little there was riddled with the flat and bought items such as fruits and corruption. So if they survived, it was in a mis- medicines. My neighbours also helped me in erable condition. Kerala seems to have stood various ways. out in helping the affected people. From my personal experience of my two Of course, the poor also died in greater helpers who got stuck in their native places numbers of COVID-19, because initially no- because of the lack of local trains and buses body knew how to treat it, the poor were due to the precipitate lockdown, I surmise treated by quacks, government hospitals that lakhs if not millions of people lost their had insufficient facilities to treat them and jobs. From newspaper reports I knew that they could not afford the exorbitant charges. the greatest sufferers of the thoughtless Personally I lost a very good friend Hari Va- lockdown without any prior preparation were sudevan to COVID-19. Two couples, friends of several crores of workers of migrant workers, ours and the wives of two ex-students were many of whom died on overcrowded trains, also attacked by the virus, but fortunately because if lack of water and food. Many of they survived. them heroically tried to return home on foot,

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 11 Octogenarian's View

Corona and I Pabitra Sarkar Former Vice-Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University

An old man, who lives alone, is bound frequently broken by social calls. Corona to have several anxieties on his hand, as do came to put a temporary stop on that. So, for others who are concerned about him—of some months, like everybody else, I had on which there are quite a few. I am going to my hands more time than I had before. I had complete my 84th year soon, so I have, in to do something about that. terms of anxieties, more than my quota I have Now, I did not have too many options. I am my third pace-maker ticking away in my body, an old man, and I had forgotten my cooking my blood sugar is high—the PP figure does long ago, so I could not experiment on mak- seldom comes down below 200. I take insulin ing new and exotic food items like many did every night. Yet I do not let these anxieties get during this Corona-time, and project them the better of me, and try to lead a normal life, on my facebook page. This also seemed of which the routine in sequence is—taking somewhat cruel, in the context of jobless a half-hour walk on my terrace, coming down immigrant coming back home in procession, and singing about six or seven Tagore songs hundreds of miles on foot, some dying along with the accompaniment of my harmonium the way, and leaving blood-stained chapattis and my first cup of morning tea. I am in love scattered over the railway track. with my singing voice, although others may I could not directly involve in offering any not approve of it. But my neighbours are very relief to them, but had to do my mite in a small tolerant, and no brickbats are ever thrown at way, as everyone else did. I was encouraged my windowpanes. A light breakfast follows, to see that young people, students and politi- and then I sit at my desktop computer for cal workers jumped into action by setting up about two to three hours, to write and also to ‘workers’ kitchens’ here and there. do some social networking on the facebook. My card-playing skill was rusty, and I During this, I am supported by another cup was not ever fond of the game that is called of tea and a cup of coffee—the last being the ‘patience’. As I live alone, it is hard to find final item of morning beverage. I go to the the adequate number of partners also. But bath around twelve, finish my lunch by one the major fact is, I have lost all my interest in o’clock, and then, when I can help it, take a rest games, indoor or outdoor, and I do not watch for about two and half hours. I take my after- the TV. I am still attached to the print-media. noon tea at four with country snacks, and go So I had to wrack my brains to keep me busy back to my computer once again, from which I with something beyond my routine. That, I take myself away by 9 or 9.30 for a light dinner. thought, would be a good rebuff to this ugly I come back to my desktop for the third time, pandemic. I had to show it that I was not and go to sleep by 10.30. I sleep well. afraid of it. That may increase its ire on me, Before the COVID-19 virus showed its but I would not simply care. I have lived long face on the horizon, the above routine was enough and therefore, if Corona cuts it short

12 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Octogenarian's View now, I will not have a lot to be sorry about. two of them every day on my facebook page, Nor will be others, I am sure. and many of my friends began to appreciate Compounded with the Corona menace, them. So from the day the so-called ‘Lock- there was this Amphan, which left my house down’ (people honoured it by breaking it all without electricity and running water for the time) was declared, I began this practice, about seven days. Our emergency light and and put a stop on the first withdrawal of the the petrol-run inverter had stopped work- lockdown. Meanwhile, some two-hundred ing long ago, and had been leading a happy forty got written and now they have found a junk life so far. We were sure that we did not place in a well-made book called Limericorona need them anymore. But my ever cautious by the famous publishers Mitra O Ghosh of wife (Bless her departed soul!) had another, a Kolkata. These are in Bengali, and so many self-charging one, installed, which supported of the readers of this Bulletin will not be us only for the first two days of the disaster, able to read it, but I am tempted to add one and then died without ceremony. I worked sample below for the benefit (!) of my Bengali with candles, as hurricane lanterns of my readers— rural childhood were not available either. I do not know whether the helpless revival of কশরাো, ্ু হম হক গহব㖯্ আে, হেশের ি্붿ালীলায় মুগ্ধ ? the ‘early to bed and early to rise’ habit did হপঁপশড়র মশ্া মােুষ মারে—মিা্াণ্ডশব হবশ্বু সদ্ধ ! me any good. I have become an urban citizen with a ব맃থা এ গব㖯, মােুষ হেশেশক brick house, so Amphan could not do me দমশরশে অশেক দবহে এর দথশক any permanent injury either to me or to my দরখাশে-শসখাশে ্ু চ্ছুশ ে ্ায় বাহিশয় োোে মাশপর রুদ্ধ। house, as it did to the dwellers of southern- most Bengal. So I did not have to beg the The gist in English is : I addressed Corona and Government for any relief, as people of my told her not to be proud of killing so many class usually escape the fate. But Corona was people, as, I had to say, men themselves have there, and that had to be tackled. So I had to done more killing than that, by declaring wars chalk out a game plan for snubbing it. I felt on flimsy grounds. that it had to be snubbed, by some people at And then came this new device, a techno- least. It did not show any mercy to the world, logical marvel—the ‘webinar’. What a miracle so why should it be shown any mercy by us? it is! I participated, I do not know in how many of them. And on how many diverse subjects! 2 And more and more are lined up for me. Spon- News of people dying was pouring in. The sors were in London, Toronto, Melbourne, figure was rising every day, and alongside Dhaka—and I talked gleefully to people with hundreds of thousands of unknown across the seven seas, which was an exciting people all over the world, some of our very experience. Who could have ever thought own people, Professor Anusuzzaman, our that the online technology would bring so former President Pranab Mukherjee, beloved many dear friends from across the continents actor Saumitra Chatterjee—and quite a few together, friends I had never known before? others died, remorselessly hit by COVID-19, I have also done many other things online and our world became so much poorer : took classes at universities, promoted people without them. to the higher grade in service, submitted I however decided to ‘live’ and work, reports on doctoral dissertations—outside Corona or no Corona. I do not know why an West Bengal and India. I also gave several urge of writing limericks came over me with interviews on my personal life online, and lec- the onset of the pandemic. I began posting tured on various topics like pronunciation of

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 13 Octogenarian's View

Bangla, Bangla metrics, and linguistics. Partici- my daughters and students could not visit pation in other programmes on centenarians me. But I received hundreds of wishes over like Satyajit Ray, paying homage to dear and telephone and facebook and that in a way departed ones like Professor Anisuzzaman, compensated for the lack of festivity. Soumitra Chatterjee and others should also Corona also gave this exhilarating realiza- be duly recorded. tion that hundreds of people are concerned about my well-being—not just my relations, but my students, friends, and even people 3 whom I do not know personally. Almost every And I banged away on my computer key- day I receive calls from far and near, often board to write papers, articles, and chapters from unfamiliar voices—How’re you, Sir! I say, of books I planned, corrected proofs. One I’m fine, don’t you worry about me. They say, creates one’s own mature life, of course with we do worry, Sir. We want you to be with us, the help of many others, although this life among us, as long as we want. comes to dictate terms to one later. I have also Absurd words, but so pleasing! This is what become obedient to the commands of my I owe to COVID-19. life. In 2020 Corona deprived me of the small Does that sound inhuman or unpatriotic? celebration I usually have of my birthday, as If that does, I am sorry. But I speak the truth.

14 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Mapping the Mind

The Locked Down Elderly Brains Subhamita Maitra Senior Researcher, Mahidol University, Thailand

“If life is to be sustained, hope must re- of these mental and physical functions. main” – this brilliant statement by the famous What we talk about brain as a whole is psychologist Erik Erikson reminds us about a quite different from what it is as a union of very basic need, “hope”. Hope is the driving different molecular entities. So there can force of our mundane life. Apparently we be two distinct approaches to understand think that success-failure, joy-sorrow, desire- how a brain works. So from bottom to top, it despair, all of these are components of our traverses from gene to protein to cell to tis- thought process which has very limited ca- sue to system to phenotype. It means what pability to penetrate our bodily fitness, and we see as an effect is actually a product of so we often ignore our mental hurdles. But a series of inter-related chain of correlated it is not the case, our mind can influence our and diverse episodes at the molecular level. body and vice-versa. In the physiological sys- Therefore, it is often very hard to exactly tem, there are some organs, some processes identify the underlying profound molecular that are regulated without our conscious ef- problems. For an example, forgetfulness is fort, but there are also many things that we related to unmindfulness, is also related to consciously regulate. Our mind has a very oxygen deficiency, is in addition related to firm grip on such bodily functions. And very pathological condition and is related to aging importantly, it is our brain that governs most too. If we consider forgetfulness as an effect,

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 15 Mapping the Mind within brain there are several micro dynamic level and disrupts normal functioning of changes making it to happen. Neuronal cells selected brain regions. However, Alzheimer’s or the neuron interact with each other at disease clinically falls under a major group of junction called synapse. If this interaction is diseases knowns as dementia. Alzheimer’s hampered due to alteration in gene/RNA/pro- disease is possibly the most prevalent form teins, one neuron cannot pass on the signal of dementia. The concept of dementia was to the next one. And so the flow of impulse developed more than hundred years ago. is disrupted, destroying bigger network and Dementia in general means a pathological leading to inadequate functional response. condition characterized by progressive loss We see inadequacy as inefficient memory of memory along with other deficits in higher recall or forgetfulness. In another way, brain order mental function. But its causative fac- functions as a network of different and similar tors can be different, often it happens due smaller networks. Each such smaller network to brain stroke (vascular dementia), often is in turn composed of many nodes together. it is manifested later in Parkinson’s disease, Each node is composed of many cells, each often it happens due to traumatic experience, cell is composed DNA, RNA, protein. So from often also happens due to brain injury and system to cell, a forgetfulness can happen infections. In case of Alzheimer’s disease, it when there is an altered connectivity in its is associated with voluminous cell loss from constituting smaller network, when other frontal cortex, the frontier area of brain and smaller networks dominate the memory can be readily revealed through a brain scan. related networks, both of which may be a Dr. Aloysius Alöis Alzheimer first modelled this result of overactive or idle synapse, meaning disorder by silver staining his patient Auguste improper cellular functions. So the journey Deter’s brain following her demise. from cell to system or vice-versa is quiet While at the behavioural level, Alzheimer’s complicated, involving different levels of fit disease causes forgetfulness of daily activities, in/fit out procedures. inability to recall near and dear ones, getting Now we shall extend this discussion messed up with self-management, lack of mo- into some deeper levels. Let’s begin with a tivation and often neuro-psychiatric symp- disorder of forgetfulness. I know that most toms including restlessness, depression, anxi- of you would guess the name, yes it is what ety, oppositional behaviors and psychosis. At comes into your mind, “Alzheimer’s disease”, molecular level, it causes protein aggregation, a disease of old age, caused by massive loss protein misfolding, synaptic atrophy, inflam- of brain cells, manifested as a disorder of mation, all cumulatively leading to abrupt impaired memory, self-regulation and self- neuronal loss. In 2014, worldwide prevalence sufficiency. But I would bring here two more rate of Alzheimer’s disease was around 44 terms, depression and anxiety. These two also million. The projected count is even three lead to loss of memory, mis-oriented idea of times more in 2050. Such steep increase of self and functional incapability. So loss of disease frequency is certainly alarming! But, memory does not necessarily mean Alzheim- unfortunately, this disease is not yet curable. er’s disease. The initial stage of memory loss is As I explained earlier how a biological effect known as mild cognitive impairment, which has multidimensional perspectives, it is dif- is actually very common in aging individuals. ficult to join the one piece of information to Often mild cognitive impairment remains, another to make a continuous line from gene as it is causing not much hindrance in day to behaviour. However, researchers are giving to day life. But once it starts progressing, it their tireless effort to bridge the gaps. A very penetrates more and more. In case of Al - important challenge in joining the gaps is zheimer’s disease, it does go into the deepest environmental influence. Environmental cues

16 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Mapping the Mind guide our brain to react accordingly. Similarly, decaying. But this pandemic related stress whatever response we give to an external is additionally eating up from inside every stimulus always involves our nervous system. moment. This extreme level of stress is not Thus environmental and biological processes only due to COVID-19 terror itself, but also interact intimately often making the whole the indirect effect of prolonged home con- effect inseparable. In the beginning, I men- finement, sudden change in daily schedule, tioned about hope and then I talked about lack of physical exercises, limited interaction some pair of conflicting mental states. All and socialization that otherwise happen in these traits either positively or negatively normal scenario.This barring effect is be - influence stress response. For example, happi- coming detrimental for aging brains. A very ness rejoices success, reduces stress response accurate quantitative estimate of how much while too much worry, sorrow, failure act as this stress is affecting brain’s health is not yet stressors. In another way, stress can also cre- clear, but reports from all over the world have ate all these mental states in either way. If you suggested a strong upright in mental illness are stressed, you will feel less happy and you including dementia-like symptoms. How- will worry more. Stress can lead to inatten- ever, a very crucial fact is that symptomatic tiveness, forgetfulness, reduced adjustability, manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease has its functional incapability, finally causing depres- own course of time, thus early detection and sion, anxiety and dementia. A number of re- effective rehabilitation are often challeng- search works has suggested that stress plays ing. Therefore, the extent of silent damage is a pioneering role in provoking Alzheimer’s beyond anyone’s correct appreciation. So, the disease. Stress can disturb hormonal balance, present unnoticeable brain decay can express immunological system, cellular rejuvenation. itself as a gigantic mental health burden in Therefore, mental stress is an uneasiness, that near future. While paying attention to every is mostly modulated by environmental and single guideline to be safe against COVID-19, social factors, but intimately related to our we should also take good care of our mental brain function. health, so that we stay stronger and stress During this COVID-19 pandemic, people cannot guide brain into wrong direction. are too much stressed! An initial worry for Physical exercise, analytical games, mak- being infected has continued to many differ- ing ideas, creativity, learning new things pro- ent extents. Now people are not only tensed vide nutrition to our brain. It helps to connect about how to escape from the disease, but brain cells, it helps to strengthen networks also they are desperately eager to restore and help us to grow by mind. Healthy mind at their normal life practices. Starting from any age is a prerequisite. Stress free, energetic school going children to senior citizens, all brains are better fighter of dementia. Thus we are spending their days in utter discomfort. must try our best to steer clear from stress- Short-phased stress often improves perfor- ing ourselves. What ill treatment our brain mance, but prolonged stress dampens our receives today will be reflected in future. So capacity. Especially at old age, individuals suf- to restrict another epidemic of dementia and fer from many geriatric issues; body becomes mental disorders in future, we should now more vulnerable to infection, all the systems carefully execute health monitoring strate- work little sluggish, brain cells naturally start gies for COVID-19 pandemic at present.

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 17 Mapping the Mind

Boredom: Plaguing Youth during Pandemic Chandrima Biswas Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Government General Degree College, Singur

“... our labour preserves us from three great evils—weariness, vice, and want.” Voltaire, Candide

The term 'boredom' is usually understood well-being. We admitted this fact recently, as a state of disinterestedness. In popular especially during the pandemic caused by assumption, it is perceived as a matter of COVID-19. Lockdown imprisoned us inside privilege, if not luxury or even an imagined our own home and brought the modern state of mind. It is often viewed as a fairly social life to a halt like nothing else ever trivial and temporary discomfort that can did, and probably, ever would. This sudden be alleviated by a simple change in situation incarceration and its monotony have also af- (Eastwood et al.: 2012). For this reason, bore- fected a particular section of the population, dom is frequently considered inconsequen- perceived as the most cherished phase of tial and has received relatively less attention life, the young people. Youth, as a particular from scholars (Bench and Lench: 2013). Yet category of life, is characterized by alterna- there is no denial to the fact that the experi- tive phases of stimulation and boredom. ence of boredom is deeply connected to our Imposition of Lockdown created a unique and

18 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Mapping the Mind unprecedented condition for them marked by factors influencing boredom have been stud- enormous amount of monotony. ied thoroughly, its social conditions are yet to be explored extensively. There is not much As it happens recognition to and/or discussion on the fact The ideal feeling of boredom can be de- that boredom is not an interpersonal state, scribed as “...one feels the everyday as the bor- but a social emotion which is influenced by ing prison from which one wishes to escape” cultural and organisational norms/rules, the (Gardiner and Haladyn: 2017). Yet the most individual’s position in the social structure, common reaction to the statement “I am get- and interaction processes (Olheimer et al.: ting bored” is that the concerned individual 2020). is an irresponsible person who is not taking much interest to the troubles others are go- Life is dull, the young complains ing through. The inability of the individual Youth is a phase of life which, in common is often viewed as something intentional as perception, is marked by vitality, vigour and few recognise the fact that the very feeling of an intense urge to achieve something remark- boredom is characterised actually by having able. During this time, young people push no intention or purpose at all. barriers, take on new roles and responsibili- Boredom, as previous studies suggest, is ties, and increasingly become more reliant on a prevalent emotion with potential negative their peers and less so on their parents and consequences. It can also be described as caregivers. As the time periods of entering an interim state, which is often linked to an adulthood and doing a course in college over- absence of external stimulation or challenge. lap, college days are often described as the Scholars have found that contextual factors most desirable time in the life of an individual. such as monotony, repetitiveness, lack of This enjoyable stage has however expe- novelty, low task identity, having little to do, rienced a setback, like every other sphere and too simple tasks are important causes of of life, as the pandemic caused by COVID-19 boredom. It may sometimes instigate posi- disrupted and transformed the world as we tive behaviours such as challenge-seeking, knew it. The implementation of Lockdown reflection, creativity, and pro-social behav- caused total closure of every organisation and iour. More commonly it is associated with institution to minimise face to face interac- negative outcomes such as attention prob- tion in order to reduce the risk of infection. lems, reduced motivation and effort, poor Educational institutions were also closed performance, counterproductive behaviour, immediately. As a result, students were left in unhealthy eating, depressed feelings, dis- a situation where they had no other option satisfaction, frustration, and distress— both but to stay at home, devoid of any face to face for individuals and society. Similarly, there is interaction with people whom they used to qualitative evidence that experiential aspects meet almost every day in pre-pandemic time. associated with boredom include both high During the first phase of nationwide arousal feelings such as restlessness and Lockdown, the author interviewed (over frustration, and low arousal feelings such as telephone only) young college students depression, fatigue, and sadness (Hooft and (average age 18-21 years) enrolled in various Hoof: 2018). It can also pose a severe risk to academic institutions in Kolkata and also our health, both psychological and physical. residing in Kolkata. When asked to describe In recognition of the importance of this feel- their experience about overall situation ing, in recent years, more and more research- caused by pandemic, respondents report ers have begun to investigate the topic of about a feeling which is different from, boredom. However, while the psychological though not completely unrelated to, two

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 19 Mapping the Mind much celebrated concepts— first, Marxian monotony of physical environment could notion of alienation and second, loneliness not be broken at all. Respondents are literally as mentioned in psychological discourse. locked inside their apartment or house. Even Alienation implies, in Marx’s view, an action a visit to the terrace was viewed as risky to or a state through which a person becomes their physical well-being. alienated to the results or products of its own There was complete lack of event which activity; to the nature in which it lives; to other set the tone of boredom to the highest human beings and to its own historically cre- string. Young people, whose discussion ated human possibilities (Bottomore: 1985). usually revolves around their daily activi- Loneliness is the unpleasant feeling a person ties, have run out of topics to talk about. In experiences when his/her network of social their opinion the issue of pandemic was relations is deficient either quantitatively or too grim to be their centre of attention. qualitatively (Perlman and Peplau: 1982). But Also, no other pleasant event of their inter- the feeling described by the young students est—sports, entertainment, travelling— was is characterised by an overwhelming pres- taking place. The survey was conducted at a ence of monotony and boredom from which time when online classes just began and any one finds little room to escape. If one goes announcement about examination from the through their daily routine during this period concerned authority was yet to come. Under can see the source of monotony through the such circumstances students were unsure of eyes of these young adults. the fact that how the knowledge inculcated College students belong to the age group through online mode was going to benefit where domestic chores, that is, responsi - them, and/or how their performance would bilities of household tasks do not constitute be evaluated. Such feeling of aimlessness was a significant part of their daily activities. Even instrumental in producing boredom among when they participate, they are not allowed college students. It is in congruence with the to make decisions regarding this. Rather they findings of previous studies in this area that are expected to follow instructions of elder boredom is a feeling, an emotion that signals members so that the physical burden on the lack of progress towards goals that individu- latter can be reduced. als consider supremely important in their In usual circumstances, young people lives. The tasks that one perceives as useless spend substantial amount of time outside or unchallenging, and that do not serve any home. Most of their interaction with peers is purpose towards personally meaningful goals developed around the academic institution. produce boredom (Hooft and Hoof: 2018). The sudden closure of colleges has left them in limbo. Young people form, maintain, even Vacation is good because it ends modify their relationships through activities Literature about boredom also suggests which are primarily scheduled keeping the that people experience a slowing down of structure and function of academic institu- time while they are engulfed heavily by this tions in mind. Even coaching classes, which feeling of monotony, partly caused by lack of do not enjoy the formal status of colleges, activity, sleeping difficulties, and the negative serve the purpose of providing an excuse feeling of being less happy (Martinelli et al.: to meet friends or going out. Lockdown re- 2021). However, the participants from these moved both the opportunities. studies reported that they had more time for Since all the respondents the author in- themselves, yet they were unable to focus terviewed reside in urban areas, there is very on the present, i.e., with little capability to little physical space for them to move around concentrate on positive thoughts. This state- compared to their rural counterparts. This ment echoed the feelings of the respondents

20 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Mapping the Mind of the survey the author conducted. It is pos- not ensure utilisation of time in the common- sible that anxiety might have prevented them est sense of the term. The young mind here from focusing on the simple pleasures of the becomes and behaves like the bird which present moment. Such a break from normal is released from the cage but has forgotten routine is never viewed as equivalent to holi- flying no matter how bright and blue the sky day or vacation. It is due to the fact that there might appear. is no certainty about when the old routine and lifestyle can be restored. In this situation References helplessness and hopelessness increase the Bench, Shane W. and Heather C. Lench, 2013, “On feeling of boredom. the Function of Boredom”, Behavioral Sciences, Events— their beginning, continuation 3: 459-72. and ending are important markers of time, Bottomore, Tom (Ed.),1985, A Dictionary of Marxist though popularly believed to be the other Thought, Oxford: Blackwell Reference. Eastwood John D., Alexandra Frischen, Mark J. way round. Occurrence of events, prepara- Fenske and Daniel Smilek, 2012, “The Unen- tion towards it, anticipation of it, response gaged Mind: Defining Boredom in Terms of to it and reminiscence of it design our life. Attention”, Perspectives on Psychological Science, Time itself becomes immaterial if there is no 7 (5): 482 –95. event to take place. Eventless time or absence Gardiner, Michael E. and Julian Jason Haladyn of incidents that one views as events creates (Eds.), 2017, Boredom Studies Reader, New York: void for the individual, where the feeling of Routledge. time becomes meaningless. One needs to Hooft, Edwin A. J. van and Madelon L. M. van Hooff, train oneself in order to be master of one’s 2018, “The State of Boredom: Frustrating or De- own time — that is, submerging oneself in pressing?”, Motivation and Emotion, 42, 931-46. doing something that one really enjoys do- Martinelli, Natalia, Sandrine Gil, Clément Belletier, Johann Chevalère, Guillaume Dezecache, Pascal ing thereby making oneself to forget about Huguet and Sylvie Droit-Volet, 2021, “Time and time. In the unprecedented and negative Emotion during Lockdown and the COVID-19 atmosphere about Lockdown, one cannot be Epidemic: Determinants of Our Experience of expected to be equipped with such power as Time?”, Frontiers in Psychology, doi: 10.3389/ the whole design of Lockdown neither was fpsyg.2020.616169. planned and nor was implemented by the Ohlmeier, Silke, Mariusz Finkielsztein and Holger people. Rather it was something imposed Pfaff, 2020, “Why We are Bored: Towards a So- by the authority. Under these circumstances, ciological Approach to Boredom”, Sociological only having an abundant amount of time, Spectrum, 40(3), 208-25. devoid of any enjoyable activity and distant Peplau, L. A. and D. Perlman (Eds.), 1982, Loneliness: from conventional forms of interaction, does A Sourcebook of Current Theory, Research and Therapy, New York: Wiley-Interscience.

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 21 Mapping the Mind

Counselling in Corona Times Satyajit Das Gupta Director, Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Counselling (Affiliated to University of Calcutta), Legal Aid Services – West Bengal

It's almost axiomatically true that coun- of habitation for a very long time and many selling is and should be all about emotion of whom have also been struggling to free management and it also has now been uni- themselves from the shackles of such in - versally accepted that these corona times carceration after a while to breathe freely in have generated unprecedented upheavals what medical experts have called 'an air of in human emotions and feelings across cul- willful negligence and callousness' in a seem- tures and systems of civil arrangement and ingly never-ending continuum of lockdown- political governance. COVID-19 has proved unlockdown and relockdown. The changing to be a tsunami of distortions in human phases and proportions of uncertainty have relationships. There have been tremendous turned out to be the greatest of stressors and inversions and reversals of trust and under- even the medically equipped professionals standing among men, women and children have recognized it in no uncertain terms. of all societies, whom the disease has trapped It will be some time before post-acute and incarcerated within their very own spaces COVID-19 disorders are sufficiently studied

22 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Mapping the Mind

and enough consensus in understanding The second example was that of a totally them is achieved for the fog to clear, and for home-bound wife who was getting severely clarity in better guiding medical diagnosis stressed on account of an increasing fear of and treatment. But this is not the time for the getting infected by her husband who was tongue-in-cheek axiom, “Don't just do some- going out to work in a public sector bank thing, stand there.” The acute and persistent and was also moving around quite causally debilities of COVID-19 will discombobulate in the locality, interacting with a fairly good clinicians and vex their decision making, number of neighbours pretty often in utter when such individuals know they must act.1 violation of all the safety protocols people It also has come to stand pretty much were supposed to follow in public and also obvious to a huge number of practising disregarding the ones advised for people clinicians and psychological counsellors that entering homes after having contacts out- this progressively burgeoning pandemic- side. I discovered the husband to be very generated fear and uncertainty have indeed dominating and almost compelling the wife created a veritable ground for all kinds of to go for intercourse in much the same way interventionist stress-management endeav- as patriarchal and chauvinistic middle-aged our. Let me cite two pointed examples from men force their unwilling wives to one-sided my own professional experience and then conjugal activities. This, too, was a case of move on to a general plain of analysis of the tele-counselling as neither I was having any same: “Sometime in the month of October, face-to-face sessions at this point in time nor 2020, I had an opportunity of interacting with were my clients inclined to disclose to their a rather concerned and yet visibly worried stress-generating intimate partners, wife or husband, a heterosexual man in his mid-40s, husband, that they were upset and fearful who contacted me with an acute symptom of what was happening in their marital lives. of a combination of marked indigestion and They wanted to hide their seeking counsel- sleep disturbance, to seek counselling for a ling even from their parents and other close marital discomfort caused by his reluctance relatives and friends and in fact, were trying to have sex with his wife who was a paramedic to pretend as if nothing had happened. in a city-based private nursing home where This is just one part of what Corona has she was also handling COVID patients. After done to alter and / or even destroy the bal- having done a bit of couple therapy, I found ance or sanity, the more conservative ones that the man, an IT professional attending would even go up to the extent of using the home office, had become rather fearful of word 'sanctity', of rationally orchestrated even sharing bed with his wife who was quite conjugality and marital comfort, necessitat- willing to lead a normal conjugal life. He even ing at the same time the maintenance of a told me that although his wife was duly aware public image of normalcy and coherence, and sensitized in matters of COVID, it was dif- all or much of which does keep mounting ficult, if not almost impossible, to ascertain a critical amount of stress and anxiety upon that she was COVID-free at any given point many couples of the sorts I have mentioned in time and hence a fear of the risk of getting above in these times of the pandemic, which infected would always exist at the back of his counsellors are finding very problematic to mind to spoil the pleasure of even softcore handle. It has come to put a huge question body plays. This was also the time when mark upon the very element of trust or faith many people had become somewhat better upon which depends the practice of safe and informed about a COVID-infected person happy conjugality. remaining asymptomatic and yet infecting It goes without saying that it will take quite others in full vigour. a while for mental health practitioners and

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 23 Mapping the Mind

academics to pile up authentic data on this abuse, much of which hasn't been quite in- aspect of Corona-generated troubled and herently amenable to any effective interven- / or fractured conjugality I am referring to. tions of counsellors. While the perpetrators, But it's also encouraging that a fairly size- almost all of whom were insiders as usual, had able literature already exists on how cases complete surveillance and control over the of domestic violence have had a marked movements of their victims during the period rise especially during the early as well as of the successive lockdowns, the subsequent advanced phases of lockdowns when the unlockdowns kept unsettling and harming perpetrators and victims of family and inti- the latter with a plethora of reckless and neg- mate partner violence got confined within ligent behaviors of the former that were also the same dwelling space. This is the other the outcomes of desperation and disruptions part of what Corona has done to marital and the pandemic has generated in abundance in a host of other family relationships in homes an economy and a society, both of which have that were already prone to violence against become unrecognizably malfunctioning and women and girls in particular or deteriorat- atomized. Counsellors are finding it acutely ing mental health conditions in general as problematic to empathize with their clients manifested in high incidence of depression who are coming with unrecognizable 'drop- and anxiety and a range of other mental lets and aerosols of excessively fragmentary discomforts caused by COVID-induced fear, emotional disturbances' that are infecting uncertainty and stress.2 families and communities in much the same The continually increasing number of way as COVID-19 still continues to play havoc domestic violence and other mental abuse- with people the world over. related cases was already exerting a huge pressure upon the mental health care systems Notes and References on a global scale, which found clear mention 1. The Many Faces of COVID-19: Managing Uncer- in a survey done by the World Health Orga- tainty, Lloyd I Sederer, The Lancet Psychiatry, nization in the early days of October, 2020.3 January 28, 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/ It also highlighted the 'urgent need to S2215-0366(21)00031-6, at https://www.thel- increase investment' in the 'chronically under- ancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215- 0366(21)00031-6/fulltext (forthcoming in Vol. funded' mental health sector. In this situation 8, Issue 3, P187-188, March 01, 2021); of an 'imminent collapse of infrastructural and 2. Relationship Quality and Mental Health dur- human resource bases of mental health care ing COVID-19 Lockdown, Christoph Pieh ,Te- systems', professional psychotherapists were resa O´Rourke,Sanja Budimir,Thomas Probst, strongly urged to discharge their functions as PLOS ONE, September 11, 2020 at https://doi. comprehensively as possible: org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238906; Factors we are uniquely qualified to explore with Influencing Mental Health During COVID-19 our patients the psychological sequelae of Outbreak: An Exploratory Survey Among social isolation, job loss, fears of contagion, Indian Population, Absar Ahmad, Ishrat Rah- and grief. It is our privilege and obligation man and Maitri Agarwal, medRxiv (The Pre - to support patients going through major life print Server for Health Sciences), doi: https:// doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.03.20081380 [Now changes related to the pandemic, helping published in Journal of Health Sciences doi: them to grapple with the upheaval that has 10.17532/jhsci.2020.950]; Anxiety Responses been thrust upon all of us. With us, they can to the Unfolding COVID-19 Crisis: Patterns of be seen, heard, and held in mind.4 Change in the Experience of Prolonged Expo- Let me once again come back to my own sure to Stressors, Fu, S. (Q.), Greco, L. M., Len- real-life encounters with these cases of do- nard, A. C., & Dimotakis, N., Journal of Applied mestic and other forms of family violence and Psychology, 106(1), 2021, pp.48-61at http://

24 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Mapping the Mind dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000855; Locked-down: 5wKeI7wIV1Q0rCh0HRQzmEAAYASAAEg- Domestic Violence Reporting in India during KQWfD_BwE; What India's Lockdown Did to COVID-19, Gender Justice, Kanika Arora and Domestic Abuse Victims, June 2, 2020 by BBC Shubham Kumar Jain, 03 Aug, 2020, in OXFAM, Telugu’s Padma Meenakshi, BBC NEWS, India India - A Movement to End Discrimination at at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia- https://www.oxfamindia.org/blog/locked- india-52846304; Locked in: What the COVID-19 down-domestic-violence-reporting-india- Pandemic Spells for Survivors of Domestic during-COVID-19?gclid=Cj0KCQiAst2BBhD- Violence, Anjali K K Shubha Ranganathan, JARIsAGo2ldVMWCmt0OZg6nUby_PW49fE- EPW Engage,Vol. 55, Issue No. 32-33, 08 Aug, hgaQW1e1_HRTc4jZtmjw35yeai5wsrUaAv- 2020; Stay Home, Stay Safe: Interrogating PEALw_wcB; COVID-19 Lockdown Surges Violence in the Domestic Sphere, Rukmini Nationwide Domestic, Moumita De Das, April Sen, EPW Engage, Vol. 55, Issue No. 25, 20 Jun, 11, 2020 in Adamas University's Portal 'CORO- 2020 at https://www.epw.in/engage/article/ NAVIRUS' at http://adamasuniversity.ac.in/ stay-home-stay-safe-interrogating-violence; COVID-19-lockdown-surges-nationwide- 3. 'COVID-19 Disrupting Mental Health Services in domestic-violence/; Violence against Women Most Countries', Release from the WHO, October and Girls: The Shadow Pandemic, Statement by 5, 2020 at COVID-19 disrupting mental health Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director services in most countries, WHO survey ; of UN Women in UN WOMEN's Portal at https:// 4. The Role of Psychotherapy during the COVID-19 www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/4/ Pandemic, Holly A. Swartz, The American statement-ed-phumzile-violence-against-wom- Journal of Psychotherapy, Published Online:9 en-during-pandemic?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI07- Jun, 2020 at https://doi.org/10.1176/appi. psychotherapy.20200015.

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 25 Mapping the Mind

Trials and Triumphs of Students with Autism During 2020 Mitu De Secretary, Autism Society WB & Associate Professor and Head, Dept. of Botany, Gurudas College

The year 2020 was like no other. For stu- all adapted themselves with the technology dents of the Dikshan unit of Autism Society available. Our students, for whom any change West Bengal 2020 was a year of trials and is quite stressful, have shown us they can cope triumphs. School was closed from 16th March, up with reasonable accommodations. On 2nd 2020 in compliance with the State Govt. noti- April, 2020, World Autism Awareness Day fication. Later a 21-day nationwide Lockdown (WAAD) was celebrated differently. Students was announced from 25th March, 2020. In made posters which were posted in our Face- order to instil a sense of normalcy, parents book page. The long days of the lockdown un- of the students were encouraged to keep the leashed the latent creativity among the bud- students engaged. The long months of prac- ding artists of our school. Beautiful artwork ticing ADL in the table top paid off as most was created for WAAD. Physical distancing in students did amazingly well in the household the times of Corona could not dampen the chores. The special educators advised parents spirit of the YAAR (Young Adults with Autism on increasing the visual supports required by Reach out) participants. The 1st online YAAR the students. Students spent time on their held on 2nd May, 2020 was a great success. It favourite leisure activities. Special educa- paved the way for more online events. ASWB tors used Social stories to convey the safety hosted the first Face book Watch Party on 17th protocols that needed to be followed. Hand May, 2020; the online ’Rabindra Nazrul Sand- washing, using hand sanitizers, wearing hya’ offering tribute to Rabindranath Tagore masks became a part of the curriculum dur- and Kazi Nazrul Islam. Rabindra Sangeet and ing online classes. Knowledge empowers so Nazrul Geeti and poems of these two great the special educators presented information writers were used in the cultural programme. about the Corona virus using models, charts Pictures of the students in various roles appro- and other visual supports so that the student priate to the song/poem chosen were shared knew why everything was different. by the parents. These pictures were used by During the second quarter of 2020 Autism ASWB technical support team to make videos Society West Bengal (ASWB) embarked on for the FB Watch party. Online Occupational a new journey. Someone once said change Therapy classes and Online Yoga were intro- is the only constant. Special educators of duced. Art and craft was introduced during ASWB were trying to adapt to the changes online classes too. Students commemorated that lockdown had brought into our lives. World Environment Day by using their creativ- ASWB started online classes for all students of ity to make posters. the Dikshan and Aarohan units in early April, As Lockdown gave away to Unlock phase 2020. Teachers, students, office staff, parents during July to September, 2020 there was

26 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Mapping the Mind introduction of various new online pro - students on maintaining safety protocols grammes; online yoga and exercise classes, even though we were going through Unlock online group activities along with the exist- phase. Independence Day and Teachers’ Day ing programmes. ASWB management team were celebrated online. wanted their students to experience all the During the last quarter of 2020 more ex- typical school activi- ties as far as possible despite all schools remaining closed due to COVID-19. So they had online Independence Day & Teacher’s Day celebration. The Monsoon camp in July was a fun filled event. There were virtual tours, story- telling sessions, Bol- lywood Dhamaka Students enjoying the online Christmas Party where popular film songs were played. The songs that were citing online group activities were held. Just played were according to the choice of stu- before the Durga Puja there was a virtual tour dents. During online baking class students of the Pujas in the districts. The special educa- had fun making and eating cookies. Group tors many of whom were from the districts classes were introduced so that the students compiled a neat video on their neighbour- could see their classmates. Students were hood Puja. Online Bijoya Celebration with elated to meet their friends online during videos of the idol immersions fascinated the students. There was an Online Christmas Party with real cakes and carols. Dur- ing Saraswati Puja in February 2021 there was a live screening of a small scale puja that actu- ally took place in the school. The students participated on- Online storytelling session line. This day was group classes. Group classes were fun as made memorable when pictures of the past there were games, lucky draw and other fun Saraswati Puja were presented for them. As activities. However, the teachers reminded the vaccination process started the special

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 27 Mapping the Mind educators prepare lessons on vaccination. efforts which resulted in a seamless teaching The online YAAR was held every month methodology during these difficult times. But with various topics for the ‘adda’ sessions. their efforts could not be fruitful unless the During YAAR young adults, both with and students and their families cooperated too. without autism gather online for an ‘adda’ ‘Being flexible’ acquired a whole new session. Topics ranged from Food and foodies, dimension in 2020 for students, teachers Favourite Tour destinations, Remembering R and parents of the Dikshan unit of Autism D Barman, Valentine’s Day & Saraswati Puja. Society West Bengal. These were unprec - Non-verbal students got the opportunity to edented times where everyone needed to participate whole heartedly sharing Power- adapt and learn new skills. Lockdown and Point presentations. social distancing made everyone realise how During 2020 the school management difficult it was to remain isolated from friends body tried to make sure that the students and community. It was made everyone realise experienced all those activities that would how technology can bridge the distance and take place in school during the pre COVID-19 people from everywhere could be together days. After these long months the students virtually. 2020 was a test to see if we could were habituated with this online mode of embrace the new while remembering the interaction. They had adapted to the New old. These students amazed everyone by Normal beautifully. But this transition to this their flexibility and resilience. Their attitude method had its fair share of trials. But the has given many parents a lot of hope that special educators devised ingenious methods their children have the power to adapt and to tackle any difficulty. It was their sincere triumph in the face of adversity. Hope gives the strength to face the future with a smile.

28 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Online Learning

Building Our Resilience: Practising Agility in the Realm of New Generation Teaching-Learning Platform

Sanchita Goswami Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Calcutta

When we are hit by the unprecedented Arguably, the most demanding question COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020, we in this pandemic time is how to maximize knew that we have to find a sustainable re- students’ involvement as well as engage - placement for face-to-face interactive physi- ment in online teaching where experimental cal class hours. We’are displaced from our sciences provide an additional dimension in comfort zone of conventional physical class- this new genre. We must remember that it is room and laboratory teaching with a quick not a new concept to employ soft mode of shift to online teaching-learning environment communication during a Science course in in this trying time of COVID-19. Earlier, we the form of YouTube videos, 1, 2 curated videos, used to consider digital mode as a supple- 3, 4 photo blogs with bar code, 5 various apps mentary alternative; but the current scenario and blogs6, 7 to aid learning in the distance served as an eye-opener. Our conventional mode of classes, understanding of difficult mode of teaching needs to get evolved and concepts etc. A well accepted digital learning more adaptable as it requires new ways to platform “‘Study Webs of Active Learning for communicate and disperse knowledge to the Young Aspiring Minds’ (SWAYAM) was initi- students. But laboratory based disciplines like ated by The Ministry of Education, Govern- Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geology, Phys- ment of India from July, 2017 spanning wide ics and others demand special attention as varieties of courses from 9th grade school till hands-on experiments cannot be substituted post-graduation.8 by online mode. Being accustomed to online teaching- Agility learning mode, regardless of our physical This is especially true considering the shift location, is the most powerful skill we can towards physical-to-virtual platform which have. So, let’s learn to navigate through the demands communication in more dynamic world of online classes and tutorials. Online and exciting ways. The scientific community teaching-learning mode equipped with a had to design study materials for the allotted stable internet connection means we can syllabi in terms of online lectures and tutorials succeed from anywhere. We must admit that with the available technologies to offer com- both online teaching and learning i.e. both pletely online mode of delivering knowledge. way traffic, demands specialized skills. From YouTube and Google Classroom to

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 29 Online Learning

Zoom to Google Meets to Microsoft Teams, sessions can be designed by providing pho- there are many different platforms that offer tographs and videos of the experiments. The targeted tools. Concerted lecture series can students would observe the reactions/proce- be created in Google Classroom in a super dures, analyze the data whenever applicable organized way. Encouragingly, this virtual and a post-experiment worksheet will follow engagement enabled deeper discussions and for calculations leading to inference. However, greater student confidence. So, at the end of students did not have the opportunity of the day, something more creative emerged experiencing these real experiments by them- that reflected “teaching-learning” in a more selves. As a result, there is scope for skepti- flexible and cre- cism among the ative way. To in- academicians re- fuse more and garding the qual- more teaching ity of knowledge value, let’s weave imparted by the the content with virtual platform a goal of creating in the field of intrinsically mo- practical hands- tivating experi- on experiments. ences for the stu- For the advanced dents. A carefully level students, crafted content is demonstration the most crucial videos on opera- step and it should tions of sophisti- be captivating so cated laboratory that students feel instruments, with a personal con- a regular update nection. During keeping with the content creation, upgradation of we have to re - the instrument’s member that features and visual/graphics software will be strategies (like helpful. orbital pictures, The assess- molecular orbital diagrams, clusters, organic ment is an important and inherent part of reaction mechanisms etc.) are important any curricula. The assessment mechanism elements as it is going to represent my chalk- can be based on online written examination, and-board work. There are ample scopes for an online quiz for each topic, and practical creating amazing graphics along with anima- examinations may involve online laboratory tion (mainly for structure and bonding part of quizes and online worksheets with a given a Chemistry course) which can be material- set of experimental data. Assessing practical ized by establishing a solid digital foundation. skills is again the most difficult part. With a good number of efficient free design tools available in the internet, the course Light at the End structure can be customized in a facile way. In short, to welcome this new generation The laboratory experiments pose a real learning mode, we must find a balance be- challenge to the scenario. In lieu of the hands- tween providing digital avenues to the stu- on experimental possibilities, laboratory dents to explore on their own and stepping

30 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Online Learning in to offer personalized guidance whenever References necessary, i.e. the need of the hour is an op- 1. D. K. Smith, “iTube, YouTube, WeTube: Social timized blending of digitization and human Media Videos in Chemistry Education and touch. We have to keep in mind that online Outreach”, Journal of Chemical Education, 2014, teaching is not only about uploading journal 91(10), 1594-1599. and books in PDF; it is about empowering the 2. J. S. Ranga, “Customized Videos on a YouTube students to utilize this mode to the fullest so Channel: A Beyond the Classroom Teaching that they are well versed with the technologi- and Learning Platform for General Chemistry cal aspects as well. Courses”, Journal of Chemical Education, 2017, It is worth noting in this context that the 94(7), 867-872. 3. Y. He, S. Swenson, N. Lents, “Online Video Tutori- Journal of Chemical Education published by als Increase Learning of Difficult Concepts in an the American Chemical Society has designed Undergraduate Analytical Chemistry Course” a special issue on “Insights Gained While Journal of Chemical Education, 2012, 89(9), Teaching Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19” 1128-1132. with insightful articles.9 Interestingly, in 2017, 4. R. Ramachandran, E. M. Sparck, M. Levis- Thomson and co-authors had published Fitzgerald, “Investigating the Effective - an explorative article “Efficacy of Online ness of Using Application-Based Science Laboratory Science Courses” to suggest the Education Videos in a General Chemistry Lecture possibility and potential of virtual laboratory Course”, Journal of Chemical Education, 2019, sessions.10 96(3), 479-485. This unprecedented time of COVID-19 has 5. L. Benedict, H. E. Pence, “Teaching Chemistry Us- ing Student-Created Videos and Photo Blogs Ac- created significant changes to the landscape cessed with Smartphones and Two-Dimensional of teaching-learning, forcing us to redefine Barcodes”, Journal of Chemical Education, 2012, our interaction and engagement with the 89(4), 492-496. students. The characters agility and resilience 6. D. Libman, L. Huang, “Chemistry on the Go: Re- do not develop all of a sudden, but evolve day view of Chemistry Apps on Smartphones”, Jour- by day. Basically, the wholesome experience nal of Chemical Education, 2013, 90(3), 320-325. matters and a strong and sustainable con- 7. J. L. Holmes, “JCE Chemical Education Xchange”, nection with the students is the key. Finally, Journal of Chemical Education, 2013, 90(1), 11-14. we have to chalk out how to decode problem 8. https://swayam.gov.in/ solving strategy of students leading to final 9. A special issue of Journal of Chemical Education, gradation. This platform faces significant “Insights Gained While Teaching Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19”, September 8, 2020, 97(9), challenges mainly in the form availability 2375-3470. and quality of internet connections among 10. R. J. Rowe, L. Koban, A. J. Davidoff, K. H. Thomp- the students but at the end of the day, we son, “Efficacy of Online Laboratory Science all are trying our best to adjust to this new Courses”, Journal of Formative Design in Learning, form of teaching-learning mode and it is an 2018, 2, 56–67. opportunity also to reinvent ourselves.

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 31 Online Learning

Educationally Yours : Nothing Remains the Same

Sabyasachi Chatterjee Department of History, University of Kalyani

COVID-19 has taught us a lot of things. whether something needs to be explained We have learned the basics of health and again, what will happen to him/her! And the hygiene from our experiences during the last experience that makes a student’s eyes light year. The lessons of health and hygiene were up after teaching a subject that satisfies the written in the health-manual but the present teacher is completely gone? pandemic made us aware of following these And the most surprising thing is the basics in real life. It pointed the finger at our changing attitude of the elders towards the health system. The lesson learned is that the young learners. So far, the elders have ob- key to health care is not just cure, but preven- jected to the use of the mobile phones by the tion. And for that we have to emphasize on young learners; “Eyes will get worse” they said. public health. Now we are witnessing really the opposite! But how could it be possible to talk on We are telling the pupils to concentrate on COVID’s education without mentioning the online classes. Meanwhile, ‘the sky is calling, impact of present pandemic on our education the wind is calling / the green grass of the system? Honestly, the style of education has field is calling ... ‘! changed a lot during the last year! Classes at The new normal education will certainly schools, colleges and universities in the state not become all-encompassing online, but it have been closed since March 16, 2020 for is probably not possible to completely elimi- more or less one year due to fears of infection. nate online education! Just as computers and Instead, online education has been started information technology have become a part in these days. Some may have started a little of our lives, online education has also come later but the number of teachers who did not to remain in the field of education. participate in this initiative is a tiny one. One of the great tests taken in this system Did COVID-19 change our teaching- is of the teacher as question-paper-setter learning mode wholly? Has online education and examiner. A teacher has to ask questions become normal now? The problem is no less. whose answers will not match in Google Without good quality technology and the fi- search, if you do not memorize. It is also aimed nancial means to use it, a large number of stu- not to judge one’s memorizing capacity. The dents will be left out of the process. Gaps and answer-key to the questions asked is in books divisions will continue to grow in the world of and in the internet, which are in the hands of education; which has been described as ‘digi- the examinees. Therefore, in this age of open tal divide’ by the experts. But is it the question book examinations, it is necessary to frame of financial ability alone? The teacher can see questions in such a way so that the examinees through the eyes of the student how much have to apply their knowledge. Even in the his/her education is reaching the student, case of multiple choice questions (MCQs),

32 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Online Learning the paper-setter has to judge examinees’ would not be allowed to enter our university capability of application of their learned edu- until further notice. In that week the national cation. It should be kept in mind that while lockdown was also declared. On 21st March I choosing the right answer from the possible created a ‘WhatsApp group’ for my students options, the examinees should require using of History of Medicine. We started to interact their judgment based on their talent instead among us regarding our course as well as of keeping information in mind. Has not it regarding the pandemic. The ‘WhatsApp been the demand of various science organi- group’ was followed by the creation of Google zations for a long time to use wisdom-based Classroom for my students. We used to share practical assessment instead of memorizing our thoughts. I started to provide course information and vomiting it in the examina- materials based on our syllabus of history tion book? Is this a silver lining of the future of medicine. It was a unique experience. As in the current situation? we were experiencing a health-hazard that From this general observation on the resulted a somewhat unprecedented and in changing scenario of post-pandemic educa- that situation we were studying the history tion system I think I should share my own of medicine. In our syllabus, we had a unit on experience as a teacher and researcher in epidemics. I started to teach on this unit and the field of higher education. Here, I am a bit tried to relate it with the contemporary pan- hesitant to ventilate my own feelings as my demic. For this teaching, I had to study on dif- conscience refrain me to express my experi- ferent aspects of epidemics and pandemics. ence fearing of being autobiographical. I had some basic books but the online source When the lock- materials were of down was started great help to me I thought it would to learn the multi- be a fortnightly af- dimensionality of fair as it had been the pandemic. declared by the Thus, I started authorities. Then to study the his- time and again tory of pandemic the period of and got the op - lockdown was ex- portunity to share panded. I remem- my thoughts in ber our university, different ways – like all other edu- through radio, a cational institu- series of webinar tions of the state, and by publish- declared on 13th ing write-up in March 2020 that newspapers, pe- the classes would riodicals, journals not be held with and web-portals. effect from 16th As all of us were March 2020. I went locked down, ra- to my university dio and television on 16th and thought that I might be allowed was truly a window for us. The radio-feature to continue my research works in my depart- on the history of pandemic was broadcast ment. However, on that evening a notice was on 7th April and because of the positive served where it was clearly stated that we feedback it received the programme had two

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 33 Online Learning repeat-broadcasts. The first webinar, where lockdown was not there I had to flee to those I had participated was held on 14th May. It places. Thus lockdown saved the time, money was a lecture on the world of environmental and energy in academic affairs. It also helped history in the context of contemporary pan- to decrease ‘Carbon footprint’. demic. That was followed by the invitation I The print-culture also began to change. had received from a college of North Bengal I think the credit of creating new should be to speak in its webinar on ‘Bridging the World given to none other than the Asiatic Society. of Public Health and Environment in the Time The April issue of Bulletin came out with the of Pandemic’. Then I took part in a number of cover ‘We shall overcome’ that set the tune. A webinars. I don’t prefer to give the long list number of scholars had written on past and but would like to put on record that majority present of epidemic and pandemic contex- of those were on the broad spectrum of his- tualizing COVID-19. Society also produced tory of science, technology, environment and an ‘Online Panel Discussion on Printed Books medicine and obviously with special refer- Versus E-Books’ that was streamed in YouTube. ence to public health responding the present During the last one year we see online edi- pandemic. The webinars were organized by tions of various magazines were coming out; colleges as well as a number of organizations PDFs of various magazines were circulating working either in the field of history or sci- in the WhatsApp groups or connecting per- ence. The science organizations were active sonally through social media. As a result, the in their works and I feel happy to speak on editors/publishers of books/magazines had their recent activities in a radio programme. to concentrate more on visuals. That was an important documentation of Being a person engaged in the teaching the development of science movement of history of science for long times, I started in the period of lockdown. Meanwhile we to think of writing a Bangla book on history started to get accustomed to various digital of science in colonial India. Lockdown had platforms – took part in Google meet, Zoom, given me the opportunity to write it with the Stream yard etc. A number of academic meet- co-operation of my fellow-researchers. The ings were held in these platforms where we whole book was written in Unicode font with interacted with each other defeating the the help of online source materials along with physical distance. The meetings were of our my possessed books as there was no scope to department, university and different institu- visit any library. That engagement helped me tions. The mid-term and later on end-sem a lot in building positivity in my mind during examination of the even semesters were held the time of lockdown. The book had been in online mode. Paper setting and moderation published and attracted the kind attention of question papers were also done in online of the interested readers. Thus, the last one meeting. Viva-voce of Ph.D. scholars was also year taught us to think and work differently held through virtual meeting. Personally I barring from the conventional trends. Across took part in two such meetings as an exter- the globe, a new script had been written in nal member in two distant universities, one the academia. Is the author of the new script was of Assam and other was of Tamilnadu. If the academics or the COVID-19?

34 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Online Learning

Academic Publishing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Overall Trends Prasun Chatterjee Senior Publishing Professional

The publishing industry has seen one of states, clashes at Pangong and Galwan have its worst downturns during the lockdown attracted attention and raging debates about last year and is currently emerging from this celebrities in the film industries, academics situation through the phase of reopening of have had to deal with completely different set the institutions and the economy, in general. of problems, about access to sources and sec- What is the scale of the recovery? How have ondary literature and the ability to conduct the bookstore chains and brick-and-mortar on-field surveys, as to the manner in which shops been faring? they can continue their research. The inclusive During the lockdown, for three to four nature, essential to social sciences research months till September 2020, the publishing has also suffered as the researchers have had industry had been completely paralysed. to depend on packages of online journals and Few books were released with almost no ebooks subscribed to by their institutions avenues to disseminate them and only the and these can vary so much that access to online platforms working towards the end recent research and literature amongst aca- of that phase to deliver books to individual demic institutions and their researchers can readers. The bookshops and libraries were be extremely uneven throughout a country shut and there was no procurement of books. like India. The publishers suffered immensely during While the initial phase saw authors turn- this time and saw only about 10-20% of their ing in book proposals and manuscripts of business during the second and third quar- their pending research in 2020, now there is ters of 2020. Some publishers recorded even increasingly a crunch in the number of pro- lower or almost no sales during this difficult posals and submission of manuscripts due to time. With the opening up of bookstores and the hindrances to conducting research. The other institutions gradually the situation is increase in online engagement for teaching, improving, however, the procurement levels conducting examinations and carrying out are still below 50%, or even much lower, than assessments have also begun to weigh on the pre-pandemic times. the academic community leading to fatigue and less time available for their research work Academic authors and editors in publish- and working on manuscripts. Work from ing houses home affected the ability to function and Academics, especially in the social sci- juggling between online courses, which were ences, have found their access to libraries, a completely new domain for many academ- archives and travel for fieldwork hindered ics with household work and simultaneous by the restrictions related to the pandemic conversations led to chaos for most people across the country. While the political up- associated with the publishing industry. We heavals, related to toppling governments in cannot also deny that along with reflections

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 35 Online Learning on their subjects and publishing interests, Electronic books and other digital formats of new conversations happened between publishing have gradually become more ac- authors and publishers amidst the difficult cessible during the last decade but they have time of the pandemic which will lead to new been supplementary in the dissemination research. Several studies have shown that this of academic research. How far has this situ- has affected women more in terms of their ation changed during the pandemic? While engagement in research and writing, as in it is clear that in India the print market is the other professions, due to their more intricate core for academic publishing, the experience engagement with the responsibilities of the of the last year indicates the trends that will household. The gender gap in the academic definitely emerge in the future. While the workforce could increase if these circum- trends are variable, most prominent academic stances are not taken into account during the publishers with a simultaneous presence on opening up of the economy. the e-book platform have recorded good As a result, publishers have been scepti- visibility during the pandemic both on their cal about too many releases during the last own platforms as well as through kindle on year. Across the publishing industry, there amazon with increased downloads from 5 to has been a cautious approach of keeping a 25% in various regions of India and almost consistent but slow publication of new works 30-40% across the world. of research from November 2020. In-house It seems that even though print book editors have coordinated with authors online quantities might get back to the previous to prepare their manuscripts for print, how- numbers, e-books have finally gained mo- ever, many of these books have not released mentum and are here to become a perma- on time. There is a long queue of delayed nent feature in academic publishing in the publications and an equally grim list of lost post-COVID world. It remains difficult though jobs. However, publishers now see the silver to have books with complex maps, data or fig- lining, they often expressed the hope that ures often used by geologists, archaeologists now the market will gradually revive and and historians among others, or rare books their upcoming books will find more readers. of the kind at the Asiatic Society archives on There was a reconfiguration of human the digital platforms. So, it is not a question dimension of publishing during this period. of one platform succeeding at the cost of the In India, unlike in the US or Europe, physically other but rather their complementing each meeting the publisher or the author is an im- other in the future. portant aspect of the more personalized na- ture of the publishing industry. While editors, Journals: submissions and subscriptions publishers and authors were stuck in their Journals are accessed more through the houses, it was noticed that there was a flurry online portals though in India print is also im- of emails and verbal communication leading portant. Most publishers provided free access to a lot of ideation. Many of these have not to their journals (COVID-related content most- materialized as yet, but many of them may ly in some publishers) during the pandemic pave the way for exciting new research and and this increased the views tremendously. publication due to the new spirit of teamwork Conversations with academic publishers of that the isolation has led to authors and their journals revealed that the readers seemed publishers to believe in. to be at ease reading and downloading from online portals. This shows that if the journals Print versus digital publishing are priced reasonably, readers would like to Traditionally, for academic publishing in access and read them or individual articles India printed books have been the mainstay. online.

36 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Online Learning

The number of journals in the fields of hu- leading to greater recall of the books. manities and social sciences have also grown During the lockdown, for almost two globally during the last year, though there is months not even the online platforms like a definite focus on open access journals as amazon were delivering books, so overall the subscription numbers of journal pack- the publishers and authors lost a huge chunk ages taken by institutions and libraries have of their readership at that time. Now after plateaued. In India too, the publishers in this a period of silo, and job losses and dipping domain are looking to increase their footprint revenues in the publishing industry, the with more journals. The sustained popularity publishers are now again looking to hire of journals during the time of the pandemic professionals and get on with the work of shows that journals will be a crucial feature publishing new research. The worst seems to in academic research in the times to come be over, however, it will be quite some time, with even shorter attention and research maybe a couple of years before readership spans and the need to communicate one’s levels increase to the pre-pandemic levels. research virtually. While we have all learnt to read, publish and collaborate through the virtual world, for this Promotions: physical events to social medium to become mainstream it will take media much longer and the medium of print books Promotions of books have undergone a is here to stay for the next few years. huge change, perhaps the most drastic and dramatic change in the book publishing References industry during the last year of pandemic. Conversations with academic publishers during Several publishers have started holding their 2020-21 book release events and discussions exclu- https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2020/12/22/ sively on facebook or instagram. Also, they are guest-post-publishing-in-a-pandemic-5-factors- often facilitating discussions of their books limiting-scholarly-research/ https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2020/11/19/ released through well-considered panels of guest-post-scientific-output-in-the-year-of- scholars. covid/?informz=1 Social media has become the most sig- https://blog.degruyter.com/we-asked-3000- nificant promotion platform for all publishers academics-how-theyre-coping-with-COVID-19- during this time. While physical events and this-is-what-we-found/ campaigns in bookstores were not available, https://blog.degruyter.com/wp-content/up- marketing teams worked with authors of loads/2020/12/Locked-Down-Burned-Out- books to put up these events online. This Publishing-in-a-pandemic_Dec-2020.pdf has led to many more participants to these https://scroll.in/article/983020/insider-predic- events across the world rather than just the tions-what-does-the-future-of-publishing-look- city where the launch events would happen like-after-the-pandemic On gender: earlier. Regular promotional posts and ac- https://www.theatlantic.com/international/ tivities from the publishers have also gone archive/2020/03/feminism-womens-rights- northwards with this becoming the most im- coronavirus-covid19/608302/ portant avenue for dissemination of informa- https://www.thelily.com/women-academics- tion about the new books and the publishing seem-to-be-submitting-fewer-papers-during- programmes. Often these programmes are coronavirus-never-seen-anything-like-it-says- recorded and can be accessed later which is one-editor/

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 37 Economic Fallout

Managing the Post-COVID Economy

Achin Chakraborty Professor of Economics and Director, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata

The prognosis for recovery from the lowering the cost of borrowing by lowering economic fallout of COVID-19 in India can- the interest rates would hardly be an effective not possibly reach any consensus among tool. Yet, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the observers. The view that has so far been lowering the rates in the expectation that it dominant, particularly after the Economic would lead to lowering of the lending rates Survey 2020-21 has been released, seems to by the banks, and investors would happily believe in an optimistic V-shaped trajectory, borrow and invest, while the actual need as the growth rate in Gross Domestic Product was to boost the incomes of the poorer sec- (GDP) in real terms is predicted to be 11% in tions. It is ironic that when the problem was 2021-22. The World Economic Outlook of IMF, known to be on the side of demand the RBI’s published in last October, forecast an 8% intervention came in the form of a typical growth in India’s GDP for 2021-22. With an supply side one. estimated contraction of 7.7% in GDP in the The problem of deficient demand was current fiscal year – even if all the predictions indirectly reflected in the household savings turn out to be correct – 2021-22 is most likely data. In the first two quarters of 2020-21 to end with a level of real GDP only margin- household savings as a percentage of GDP ally above that of 2019-20. In other words, we have been much higher than the usual. The have to wait several years to see the economy data released by RBI in November show that return to the pre-COVID trend. However, as India’s household financial savings constitut- the quip goes, making predictions is a rather ed 21.4% of GDP in the April-June quarter – a hazardous job, especially about the future. sharp increase from 7.9% in the same quarter Conventionally a growth slowdown is of the previous year. A small increase in the explained in terms of either a lack of demand quantum of savings combined with a sharp for goods and services or supply-side bottle- contraction in GDP raised the share of house- necks. The Indian economy was already bat- hold savings in GDP. The growth in bank de- tling a slowdown before the pandemic hit posits far exceeded the growth in advances. the country. The slowdown had clear signs Ironically, this has happened in spite of sharp of the demand side problem. Households’ deteriorations in the known determinants of consumption expenditure in real terms de- household financial savings, i.e. income and clined between 2011-12 and 2017-18 for the interest rate. The rise in savings may be at- first time in 45 years. The decline happened tributed to the pandemic-induced reduction in all the decile classes including the lowest in discretionary spending as well as a surge ones. If consumption demand in the economy in precautionary savings. In the absence of is low, investment is bound to slow down and a comprehensive net of social security to

38 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Economic Fallout protect households against contingent risks, lowering interest rates or credit guarantees households tend to cut down spending on do not work. Direct transfers to the poor and consumption and save more to tide over fu- the jobless in various forms could serve the ture contingencies. Households in aggregate, twin objectives of raising the lot of the poor therefore, are not spending enough to give and at the same time boosting the demand the necessary push to aggregate demand. necessary for stimulating the economy. This is a clear sign that the recovery would On the contrary, the 2021-22 Budget be more staggered than what has been pre- seems to have put an overwhelming empha- dicted. As a matter of fact, the RBI Bulletin in sis on investment in infrastructure, as if a big October noted that “the trend of higher-than- push to infrastructure would pull the econ- usual household financial savings can persist omy out of the slump. The budget proposes for some time till the pandemic recedes and investment in national highway projects like consumption levels get normalized.” road transport, power distribution, and so Ironically, the important recent legislations, on, especially for the states heading toward such as the new labour codes and the farm legislative assembly elections in the coming laws, which have been hastily passed without months (viz., Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and debate and discussions in the parliament, West Bengal). Given the complexity and long address the so-called need for reforms on gestation of infrastructure projects – from the supply side, when the problem seems conception and design to execution – one to be as severe on the demand side, if not is not sure how it would immediately cre- more. Generally, the extent of contraction ate enough effective demand to boost the that the countries have experienced has a economy. On the other hand, there has been significant connection with the size of the a cut in education budget, and the proposed direct fiscal stimulus pursued in respective expenditure on MGNREGA for 2021-22 is far countries. For example, both US and Brazil less than what has been spent in the current went for extensive direct fiscal stimulus that year. Clearly, it is unwise to curtail MGNREGA amounted to roughly 10-12% of GDP, whereas budget before the job scenario improves. India’s fiscal stimulus constituted only around Even if one shares the optimism that 2% of GDP. This measly sum would hardly be goes with a predicted V-shaped recovery, able to pull the economy out of the slump, one is not sure how that recovery in terms of no matter how optimistic the prognoses may increasing investment and growth would cre- sound at the moment. This stubbornly-held ate more and more jobs, keeping pace with conservative approach to fiscal spending may the growing number of new entrants to the perhaps be explained by the government’s in- labour market. According to the Centre for ability to improve its fiscal health in the years Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) estimates preceding the pandemic. India entered the there had already been an absolute decline pandemic not only with an already slowing in employment between 2016 and January economy but also with a weak fiscal situation 2020. Not only that the budget speech of because of the government’s inability to raise the Finance Minister for 2021-22 and the revenues. The Centre’s need to borrow to Economic Survey 2020-21 showed no indica- meet its recurring expenditure commitments tion of acknowledging unemployment as a had already been growing. Yet, in a situation serious issue, a small section in the latter has of significant contraction in GDP fiscal auster- been devoted to employment where Periodic ity is the last thing that should come to the Labour Force Surveys (PLFS) and the data on policy maker’s mind. An elementary lesson EPF registration have been selectively used to from macroeconomics is that when aggre- show that the economy has been recovering gate demand is low, indirect measures like on the employment front as well.

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The lockdown had suddenly brought and social security benefits through an inter- to the fore the plight of a huge number of state self-registration process, and so on. If migrant workers who had left their home the suggested measures saw the light of the state and went to another to take up mostly day, the migrant workers would have been in unskilled and semi-skilled casual work. The a better position to cope with the crisis now. lockdown instantly rendered them jobless, Plans are now being made to build a data and left them with very little choice. The visu- base on the migrant workers. als of the long stream of hapless workers des- When we discuss faltering economic perately trying to find their way home have growth in the aftermath of the lockdown we given them the visibility in the public space self-consciously reject the view that takes the which they never had before. The Indian State ‘problems of the economy’ as metaphysically has been forced to at least recognise their prior to the conditions of the people. The oft- problems. However, there is little indication heard emphasis on the need for providing so far that the central and state governments ‘stimulus’ to the sagging economy through are leveraging the arms of State in the best investment in infrastructure and allowing possible manner to reach out to this class of concessions to the big corporate firms re- Indian citizens. In the recent years, the swell- flects a sentiment that diverts our attention ing number of internal migrants was first away from the point that it is the people who noted in the Economic Survey of 2016-17 of must be at the centre of any policy measure the Government of India, which came up with envisaged to bring the economy back on to rough estimates of the number of migrant the track. Money needs to be in the hands workers, forming roughly 20% of the work- of the most vulnerable people to ameliorate force. It is not unknown what should have their misery first, which would in turn pull been done for them: ensuring portability of the economy out of recession as they spend food security benefits, providing healthcare immediately and stimulate demand.

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COVID-19 Pandemic and Workers in Informal Sector in India

Ishita Mukhopadhyay Professor, Department of Economics, University of Calcutta

COVID-19 Pandemic did have the deepest of lockdown in the country, some asked the impact on workers in the informal sector in question “where were they during all these India. This was evident from the images of times?” This is proving the invisibility of a the pandemic in our country. The memories whole sector from the mainstream of work of the pandemic will bring forever the vision and labour. The invisibility also saw a serious of streams of migrant workers walking in flaw in official assessment of the impact of the reverse migration streams crossing the coun- pandemic on the informal sector. The narra- try. Facing all odds, the pandemic visibilised tive is the same in the global economy as well. the invisible of the workforce in our country. ILO in its Policy Brief in May 2020 stated Though we mention informal sector work- that full or partial lockdown measures ers in all our discourses, they largely remain throughout the world affected more than 1.6 “invisible” and “missing” as far as the official billion informal sector workers, among whom records are concerned. So when people in the most are women. According to ILO already 2 country saw them walking down across the billion workers were earning their living in country to their homes in the abrupt decision this sector. If we accept this estimate, then

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almost the entire sector was hardly hit in the Keeping this backdrop let us turn our world. Denied of all labour legislation this eye to Indian soil. India already experienced sector bore the brunt of job loss and hunger the worst effect of pandemic on Indian in- in the pandemic. Informal employment in ILO formal sector workers. The close relations of statistics comprise 90 % of total workforce in inter-state migration, circular migration and low income countries, 67% in middle income informal sector was revealed clearly under countries and 18 % in high income countries. lockdown in the pandemic. A large section There are more women in informal sector in of them were women, who themselves were low and middle-income countries. So it is workers and not merely belonging to the easy to infer who were the worst-affected in family of the informal sector workers. Indian the pandemic. Clinical determinism of the official statistics could not tell us the number effect of pandemic lies in Case Fatality Rate, of such workers in the informal sector even Mortality and flattening of the incidence earlier to the pandemic. India also did not curve. But to stay at home without earnings have official statistics on migration of work- also leave them without food. Question of ers, particularly circular migration in the mortality and morbidity remains whatever pre-pandemic period. In 2018-19 Economic be the cause-pandemic or hunger. Webb, Survey mentioned that almost 93% of the McQuaid and Rand (2020) showed that the workforce was informal. Niti Ayog stated in informal sector and the formal sector workers 2018 that the proportion was 85%. The mea- were both affected but the burden fell dispro- sures are important as they mostly belong portionately on the workers in the informal to low-earnings sector of employment with sector. State support to the affected workers no social security. Effect of pandemic was was also disproportionate as far as informal expected to have deep wounds in the sec- sector workers are concerned. tor. Estimates are required to understand the

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impact, but the country had unclear estimate years. However, the difference in the impact of of numbers, conditions of work and nature workers in the formal and informal sector is in of migrant labour within the informal sector. terms of loss in unemployment and earnings Economic Survey of 2020-21 admitted that on one hand, presence and absence of right as data is limited on inter-state migration to negotiate and question of social security is and employment in informal sector, it is not different for the workers in the two sectors. By possible to estimate the number of workers definition of informal sector, informal employ- who lost their jobs and accommodation due ment, informality of the jobs, whatever are the to the pandemic. nomenclature workers in this sector lack so- Lack of official recognition of the impact cial security and right to negotiate. Existence on the sector, we have to depend on evidence of all jobs became at stake in the lockdown, based narratives. Chandrasekhar and Khasif but when the question of compensation Mansoor (2020) discussed the impact of CO- or getting back jobs appears it is better for VID 19 lockdown on informal sector in their the formal sector workers. There is a definite paper and they stated that according to ILO differential impact on both the sectors. This estimates more than 40 crores informal sec- made the future workers of informal sector tor workers were pushed to poverty by the bleaker than the workers in the formal sector. lockdown. It is this piece rated jobs, which The quality of life of workers in the in- are at risk and vulnerability in all situations formal sector is best judged by earnings or of uncertainty and unpredicted shocks to the wages the workers get. ILO’s Global Wage economy. The formal sector is also affected Report this year gave an estimate that the and there is no way to protect workers against informal sector workers experienced a wage the pandemic and sudden lockdown. Ac- cut of 22.6% during lockdown while workers cording to global standards, India posed the in the formal sector experienced wage cut of stringent lockdown. All workers were affected 3.6%. The number of informal sector workers and production of all sectors was affected. who lost jobs during Lockdown 1.0 were es- India had already entered the phase of de- timated to be 40 lakhs and in Lockdown 2.0 pression and unemployment I the pre-COVID to be 6.94 crores. According to Oxfam report

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workers. It is Indian state again who threw a section of the formal sector work- ers in the zone of informali- ty by bringing a sea change in labour legislation in the form of labour codes. Re- placing earlier more than 40 legislations in the name of wages, occupational safety and social security, these codes were made effective from December 2020 in the backdrop of pandemic. These codes moved on to exclusions of many sectors, which were earlier protected out of the safety net. New labour codes provided safety nets to employers from union- ized workers. Gig workers are being referred here who are self-employed on Inequality (2021), the informal sector workers, but mainly service sector workers workers were hit the hardest in the lockdown are referred who are also informal. However, and pandemic in India. Out of a total of 122 many workers who were formal earlier will be million job losses, 75%, which accounts thrown outside the net of legislation. Absence for 92 million jobs were in informal sector. of minimum wages in the country added Although self-employed category formed plight to the working poor constituency of a bulk of the informal sector workers and a the informal sector workers. This was clearly part of self-employed are not impoverished, visible during COVID-19 period in India. Even most of the informal sector workers form the if we think of a poverty line in whatever stan- group of working poor. They are workers with dards bulk of the informal sector workers were earnings but also poor. They suffered during pushed or better said kicked down the ladder the lockdown in terms of reduced access to in the poverty line by the pandemic and the basic needs, particularly food. They were vis- new labour codes. ible under lockdown as most of them were The impact had a strong gender com - migrant workers. Stranded Worker’s Action ponent. Women constitute a large share of Network Report in April 2020, 96% received informal sector workers in our country, no no rations from the state. More than 300 doubt. But this is typical of female low skilled migrant workers died due to exhaustion, star- or unskilled employment in the world. They vation, hunger, police brutality, road and rail are mostly informal in nature. The informal accidents, even if we do not consider suicides. sector is bi-modal in nature with both gig This hardest hit sector had a clear connec- workers and working poor at two ends of the tion with migration, however non-migrants pole. The bottom-line of the pole is dominated also formed a large part of informal sector by female workforce, who remain mostly

44 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Economic Fallout invisible by doing care work, stigmatized jobs, referred to as wives of informal sector work- piece rated home based jobs, unaccounted ers in media, but it is hardly recognized that jobs which can be withdrawn at will and all they themselves were workers in the informal kinds of odd jobs which can be combined sector. They had to walk down as pregnant, with domestic chores. State had also taken delivered babies on the road and then had advantage of this condition by employing to walk again. When men got back some large female dominated scheme workers work after lockdown and buses were sent by serving in the care work. COVID-19 increased employers to take the migrant workers back the burden of domestic chores multiple fold the situation was not the same with respect to with migrants returning back and stay-at- women workers. They mostly stayed back and home instructions. Self-help groups could did not return back or could not return back not repay loans as their products could not to the earlier jobs where they were employed be sold in the lockdown. Industries can afford in pre-COVID period. Women fell victims of to suffer depression but the indebted women hunger, malnutrition and impoverishment were chased by the microfinance institu- rapidly in this period. tions to repay loans with interest, increasing Gendered dimension of the impact made them to opt out of small production units. the sexual division of labour more skewed and Domestic violence as well as violence against strengthened patriarchal interlocking with the women increased in public spaces. Artisans existing capitalist system. New normal as the of traditional crafts were badly affected. Small name suggests was new in the sense that the producing units led by women in all the system was more exploitative than the earlier states were affected. Demand for employ- phase. But one has to acknowledge that the ment guarantee programme for women was earlier phase was also nonetheless exploitative raised mostly by impoverished women of the in nature and far from what can be called country, who were impoverished and pauper- normal. The range and extent of exploitation ized in the process. Pandemic also saw a rise became visible and much more pronounced in unpaid care work for women, which was in these days. COVID-19 did not bring out ad- true for informal sector also in the same way ditional dimensions of gender discrimination along with others. in the work in informal sector, which was not A sector, which was, worst hit in these there in the economy. It reproduced sharply times by both lockdown and labour codes the existing discriminatory structure of the is the domestic workers. They were mostly society and economy. laid off by their employers as SEWA records showed, or given partial wages. Although state appealed for no wage cuts for this sec- References tor, state did not promise any wage subsidy ILO Policy Brief: COVID-19 and World Economy. for workers in this sector also. Again when Chakraborty, S (2020), “COVID 19 and Women the male family members lost their jobs, the Informal Sector Workers in India”, Economic & economic brunt had to be borne by women. Political Weekly, Vol. 55 No. 35. So many women who did not work earlier Chandrasekhar and Khasif Mansoor (2020), Impact of COVID lockdown on Informal Sector, Azim entered the world of informal sector workers Premji University, Bengaluru. at pretty low wages. This is also to point out The Inequality Virus-Global Report (2021), Oxfam that domestic workers were also the excluded Internatonal. section of workers in the labour codes. Mi- Webb, A., McQuaid, R., & Rand, S. (2020), “Employ- grant informal sector workers constituted ment in the Informal Economy: Implications of significant number of women who came back the COVID-19 Pandemic”, International Journal home in reverse migration. They were mostly of Sociology and Social Policy.

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Trends of COVID-19: Understanding Facets of 13 months of the Pandemic Anirban Mitra Assistant Professor, Institute of Genetic Engineering Saswata Ghosh Associate Professor, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata

Introduction unfortunate individuals have directly suc- Almost 13 months have been passed after cumbed to it (Fig.1). Given the difficulties of the onset of COVID-19. Today we painfully diagnosis, the inadequacy of global testing realize that our initial worries had been ut- and the lingering long-term effects on vari- terly inadequate in understanding humanity’s ous body parts it is a sad fait accompli that many vulnerabilities against a new disease. the actual fatality would be much more. At It is fair to say that nothing since the Second the same time, the exact number of victims World War has disrupted human civilization of the multi-dimensional socio-economic to such magnitude. As of 22nd February, catastrophe will perhaps never completely be 2021, the WHO website 1 informs us that recorded. Using available data from various 111.1 million individuals in 223 countries sources, the objective of the article is to gain and territories have been infected by the some understanding of the evolving trends novel coronavirus and almost 2.5 million and patterns of the pandemic.

Fig 1: Global prevalence of COVID-19 cases. The intensity of colour indicates higher number of cases (as on 22nd Feb 2021) [ Screenshot of WHO dashboard ] https://covid19.who.int/]

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The Initial Outbreak time – from more than 8,400 to ~80,000! Italy, In the last week of December, 2019, there Spain, Iran and France had taken such a severe were reports that people were falling sick first-hit that its memories will continue to with pneumonia of unknown etiology in the haunt for decades to come. Even Germany, Chinese province of Wuhan. By mid-January with its exceptional public healthcare sys- 2020, the first fatality had been reported tem, had not been entirely spared. As other there and the pathogen had been identified countries, including India, ordered lockdowns as a novel coronavirus (scientifically later to various extents and enhanced testing named as SARS-CoV-2). By the end of the (though certainly not to required levels), it month, COVID-19 cases had been diagnosed was evident that the exceptional infectivity in East Asia, India, the Americas and Europe. of the pathogen coupled with global travel A month and half later, when WHO formally had helped its spread (Fig. 2B). declared the situation as a pandemic and The only silver lining was that SARS-CoV-2 asked “countries to take urgent and aggres- was not as much a killer as its ‘elder cousins’ sive action” 2 , stringent lockdown in China the SARS coronavirus of 2003 and the MERS and intensified screening in Vietnam and coronavirus of 2012 (Fig.2 bottom panels and South Korea seemed have partly thwarted the Fig. 3). Of course, this is not surprising - spread initial spread of the virus in Asia. However, by of an infectious disease and case-fatality then, SARS-CoV-2 was clearly surging across rate (CFR) are often inversely related. Also, Europe and North America (Fig. 2A). The world the heroic efforts of doctors, healthcare staff witnessed a 10-fold rise only in three-weeks’ and scientists has continued to improve our

Fig 2: The rapid rise of COVID-19 cases across the continents during March (left) –May (right) and the consequence rise of deaths, especially in Europe and North America

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Fig 3: Comparison of case fatality rates due to COVID-19 across the five continents. CFR of India is also shown separately. The decrease in CFR could be due to multiple factors including improved understanding of COVID-19 pathology, social mobility restrictions like lockdowns, shifts in exposure of different age-groups to virus, climatic variables and evolution of viral ‘strains’ understanding about how to treat COVID-19. reasons seemed to be its infectious nature The result is that the high death rates of and the millions of migrant workers who had March-April, 2020 (>7%) started to taper off been forced to retreat homewards, often in by May, 2020, and has appreciably fallen to packed trains and buses – an ideal environ- ~2% today (Fig. 3). ment for SARS-CoV-2 transmission3,4. While Indian medical fraternity had succeeded in Three Countries are Worst Hit reducing the CFR (from 3.4% on 5th May, The next four months were dominated 2020 to 1.8% on 30th August, 2020), the im- by cases mainly from three nations – the pending danger lay in the magnitude of the USA (where the scientific-medical fraternity absolute numbers. With the festive season had to battle not only a new virus but also and the winter few months away, it seemed a supremely ignorant and arrogant political spookily logical that the country’s healthcare establishment), Brazil and India. For instance, was about to be overwhelmed. By the end the number of COVID-19 cases globally of September, 2020, COVID-19 wards were added on 30th August, 2020 (7-day average) gasping as supply of oxygen cylinders failed was 257,881, of which 28.5% was from India to keep up with the rising demand5 . while the USA and Brazil added another 16% and 14% respectively (Fig. 4)! In India’s case, The Terrible Second Wave it seemed that the national lockdown had By October, 2020, the ‘second-wave’ start- not achieved its immediate objective. Hence, ed on the ‘western front’ as winter set in6-9. although initially confined to cities with inter- Realizing the gravity of the danger, political national connectivity, COVID-19 now seemed leaders and the medical fraternity pleaded to be radiating out to other urban centres with citizens not to celebrate the festive and then to mofussil and villages. The major season and many did heed the guidelines.

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Fig 4: Steep rise of COVID-19 cases in the USA, Brazil and India in mid-2020. At its peak in August, only these three countries accounted for ~60% of all COVID-19 cases worldwide.

However, aided by ‘General Winter’ and evo- contributed to the rising numbers there, it lution of more-transmissible viral variants, clearly showed the danger from big congre- the second wave dwarfed the first one and, gations10,11. There was apprehension of a simi- at its peak, carried off ~9,500 persons, every lar rise in West Bengal after Vishwakarma Puja single day – mostly old and middle-aged (Fig and Mahalaya12,13 and, in an unprecedented 5). It is only in late-January, 2021, that the move, restrictions were placed to prevent numbers have started dropping, probably crowds at Durga Puja mandaps and crowds due to the enhanced protection measures were indeed less. At the national level, other and the start of the vaccination programme festivities were celebrated as usual – more in the USA (Fig 6). in some regions than others. Yet, by end of October, 2020, it was evident that India was The Indian Scenario well past the first wave (Fig 7). The number of The Indian scenario is in stark contrast. By COVID-19 cases were clearly falling, although the end of September, 2020, as maintaining number of tests stayed overall same till the the national lockdown became increasingly mid-January, 2021. Of course, states did vary difficult, there were indications that social in the proportion of RT-PCR and Rapid Anti- gatherings were adding to the COVID-19 gen Tests and it is quite likely that contact- cases. The best instance was Kerala, where tracing became less efficient. However, it is in spite of requests, people had celebrated undeniable that the number of deaths due Onam and this had been followed by a spike to COVID-19 (and hospitalizations) fell in of cases. While both social and political gath- most parts of the country and now there are erings, as well as long-distance travel had reports of ‘empty COVID-19 wards’. The cold

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Fig 5: From mid-Sept into the winter, the ‘second wave’ of the pandemic has resulted in many more people falling sick and dying in Europe and North America.

Fig 6: Initial stage of anti-COVID-19 vaccination. The USA and China lead in absolute numbers of vaccinated citizens. The UK and India have also started vaccination. There are reports that the mass vaccination programme in Israel (not shown) has already caused a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases. weather and the enhanced pollution levels of Plausible Explanations For Indian Scenario winter of 2020 had come and gone, lockdown The Indian situation has baffled experts is practically over, mobility has definitely worldwide14,15. There is no simple explanation. increased, people have swelled at markets, However, a combination of the following rea- social gatherings and political rallies, and sons could be driving India’s numbers down. wearing masks is on the wane. Yet, in contrast 1. Headlines have often announced that ‘India to most of the world, India’s pandemic seems close to herd immunity’. It might be, but no to be practically over (Fig. 8). one knows for sure. Firstly, as the WHO

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Fig 7: Timeline of COVID-19 in India. Graphs showing the 7-day average for daily cases, number of tests ( RTPCR, Truenat and Antigen tests combined), positivity ratio and number of deaths . Note that national number of tests remained overall constant throughout Oct-Dec the recorded positivity ratio and deaths have decreased.

Fig. 8 (A) From Oct2020 onwards, prevalence of COVID-19 was highest in Europe and Americas. In contrast, India was distinctly past the first wave. (B) Comparison of COVID-19 parameters across states of India. Two dates – one in mid-Sept and another in mid-Feb chosen arbitrarily to show the differences and the distinct reduction during winter. [Data analysis and presentation from https://twitter.com/RijoMJohn]

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website stresses, herd immunity works only other country either. They do indicate that through large-scale vaccinations. It is quite more city-dwellers are infected compared to difficult to reach it through the ‘natural infec- villagers, and in cities, it is slum-dwellers who tion’ way, except for relatively small isolated have been most infected. Undoubtedly, there populations16. The best way to resolve this are urban pockets of community-immunity. conundrum is through serosurveys; however, But the question – how close are we to the serosurveys in India carried out so far nationwide ‘herd immunity’ – remains. Of have yielded a wide range of numbers from course, COVID-19 cases are now steadily <10% to 22% to >50%. This is far from consen- rising in Maharashtra and at least four other sus and does not parallel the situation in any states and lockdown re-imposition is being

Fig. 9 Comparison of case fatality rate with median age of a country’s population indicates that countries who have more aged people have suffered more deaths due to COVID-19. As an example, note the contrast between India and Pakistan compared to Italy and United Kingdom. Along with other socioeconomic and genetic factors, the severity of COVID-19 is more for aged (>65 years) people.

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considered. This shows such simplistic (feel- numbers, Kerala – the state known for best good?) assumptions for a country as large as health infrastructure and internationally India are not necessarily on-track. praised for its initial efforts – seems over- 2. An attenuated (weaker) viral variant has whelmed now. Why have not these popula- evolved in India which causes less-severe tions reached the ‘herd immunity’? Is it be- (or more-asymptomatic) disease than the cause Kerala’s testing and contact-tracing one which was dominant in the earlier is still working very well? Or was the earlier months17. Its existence is, as of now, unveri- success a double-edged sword? fied by science, but that could be because India has sequenced only 0.04 % (~5,000) Concluding remarks of the viral samples…. [in contrast] the UK There are no easy answers. But one thing has sequenced as many as 1,35,572 virus is certain. As the well-respected Professor samples, a whopping 6.1% of the total Jameel recently said, ‘If we don’t know the rea- cases registered there 18, 19. The evolution son [for reduced COVID-19 cases], you could of such an attenuated mutant virus is quite unknowingly be doing things that could lead possible and could partly explain why to a flare-up’ [15]. The pandemic will end, as hospitalizations have reduced. have all pandemics in the past. But, since 3. Median age of the Indian population. COVID-19 often damages several organs and COVID-19 is a severe disease largely for mass vaccination is quite a few months away, old people many of whom suffer from co- masks, physical-distancing and a scientific morbidities. But, hardly 7% of Indians are temperament must be maintained now. more than 65 years old (contrast that with ~20% of the population of many European References countries). This demographic difference 1. https://covid19.who.int/ has raised the percentage of young Indians 2. https://www.who.int/director-general/ who got infected but were almost asymp- speeches/detail/who-director-general-s- tomatic [14] while it has contributed to the opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on- large number of deaths in Europe and the COVID-19---11-march-2020 3. https://science.sciencemag.org/ USA (Fig. 9). content/370/6517/691 4. There must be other contributing factors. 4. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/ In winter, more Indians suffer from common COVID-19-spread-in-some-unique- cold and cough. Thus, a larger proportion ways-in-india-new-contact-tracing-data- of those who are going for tests are likely to shows-11601453112907.html be uninfected by SARS-CoV-2. This, in turn, 5. https://www.business-standard.com/article/ would reduce the positivity rates. The corol- current-affairs/indian-hospitals-are-strug- lary of such hypothesis is that the positivity gling-for-oxygen-supply-as-pandemic- rate could rise once the winter is over. surges-120092900554_1.html Recent studies also have indicated that 6. https://www.nytimes.com/interac- Asian populations have certain genetic ad- tive/2020/12/04/world/europe/europe- covid-deaths.html vantages that slow down the pathogen20, 21. 7. https://theconversation.com/lessons-from- Taken together, is not it logical that a com- around-the-world-on-fighting-covids-sec- bination of all these factors could cause ond-wave-150432 numbers to decrease? 8. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ Now question would be why is COVID-19 explained-europes-second-COVID-19- still ravaging Kerala and Maharashtra? While wave-6910627/ Maharashtra has continued to put up high 9. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ (although reduced from September, 2020) joshuacohen/2020/10/19/

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 53 Demographic Impact

second-wave-of-coronavirus-hits-europe- 15. https://www.outlookindia.com/website/ major-differences-in-impact-across-coun- story/india-news-dramatic-fall-in-indias- tries/ coronavirus-cases-leaves-experts-in-a-mix- 10. https://www.livemint.com/news/india/kerala- of-surprise-and-disbelief/374650 paid-the-price-of-gross-negligence-during- 16. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/ onam-festivities-vardhan-11603011622357. herd-immunity-lockdowns-and-COVID-19 html 17. https://informanirbanmitra.medium.com/ 11. https://www.youtube.com/ indias-covid-numbers-are-decreasing-but- watch?v=KbAUGlZZvVo are-they-decreasing-d1bbebd176be 12. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ 18. https://www.newindianexpress.com/na- kolkata/post-mahalaya-kol-cov-spike- tion/2020/dec/27/COVID-19-india-lag-be- hosps-gear-up-for-a-puja-spurt/article- hind-in-genome-sequencing-of-virus-sam- show/78438370.cms ples-says-study-2241755.html 13. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/ 19. https://science.thewire.in/the-sciences/india- kolkata/doctors-fearing-tsunami-of-COVID- sars-cov-2-genome-sequencing-roadblocks- 19-cases-after-puja-caution-mamata/ar- resources-b117-n440k-variants/ ticle32782611.ece 20. https://www.pnas.org/content/118/9/ 14. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsand- e2026309118 soda/2021/02/01/962821038/the-mystery- 21. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ of-indias-plummeting-COVID-19-cases article/pii/S1567134821000575

Note: COVID-19 india.org and https://twitter.com/RijoMJohn are useful sources to follow India’s COVID-19 data. Graphical representation in the article from - https://ourworldindata. org/coronavirus

54 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Studying Environment

One Year Journey by COVID-19 Express Soumen Basu, Sudipta Mukherjee and Asok Kanti Sanyal West Bengal Biodiversity Board

virus pandemic is an ‘SOS’ signal for the hu- Introduction man enterprise.” Among the 17 Sustainable A crisis does not emerge out of thin air, it Development Goals set by United Nations, has underlying causes. And the irony is that 6 are to be addressed properly if deforesta- most of the causes are before our very eyes tion induced pandemic are to be thwarted which we tend to ignore or overlook. The to ensure healthy lives, zero hunger, gender Corona virus disease popularly known as equality, food security, crop nutrition and COVID-19 is one such thing, it was predicted limiting climate change effects. long ago and could have avoided. It is becoming clear that environmental Since 2002, the world has witnessed se- and climate factors help shape the landscape ries of viral outbreaks like SARS, Ebola and within which COVID-19 proliferates around currently SARS-CoV-2 or Novel Corona Virus. the world, influencing the public health All these outbreaks have caused severe dam- response to the pandemic and interacting age and generated much panic worldwide. with existing environmental health dispari- Studies show that such zoonotic diseases are ties. A few studies suggest the spread of the increasing in number significantly. Gradual infection is associated with temperature and intervention of anthropogenic activities have humidity. The United Nations Environment wiped out hectares of grassland, denuded Programme (UNEP) in March 22 mentioned dense forest, polluted serene water bodies in a report that environmental degradation and changed land patterns for commercial has a relation with the origin of COVID-19. farming. Amazon rain forest is facing severe It claimed that such an outbreak is related threat from animal farm and very recently to degradation of ecosystem and wildlife an outbreak of severe bonfire in the region threats. These cause the zoonotic diseases. is a testimony of desperation of commercial There are preliminary indications that wind interests to grab the forest land. All these and ultraviolet (UV) light may potentially be activities are contributing displacement of associated with COVID-19. wildlife, indigenous people, loss of traditional According to a report of Intergovernmen- knowledge, native crops and a score of other tal Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity ecological components. An average of 28 and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released in million hectares of forest have been cleared October, 2020, states that in future pandemics since 2016, and still going on abruptly. The will occur more often and do more damage rich biodiversity of the globe is bearing the to the world economy and cause more loss brunt as a whole. Damian Carrington, Environ- of lives than done by COVID-19. ment Chief in the UN stated that, “the corona COVID-19 is one of the numerous diseases

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 55 Studying Environment that spilled over from animals to the human droughts and extreme weather events are population. Close association between ani- happening. mal and man is due to destruction of natural Some studies throw interesting insights environment. According to a rough estimate about the effect of pandemic on environment. the economic cost of the pandemic amounts Since outbreak medical waste generation has to several trillions of U.S Dollars but a tiny increased globally. For sample collection of fraction of this amount is spent to restrict de- the suspected COVID-19 patients, diagnosis, forestation and wildlife trade to resist another treatment and for disinfection purpose lots costly pandemic. of infectious and biomedical wastes (e.g., It is agreed that the environmental crisis needles, syringes, bandage, mask, gloves, impacted by climate change is responsible used tissue, and discarded medicines etc.) to the latest pandemic. All the components are generated from hospitals. In the city of of environment e.g. air, water, soil etc. are Ahmedabad of India, the amount of medical affected - the cost of which the mankind is waste generation is increased from 550-600 going to bear is uncountable. It is estimated kg/day to around 1000 kg/day at the time of that more than 4 million people died and the first phase of lockdown. To protect from 100 million affected by the pandemic. As on the viral infection, presently people are us- February 20, in India a total of 1,09,77,387 ing face mask, hand gloves and other safety cases have been reported, while the recover- equipment, which increase the amount of ies surged to 1,06,78,,048. This sheer figure healthcare waste. Due to lack of knowledge indicates the effect of the pandemic on global about infectious waste management, most and national economy, health and livelihood. people dump these (e.g., face mask, hand Interestingly, the COVID-19 which was gloves, etc.) in open places and in some cases caused due to degradation of environment with household wastes. Furthermore, quaran- was also otherwise regarded as good for tine policies established in many countries environment. It was well documented over have led to an increase in the demand of some urban and industrial centres decline in online shopping for home delivery, which population and emission in the midst of the ultimately increased the amount of house- COVID-19. The Earth was recovering from hold wastes from shipped package materials. degradation and pollution. Animals were Recently, huge amount of disinfectants are spotted in abandoned city streets and water- applied into roads, commercial, and residen- ways and noted birds are singing songs of joy. tial areas to exterminate SARS-CoV-2 virus. Such extensive use of disinfectants may kill COVID-19 and Environment Health non-targeted beneficial species, which may While studying the impact of Corona virus create ecological imbalance. pandemic on demography, economy and UN’s Inger Anderson written in an article environment, both negative and positive that “our economics, livelihood and wellbe- impacts were observed by various sources ing all rely on nature, from the food we eat all over the world. to controlling our climate, regulating disease It is obvious that environmental pollu- and providing spiritual fulfilment. Without tion will change the distribution and burden nature, there would be no life.” His apprehen- of various vector borne infectious diseases sion corroborates to the ongoing destruction including bacterial and viral pathogens. As of nature which is blamed as the driver of global temperatures rise, driven by green diseases that comes from wildlife to human. house gases (GHGs) rise, the change we see is As industries, transportation and compa- apparent. Glaciers melting, ocean level rising, nies have closed down; it has brought a sud- increasing salinity and land desertification, den drop of GHGs emissions. Compared with

56 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Studying Environment this time of last year, levels of air pollution in the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board of New York have reduced by nearly 50% be- India, physicochemical parameters i.e., pH cause of measures taken to control the virus. (7.4–7.8), dissolved oxygen (DO) (9.4–10.6 It was estimated that nearly 50% reduction of mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

N2O and CO2 occurred due to the shutdown of (0.6–1.2 mg/L) and total coliform (40–90 heavy industries in China. It is assumed that, MPN/100 mL) of the river Ganga was found vehicles and aviation are key contributors of within the surface water quality standards of emissions and contribute almost 72% and India. Except total coliform in some monitor- 11% of the transport sector’s GHGs emission ing stations, all others parameters even meet respectively. The measures taken globally for the national drinking water quality standard, the containment of the virus are also having which can be used without conventional a dramatic impact on the aviation sector, treatment but after disinfection. Usually, huge which has ultimate effects on the environ- amount of solid trashes is generated from ment. Much less consumption of fossil fuels construction and manufacturing process lessens the GHGs emission, which helps to responsible for water and soil pollution, also combat against global climate change. As reduced. Moreover, owing to the reduction such, aviation emissions which accounted of export-import business, the movement of for 2.4% of global CO2 emissions in 2018, but merchant ship and other vessels are reduced lockdown and closure of commercial entities globally, which also reduces emission as well have dropped the emission level significantly. as marine pollution. According to the International Energy Noise pollution also took a nose dive dur- Agency (IEA), oil demand has dropped ing the lockdown. For instance, noise level of 435,000 barrels globally in the first three Delhi the capital of India, is reduced drasti- months of 2020, compared to the same cally around 40–50% in the recent lockdown period of last year. Besides, global coal con- period due to reduction of vehicle movement sumption is also reduced because of less during the lockdown period. As a result, city energy demand during the lockdown period. dwellers are now enjoying the chirping of It is reported that, coal-based power genera- birds, which usually ranges from 40-50 dB. tion reduced 26% in India with 19% reduction Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and of total power generation after lockdown. local restrictions, the number of tourists has During the lockdown period, the major in- reduced in the tourist spots around the world. dustrial sources of pollution have shrunk or As a result of restriction, the color of sea wa- completely stopped, which helped to reduce ter is changed, which usually remain turbid the pollution load. The data of WBPCB and because of swimming, bathing, playing and CPCB (Figure 1) corroborates the findings. riding motorized boats. Nature gets a time The river Ganga and Yamuna have reached to assimilate human annoyance, and due a significant level of purity due to the ab- to pollution reduction recently returning of sence of industrial pollution on the days of dolphins was reported in the coast of Bay of lockdown in India. It is found that, among Bengal (Bangladesh) and canals, waterways, the 36 real-time monitoring stations of and ports of Venice (Italy) after a long decade. river Ganga, water from 27 stations met Air pollutants include gaseous pollutants the permissible limit. This improvement of and Particle Matters (PM), which is deter- water quality at Haridwar and Rishikesh was mined by their size, composition, origin, ascribed to the sudden drop of the number solubility and their ability to produce reactive of visitors and 500% reduction of sewage oxygen. Studies have shown that smog is and industrial effluents. According to the generally caused by high concentrations of real-time water quality monitoring data of fine particles (particle size less than or equal

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 57 Studying Environment

to 2.5 micron, referred to as PM2.5) or aerosols. Monitoring of PM 2.5 and PM10 can give direct It has been found that PMs with an aerody- glimpse about the air quality over a certain namic diameter smaller than 10 µm have a region, as well as, health risks especially respi- greater impact on human health. Therefore, ratory hazards associated with those shook

Figure 1: Ambient air quality of Kolkata for 2020 and 2021 Source: CPCB (https://app.cpcbccr.com/AQI_India/)

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) pandemic had greatly reduced the existing recorded daily data related to various air amount of pollutants. The whole world but quality parameters at Ballygunge and Fort it also acts as a positive agent for making the William, Kolkata from March, 2020 to Feb- environment healthy. ruary, 2021. It shows that level of density

of PM 10 and concentration of Carbon Mon- oxide (CO) were significantly low before Protect the Environment, Prevent Pandemic October, 2020 (Figure 1) when restrictions Remembering the devastating and har- were imposed on the vehicular movement, rowing days of pandemic, it seems to be the industries were closed and other pollutant urgent need to make a proper long-term generating activities were almost stopped. strategy as well as sustainable environmental Data clearly indicate that these restrictions management. The recent comment of Ber- had an outstanding environmental effect. nstein, interim Director of the Centre for On the other hand, both the components Climate, Health and the Global Environment of air have shown a trend of higher level of at the Harvard Chan School said “We would concentration from October, 2020 when the really be foolish to not spend a few percent lockdown was withdrawn and normal activi- of the price tag of this one virus to do any- ties started due to fall of COVID-19 cases. It thing we can to prevent another pandemic clearly indicates that the tragic Corona virus like this one”, also reminds the humanity to

58 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Studying Environment understand the seriousness of the COVID-19 ecological restoration and more towards a and be united to win against the virus. sustainable future for humankind. It is also Similarly, to protect this globe, the home thought by the experts relied on past ex- of human beings, united effort of the coun- periences of pandemics that the short-term tries should be imperative keeping in view on benefits from an environmental rebound in sustainable industrialisation, green transport 2020 will not last if the humanity does not act and energy, renewable energy, wastewater according to the lesson obtained from the last treatment, waste recycle, behavioural change, one year’s journey by COVID express.

Courtesy: The Times of India, April 29, 2020

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 59 Bibliography

A Year into COVID-19: Glancing through a Journal

As a ‘novel’ variant of the Corona virus Ironically, when activities were deferred affected the human body and mind, the if not paused hoping for the ‘curve to flat - ferocity of the ‘everyday life’, worldwide, ten’, human ingenuity perhaps like never suddenly seemed placid. The ‘fear’ of the before inspired humanity to adapt and virus became real and surreal too as humans adopt to the ‘new normal’. It has been the raced to cocoon themselves in exile of their ingenuity of the virologists, immunologists, home. Escaping the virus and avoiding fellow epidemiologists and health care profession- humans, who remained a ‘potential’ threat, als to get better of the virus, which ulti - went hand in hand. The panic showcased that mately fructified in the development of the humanity, once again was unprepared for this vaccine against COVID-19 within a year’s impending pandemic despite the words of time from its outbreak. The social scientists, wisdom in literature cautioning ‘everybody on the other, carried the ingenuity forward knows that pestilences have a way of recur- by analysing the human socio-cultural and ring in the world; yet somehow we find it politico-economic relations in the times hard to believe in ones that crash down on of the pandemic. Their efforts produced our heads from a blue sky’. A virus this time, an enormous volume of literature. A peep as a bolt from the blue, thereby was enough through the pages of the acclaimed journal to ‘puncture’ the pride of neo-liberal capital- Economic and Political Weekly bears testi- ism. Age old notions of public health, public mony to it. A list of such publications dur - economics, community action and ‘humanity ing the last one year (March 2020-February as fraternity’ soon re-appeared as headlines as 2021) is provided below: we entered a phase of anthropause.

60 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Bibliography

1. How Prepared Is India to Control the COVID-19 19. World Economy and Nation States post COV- Pandemic? ID-19 T Jacob John, March 14 K N Harilal, May 2 2. COVID-19 Should Make Us Re-imagine the 20. COVID-19’s Disruption of India’s Transformed World Order Food Supply Chains Zorawar Daulet Singh, March 28, Strategic Thomas Reardon, Ashok Mishra, Chandra S R Affairs Nuthalapati, Marc F Bellemare, David Zilber- 3. Impact of COVID-19 and What Needs to Be Done man, May 2 Arun Kumar, April 4 21. Epidemics and Capitalism - Accurate Identifica- 4. Reducing the Spread of COVID-19 - Need for tion of Contradictions Creative and Long-term Measures Sandipan Baksi, May 2 Vikalp Sangam Core Group, April 4 22. Identity of a Disease - Social Epistemology and 5. India’s Food System in the Time of COVID-19 Epidemiology in Light of COVID-19 Abhishek, Vaibhav Bhamoriya, Puneet Maya John, May 9 Gupta, Manu Kaushik, Avinash Kishore, Ritesh 23. Saving Jobs and Averting Lay-offs amidst Kumar, Abhishek Sharma, Shilp Verma, COVID-19 Lockdown 6. COVID-19 and Macroeconomic Uncertainty - Rahul Suresh Sapkal, May 9 Fiscal and Monetary Policy Response 24. Migration and Reverse Migration in the Age of Lekha Chakraborty, Emmanuel Thomas, April 11 COVID-19 7. COVID-19 and the Public Health System in Bihar Ajay Dandekar, Rahul Ghai, May 9 Avinash Kumar, Manish Kumar, April 18 25. COVID-19 Crisis: Economic Stimulus Packages 8. Skewed Urbanisation and Contagion and Environmental Sustainability Partha Pratim Biswas, April 18 Poonam Mulchandani, May 9 9. Reading Ambedkar in the Time of COVID-19 26. Locking Down on Rights: Surveillance and Awanish Kumar, April 18 Administrative Ambiguity in the Pandemic 10. Media in the Time of COVID-19 Kalindi Kokal, Vidya Subramanian, May 9 Bhupen Singh, April 18 27. COVID-19 Crisis: Understanding the State of 11. No ‘Room’ for Social Distancing: A Look at India’s Economy during and after the Lockdown Housing and Sanitation Conditions Arun Kumar, May 9 Mohd Imran Khan, Anu Abraham, April 18 28. Significance of Testing for Identification of 12. A Socialist Cry for Civilisational Change: COV- COVID-19 - A State-level Analysis ID-19 and the Failure of Neo-liberalism Sourindra Mohan Ghosh, Imrana Qadeer, May 16 Vijay Prashad, April 18 29. Density, Distancing, Informal Settlements and 13. COVID-19 and US–China Tussle the Pandemic Atul Bhardwaj, April 25 Sarani Khatua, May 16 14. COVID-19 Relief Package - Will Central Largesse 30. Bardo of Lockdown Help Construction Workers? Badrinarayanan Srinivasan, May 16 Ajit Jha, April 25 31. Health and Nutrition of India’s Labour Force and 15. Public Health during Pandemics and Beyond COVID-19 Challenges Daksha Parmar, April 25 Uma Lele, Sangeeta Bansal, J V Meenakshi, 16. Gendering the COVID-19 Pandemic - Women May 23 Locked and Down 32. Mumbai’s Struggles with Public Health Crises - Madhuri Dixit, Dilip Chavan, April 25 From Plague to COVID-19 17. COVID-19 and Aadhaar: Why the Union Gov- Ravi Duggal, May 23 ernment’s Relief Package is an Exclusionary 33. Taxation in the Times of COVID-19 Endeavour Kajol A Punjabi, May 23 Reetika Khera, Anmol Somanchi, April 25 34. COVID-19, Public Health System and Local 18. When People and Governments Come Together Governance in Kerala - Analysing Kerala’s Response to the COVID-19 T M Thomas Isaac, Rajeev Sadanandan, May 23 Pandemic 35. Catch-22 with COVID-19: Health or Economy? Aruna Roy, Saba Kohli Davé, May 2 Rohit Azad, C Saratchand, May 23

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 61 Bibliography

36. Examining the COVID-19 Relief Package for 54. Procedural Rationality in the Time of COVID-19 MSMEs Utteeyo Dasgupta, Chandan Kumar Jha, Su- Sangeeta Ghosh, May 30 dipta Sarangi, June 20 37. A Gender-responsive Policy and Fiscal Response 55. Towards More Inclusive Water Management to the Pandemic Neha Khandekar, Tanvi Agrawal, Rashmi Kul- Jashodhara Dasgupta, Sona Mitra, May 30 ranjan, Siddhartha Krishnan, June 20 38. Paradox of a Supply Constrained Keynesian 56. The Overseer of the Plague - Reading Oedipus Equilibrium - The COVID-19 Case Rex during COVID-19 Dipankar Dasgupta, Meenakshi Rajeev, May 30 Maaz bin Bilal, June 20 39. Lives and Livelihood - An Exit Strategy from 57. Fifty Days of Lockdown in India: A View from Lockdown Two Villages in Tamil Nadu Partha Chatterjee, Soma Dey, Shweta Jain, Grace Carswell, Geert de Neve, S Yuvaraj, June May 30 20 40. COVID-19 and the Rhetoric of Social Overhaul 58. COVID-19 and Dwindling Indian Federalism A P Ashwin Kumar, May 30 Pankhuri Agrawal, June 27 41. The Coming of Corona 59. Essential before the Pandemic - Migrant Labour Madhumati Dutta, May 30 and the Politics of Language 42. Locked in a Crisis - Concerns of Rural Women Navyug Gill, June 27 Seema Kulkarni, June 6 60. Social Security for Migrant Workers during 43. What Is So Wrong with Online Teaching? COVID-19 Saumyajit Bhattacharya, June 6 Sonu Pandey, June 27 44. COVID-19 Pandemic and Racism in the United 61. Locked Down, Trapped and Abandoned Mi- States and India grant Workers in Pune City Nehginpao Kipgen, June 6 Anuradha Kalhan, Shamsher Singh, Kiran Moghe, June 27 45. Digital Surveillance Systems to Combat COV- ID-19 May Do More Harm Than Good 62. Kuttanad and COVID-19 - Farmers, Floods and Kritika Bhardwaj, June 6 the Pandemic Rahul N, Ranjith P M, June 27 46. Exiting the Lockdown Sustainably Avinash Persaud, June 13 63. Domesticity and Its Substitute - Lockdown and 47. Economic Implication of a Novel Disease Out- Beyond Maya John, June 27 break - Understanding Its Genesis Unmilan Kalita, Arup Kumar Hazarika, Rajiv 64. Underestimation of the COVID-19 Burden - In- Kumar Bora, Subhash Khanna, Tapash Kumar terpreting the Puzzling Numbers Barman, June 13 M S Seshadri, T Jacob John, July 11 48. Parliaments in the Time of the Pandemic 65. Locked Down and Left Out - Adivasis in Dahanu Maansi Verma, June 13 Brian Lobo, July 11 49. COVID-19 and Infectious Misinformation 66. Child Protection and Preparedness in COVID-19 Aniket Sule, June 13 Epoch Priti Mahara, July 25 50. Challenges in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pan- 67. COVID-19: Mental Healthcare without Social demic Justice? Pinarayi Vijayan, June 13 Roli Pandey, Shilpi Kukreja, Kumar Ravi Priya, 51. Marginalised Migrants and Bihar as an Area of August 1 Origin 68. Social Distancing and Sex Workers in India Avinash Kumar, Manish Kumar, June 13 Priyanka Tripathi, Chhandita Das, August 1 52. Reading A Journal of the Plague Year during the 69. Why Bihar’s Record in Handling COVID-19 Is Lockdown Dismal Sunil Macwan, June 13 Umesh Kumar Ray, August 8 70. Need for a Strong and Reliable Statistical Sys- 53. Lawless Lawmaking in a COVID-19 World tem in India - Lessons from a Pandemic Alok Prasanna Kumar, June 20 Sumit Mazumdar, August 8

62 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Bibliography

71. Indian Public Health Associations on COVID-19 86. COVID-19 Mortality Trends and Reporting - - The Politics of Knowledge Comparing India and Italy Ritu Priya, Sanghmitra Acharya, Rama T Jacob John, M S Seshadri, September 12 Baru, Vikas Bajpai, Ramila Bisht, Prachinkumar 87. Emerging Governmentality and Biopolitics of Ghodajkar, Nemthiang Guite, Sunita Reddy, COVID-19 in India August 8 Abraham Samuel, Gorky Chakraborty, K J Joy, 72. Intrusions and Violation of LAC in India–China September 12 Border 88. A Faulty Response to the COVID-19-induced Sebastian N, August 8 Crisis 73. Reverse Migration of Labourers amidst COV- C P Chandrasekhar, September 12 ID-19 89. Macroeconomics of a Lockdown S K Singh, Vibhuti Patel, Aditi chaud- Prabhat Patnaik, September 19 hary, Nandlal Mishra, August 8 90. Appointment of Judges to the Higher Judiciary 74. Locked in: What the COVID-19 Pandemic Spells during the Pandemic – I for Survivors of Domestic Violence Alok Prasanna Kumar, September 19 Anjali K K, Shubha Ranganathan, August 8 91. Why It Makes Sense to Leave and Stay Gone - 75. United States to Quit World Health Organiza- Understanding the Mass Exodus from Mumbai tion: What Does It Mean for the World? Neeraj Hatekar, Pallavi Belhekar, September 19 S Faizi, August 8 92. China-bashing and Post-COVID-19 Narrative - A 76. Migration Governance in a Pandemic: What Can Reality Check We Learn from India’s Treatment of Migrants in Biju Paul Abraham, Biswajit Nag, Partha Ray, the Gulf? September 26 Rhea Abraham, August 8 93. COVID-19 Progression - Waiting for the Eureka 77. Spectacle as a Response - The COVID-19 Pan- Moment demic Ravi Duggal, September 26 Farhana Latief, Reyazul Haque, August 22 94. The Pandemic, a Cyclone - (De)politicising the 78. Higher Disease Burden in India’s Elderly ‘Private’ in Bengal Alok Ranjan, Muraleedharan V R, August 29 Amrita Dasgupta, September 26 79. COVID-19 and Women Informal Sector Workers 95. Handloom Weavers and Lockdown in Sualkuchi in India Cluster of Assam Shiney Chakraborty, August 29 Anamika Das, Rajib Sutradhar, September 26 80. Breaking Bread - Baking and Exhibitionism 96. Disability during COVID-19 - Increasing Vulner- amidst the Great Lockdown ability and Neglect Arundhatie B Kundal, August 29 Srei Chanda, T V Sekher, September 26 81. Spatial Effects of COVID-19 Transmission in 97. Neo-liberal Reforms in Higher Education Ac- Mumbai celerated by the Pandemic Ajit Karnik, September 5 Debashis Biswas, September 26 82. Real versus Fictitious - The Pandemic Closing In 98. Macroeconomic Consequences of a Lockdown on the World of Finance and Its Policy Implications K N Harilal, September 5 Arun Kumar, September 26 83. COVID-19 and Population Density - A Methodo- 99. Public Health Lessons - Odisha’s Management logical Note of the COVID-19 Pandemic Anjum Altaf, September 5 Nandini Garikipati, October 3 84. Of Access and Inclusivity - Digital Divide in 100. Balcony Birding and the Lockdown Online Education Neha Sinha, October 10 Bheemeshwar Reddy A, Sunny Jose, R Vaidehi, 101. Newly Formed Empowered ‘Technology Group’ September 5 and COVID-19 85. Public Good Perspective of Public Health - Eval- Sunil Mani, Janak Nabar uating Health Systems Response to COVID-19 102. Post-COVID-19 Challenges in the Indian IT Sourindra Mohan Ghosh, Imrana Qadeer, Industry September 5 Rohan Chinchwadkar, Vinish Kathuria, October 17

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 63 Bibliography

103. The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Crisis of the 116. The Pandemic and Economic Fallout in South Social Sciences Asia - Challenges and the Way Forward Shiv Visvanathan, October 17 Selim Raihan, Ganeshan Wignaraja, Vaqar Ahmed, Puspa Sharma, Nazir Kabiri, Prabir De, 104. Appointment of Judges to the Higher Judiciary November 21 during the Pandemic—II Alok Prasanna Kumar, October 24 117. The COVID-19 Crisis - An Opportunity to Invest in Equitable Public Health Systems 105. Agricultural Market Operations across the Amar Patnaik, Anshuman Sharma, November 28 Lockdown in J&K - An Assessment 118. Will COVID-19 Change the Landscape of Financ- Jabir Ali, Waseem Khan, October 24 ing Innovation in India? 106.The Circle of Reason in a Post-COVID-19 World Ketan Reddy, Subash S, November 28 Anil Fakira Kshirsagar, October 24 119. COVID-19-led Migrant Crisis - A Critique of Poli- 107. Classical Music and the Pandemic cies Radhika Joshi, October 24 S Irudaya Rajan, December 5 120. Interconnectedness of Illegal Wildlife Trade and 108. Use of EdTech in Indian School Education during COVID-19 COVID-19 - A Reality Check Shreya Sethi, December 12 Ajay K Singh, Raja Sekhar Satyavada, Tushar Goel, Padma Sarangapani, Nishevita Jayen- 121. Whither One Health in India? - Challenges dran, October 31 to Adopting Global Strategies for Tackling Zoonotic Diseases 109. The Future of Work in the Post-COVID-19 World Mridula Mary Paul, Niti B Jadeja, Nadisha Elia Rossi, José Balsa-Barreiro, October 31 Sidhu, Abi T Vanak, December 12 110. Beyond Biomedical and Statistical Approaches 122. Restoring Employment and Rural Landscapes in COVID-19 - How Shoe-leather Public Health - Can Ecological Restoration Usher Rural Eco- Works nomic Revival in the ‘Post-pandemic’ Period? Ritu Priya, Sanghmitra Acharya, Rama Rajkamal Goswami, Shreya Bedia, Nitin Pandit, Baru, Vikas Bajpai, Ramila Bisht, Rajib Das- December 12 gupta, Prachinkumar Ghodajkar, Nemthiang 123. How Did Agri-start-ups Fare during the COV- Guite, Sunita Reddy, October 31 ID-19 Pandemic? - Challenges and the Way 111. COVID-19 in the Indian Context and the Quest Forward for Alternative Paradigms Neeru Bhooshan, Anjani Kumar, December 19 M A Oommen,November 7 124. Why and How Crude Oil Price Became Negative? 112. The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 Needs An Palanisamy Saravanan, December 19 Urgent Overhaul 125. Impact of Lockdown Relief Measures on Infor- Parikshit Goyal, November 7 mal Enterprises and Workers 113. Gig Work and Platforms during the COVID-19 Jeemol Unni, December 26 Pandemic in India 126. The Interstate Variation in Mortality from Shipra, Minaketan Behera, November 7 COVID-19 in India Pulapre Balakrishnan, Sreenath K Nam- 114. Viral Nostalgia and the Case of the Coronavirus boodhiry, February 6 Pandemic 127. Untangling Policy Mishaps - How to Make Poli- Anuparna Mukherjee, November 7 cies More Effective during a Pandemic 115. Negotiating Livelihood during COVID-19 - Ur- Mausumi Das, Sabyasachi Kar, February 13 ban Tribal Women Vendors of Manipur 128. The Lockdown in India – Understanding the Hoipi Haokip, Arfina Haokip, Tingneichong Matrix of Caste, Class and Gender Gangte, November 21 Vatya Raina, Ananya, February 20

Compiled by Gorky Chakraborty Institute of Development Studies Kolkata

64 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 New Books from Reader's Choice

Sanjaya Baru options for the way forward. The editor is (ed.), Beyond a redoubtable economic journalist and a Covid’s Shad- best-selling author (of The Accidental Prime ow: Mapping Minister fame), and he invited a diverse sets India’s Eco - of economists, sometime around the middle nomic Resur- of 2020, to offer their different perspectives gence, New on the economic situation and future de- Delhi: Rupa, velopments. The contributors were selected 2021, Rs. 595. both from the advisory functionaries of the While his- Government of India (GoI) in the present and torians are re- the past, and a number of renowned econo- luctant to pre- mists both critics and supporters of govern- dict the future, ment policy. They include such names as V. economists Anantha-Nageswaran, Bibek Debroy, Megh- often do it be- nad Desai, Biswajit Dhar, Onkar Goswami, C. cause of the nature of their profession. The Rangarajan, Amitabh Kant, Rajiv Kumar, B. COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant Nagaraj, Subramaian Swami, Indira Rajara- economic impact worldwide and in India man, Manish Sabharwai and Arvind Virmani, is a relevant problem at hand. While it is along with few others of similar reputation. too early to have a full-fledged economic The discussion is divided into six sections: history of the episode, most international Managing Growth and Uncertainty, The Fiscal institutions have forecast negatives rates of Dimension, Pandemic and the People, Trade growth for the global economy as well as Policy, Employment and Migration, and New for the most major economies over the next Economy. few years. Strangely enough, there are some It is not possible to discuss all contribu- pre-COVID and post-COVID aspects even tions and even all sections in this brief note in the analysis of global economy, with the on the book. Most authors draw attention increasingly inward looking aspects of many to the fact that India’s economic slowdown economies with their effects on world trade, preceded the lockdown. They, however, differ and the continuing trade war of the USA and on their continuing impact. The analysts are China on a global scale. In this context, Indian aware of the annual average rate of growth economy has become a significant subject of of national income for India at 3.5 per cent for discussion for the economists because of the three decades after independence (1950-80) country’s entry into an uncertain phase both which had risen to 5.5 per cent in the last two before and during, and even after the COVID- decades of the twentieth century (1980-2000) related lockdown. The book is an interesting and had further accelerated to 7.5 per cent in presentation of the debate as it developed the first decade of the twenty-first century. through 2020. Most analysts, therefore, assume India on The volume examines the impact of the a rising growth trajectory, despite a sharp lockdown on the Indian economy, discusses decline in the investment ratio after 2012. the government policy response and offers It is important to note how some of them,

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 65 New Books from Reader's Choice in this context, have analysed the impact of standpoint. Arvind Virmani who was formerly COVID-19 shock on the Indian economy. I the Chief Economic Advisor of GoI lists out 12 have chosen a few of them here. policy options aimed at restoring the growth C. Rangarajan, former Governor of Re- momentum. serve Bank of India and D.K. Srivastav, former This optimism of economic revival is Director of Madras School of Economics, in strikingly contrasted by the negative assess- their joint article entitled “Emerging from ment of Subramanian Swami, a Member of the Pandemic’s Shadow” argues that ‘this is Parliament. He criticized the ruling party’s the first economic crisis in recent memory leadership on economic policy front, ‘falling that has been triggered by a non-economic into a serious crisis since FY 2016’. With no factor – a pandemic’ which has brought to a objective set, the government’s policy lacks grinding halt to nearly all economic activity. clear strategy both for mobilizing the required They have particularly analysed monetary resources and utilizing them in an optimal policy, and the regulatory changes to help the manner. The effort of making the target of flow of credit in the post-COVID situation in increasing national income to 5 trillion dol- India, with respect to two questions: are they lars by GoI in 2024 is one such example, as it adequate and in right directions, and what would require an impossible growth rate of will be their effect in the overall economy? 14.4 per cent per year at present. One of his They have also discussed the shape of next suggestions for ‘what needs to be done’ is that round of reforms ‘that would pave the way ‘the individual has to be persuaded by the for sustained growth in the post-COVID era’. government with incentive and not by coer- Here their prescription is that ‘labour reforms cion’ by ‘providing dramatic incentives for the are introduced better when the economy is households to spend and for the sentiment on the upswing’ and that ‘consensus-building to save, by measures such as the abolition of is critical before introducing’ them. personal income tax’. Bibek Debroy who happens to be cur- Rajiv Kumar and Ajit Pai, respectively the rently the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Vice Chairman and Expert of NITI Aayog, Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) draws are optimistic in their note on ‘Designing the attention to the problem of ‘uncertainty’ a Post-COVID Recovery’. For them, it was triggered both by the pandemic and the lock- an opportunity for India to build a glob - down, while discussing “COVID Economy and ally comparable infrastructure and with new the May 2020 Package”. He makes a distinction enterprises on a highly competitive scale between risk ‘associated with known proba- ‘at a time when it will count the most’. They bilities of events’ and uncertainty ‘when those predict that ‘India’s economy could resume probabilities are unknown’, and boldly admits and sustain double-digit growth for the next that ‘this is not the best time to write…when three decades’. V. Anantha-Nageswaran, a much is uncertain’. He, however, believes that member of PMEAC, talks about “Pandemic the series of economic reforms introduced by and the Dollar: Towards a Credible Indian the government even before the onset of CO- Response”. He has discussed how the Bretton VID will hold the economy in good stead as it Woods Standard successfully developed on recovers from the impact of the pandemic. He fixed exchange rate based on dollar after the was confident of a ‘V’ shaped recovery ‘defined World War II ended, then a turning point was in terms of rates of growth, not in terms of ab- reached in the dollar standard in 2008, and solute levels of activity’. Seen from this point of how the Pandemic hastens the arrival of the view, the level of global output in 2021 will be Post-Post-Bretton Woods era, triggering the just about what it was in 2019, ‘indeed, a little indications of ‘the end of the US dollar’s reign’. less’, and India should be judged from that In this situation, as argued by the contributor,

66 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 New Books from Reader's Choice

‘the RBI will not have to accumulate foreign One crucial theoretical aspect highlighted assets that yield nothing and that keep losing overtly or covertly by some of the contribu- value’. Secondly, ‘it will force Indian business tions of the book has been elaborated by the to become productive and efficient’ over time. editor’s own contribution entitled ‘The Po- If these changes happen, India can have the litical Economy of Uncertainty’. Sanjaya Baru best of the both worlds: ‘a strong currency, explains this uncertainty with reference to the and strong economic fundamentals, with the works of the two of the leading economists, former reflecting the latter’. i.e., Frank Knight (Risk, Uncertainty and Profit, There are other opinions. Amitabh Kant, Boston, 1921) and John Maynard Keynes (The CEO, NITI Aayog, believes that the initiatives General Theory of Employment, Interest and undertaken by the GoI as part of Atmanirbhar Money, Palgrave Macmillan, 1936). Knight for- Bharat will restore the economy’s growth mulated risk in contrast to uncertainty: “The momentum. B. Nagaraj, a Professor at Indira essential fact is that risk means in some case Gandhi Institute of Development Research, a quantity susceptible of measurement…so Mumbai, considers options for making the At- far different from an un-measurable one that manirbhar Bharat strategy work, in view of the is not in effect an uncertainty at all. We shall various structural constraints holding back accordingly restrict the term ‘uncertainty’ to investment and growth. Onkar Goswami, an cases of the non-quantitative type.” As far economist and economic historian of repute, as Keynes was concerned, a year after the talks about the very slow progress of reforms publication of his path-breaking book, the in India in the past years, drawing attention term ‘uncertainty’ was explained in an article both to the challenge posed by the limita- in the Quarterly Journal of Economics in the tions imposed on revenues by the roll-out of following way: “The expectation of life is only Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the parlous slightly uncertain. Even the weather is only conditions of state government finances. But moderately uncertain. The sense in which I he admits that he is ‘no longer an optimist’ am using the term is that in which a prospect and that he does not ‘see the transformation of European war is uncertain, or… the rate of of a lumbering elephant to a leaping tiger’, interest twenty years hence…. About these though at this moment it may be ‘apposite matters there is no scientific basis on which to for a nation that could have made it, but form any calculable probability whatever. We hasn’t’. Meghnad Desai, Emeritus Professor of simply do not know (emphasis mine).” At cer- Economics at the London School of Econom- tain points, Keynes even went on speaking for ics, writes generally about the pandemic and a kind of ‘animal spirits’ of entrepreneurs and the people, with an emphasis on building a investors in this ‘uncertainty’, in the absence stronger foundation for a ‘welfare state’ which of their making rational economic decisions. is also reflected in an essay on the need for Baru argues that in the early days of COVID, a more ‘people-oriented’ policy framework neither medical doctors nor government of- by Rama Bijapurkar who is a Professor at the ficials could reasonably answer a wide range Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. of questions posed by the Pandemic and S. Irudya Rajan who is a Professor at the Centre the lockdown. There is still a lack of clarity for Development Studies, Kerala surveys the on both epidemiological possibilities and challenges posed by migration and migrant the economic consequences of the chain of labour for economic development across the events. More important than that, there is still country, while A.V. Jose of the same institu- no clear understanding of the extent of dam- tion examines the implications of the reduced age inflicted by the virus and the lockdown on employment for women in the workforce in lives and livelihoods, and the mutation of the the COVID situation. former and the future course for the latter. The

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 67 New Books from Reader's Choice political risk of taking action in an uncertain in diverse ways. The contributors wish to go situation may be several, but there may not beyond the shadow to have a full glance of be any major difference, as argued by Baru, in it, but do they get the full substance of it in the treatment of reforms with the instability the process? There is so much of uncertainty of a weak coalition government (as in 1991) about it, in the economic and the social scale, or the uncertainty generated by COVID with not the least is the probable mutation (with the actions of a stable government (as in ‘the new strain’ in 2021) of the COVID itself. 2020). History of COVID-19 in India, mostly in Admittedly, the economists do not know its economic and virological aspects, proves many things of an ‘uncertain’ life/world, nor this in more than one way. do we. Visualizing substance from shadow At the end, the final message of the book may always tend to be elusive. seems to reside in its title, probably in more ways than the contributors imagine. Though Arun Bandopadhyay COVID is discussed in many of its economic Historical and Archaeological Secretary ramifications in India, its shadows loom large The Asiatic Society

68 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 Recent Publications

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 69

New Arrivals in the Library during February 2021

New Arrivals in the Library during February 2021

78789 By N.Krishna Reddy (Niyogi Books, New Delhi, Kolkata in Space, Time, (Sharada Publication 2018) and Imagination, vol- 1 House, Delhi, 2019) By Anuradha Roy, Wali- 68068 gora Melitta 78787 আঁকায় দলখায় চার েেক (Primus Books, Delhi, History of Ancient India, Debashis Deb 2019) Vol. 6 (Bookfarm, Kolkata, By Dilip Kr. Chakrabarti 2019By ) 78790 (Vivekananda Internation- Kolkata in Space, Time, al Foundation, New Delhi, 78815 and Imagination, vol- 2 2018) Positions: Essays on In- By Anuradha Roy, Wali- dian Literature By K. Satchidanandan gora Melitta 78788 (Primus Books, Delhi, (Neogi Books, New Delhi, History of Ancient India, 2019) 2019) Vol.7 By Dilip Kr. Chakrabarti 78783 (Vivekananda Internation- 68069 Barhut (Reprint) al Foundation, New Delhi, বাংলা বাোে: রস ও রিস붿 By Beni Madhab Barua 2018) By প্রেীপ রায়巁প্ত (Towards Freedom, Kolka- (Ritakshar, Kolkata, 2020) ta, 2019) 78791 Indian Polity (6th Edition) 78816 78785 By M. Laxmikant The Fear of the visual? Kalidasa’s Nayikas (McGraw-Hill, Chennai, Photography, Anthropology By Harsha V.Dehejia 2020) and Anxieties of Seeing (D.K Print World, New By Sasanka Perera Delhi, 2019) (Orient BlackSwan, Hy- 78792 drabad, 2020) Lupadakhe: Unknown 78786 Master Sculptures of An- The Musician and His Art cient India 78803 By Deepak S.Raja By Deepak Kannal & Kan- The World of The Banaras (D.K Print World, New ika Gupta Weaver: Culture in Crisis Delhi, 2019) (Mandala Books, Delhi, By V. Raman 2019) (Routledge, London, 2020) 78784 Recent Perspectives on In- 78814 78804 dian Arts, Architecture and Rereading Tagore Voices of Dissent Archaeology By Amiya Deb By Romila Thapar (Segul, London, 2020)

Monthly Bulletin, March 2021 l 71 New Arrivals in the Library during February 2021

78805 78811 78813 A History of Intoxication: New Facets of Indian of Art Making of India’s North- Opium in Assam 1800-1959 Architecture and Epigraphy east By Kawal Deep Kour By Shrinivas V. Padigar, By Dilip Gogoi (Manohar, New Delhi, V. Shivananda (Routledge, London, 2020) 2019) (Agam Kala Prakashan, New Delhi, 2020) 78797 78806 The India Way: Strategies Indian Sun: The Life and 78793 for an Uncertain World Music of Ravi Shankar Economics for The Com- By S. Jaishankar By Oliver Craske mon Good (Harper Collins, Noida UP, (Faber & Faber Ltd., Lon- By Jean Tirole, Steven 2020) don, 2020) Rendall (Princeton University 78798 78807 Press, New Jersey, 2017) The Battle of Belonging Kashmir: A Journey By Shashi Tharoor Through History 78794 (Aleph Book Company, By Garry Weare Mission Bengal: A Saffron New Delhi, 2020) (Niyogi, New Delhi, 2020) Experiment By Bhattacharya Snigd- 78799 78808 hendu India Then & Now The Life and Works of (Harper Collins, Noida By Bimal Jalan Raidas U.P, 2020) (Rupa Publication, New By Callewaert M. Winand, Delhi, 2020) Peter G. Freidlander 78795 (Manohar, New Delhi, A Promised Land 78800 2020) By Barack Obama South Asian Sovereignty (Penguin Books Limited, By David Gilmartin, 78809 U.K, India Viking, 2020) Pamela Price & Arild En- The Cambridge Compan- gelsen Ruud ion to Rabindranath Tagore (Routledge, London, 2020) 78796 By Sukanta Chaudhuri Socio-Economic Change (Cambridge University and the Broad-Basing Proc- 78801 Press, Cambridge, 2020) ess in India Writing Gender, Writing By M. V. Nadkarni Nation 78810 (Routledge, London, 2020) By Bharti Arora Indigenous Knowledge (Routledge, London, 2020) Systems: Towards a Holistic 78812 Inclusive Conservation Globalisation, Environ- 78802 By Satarupa Dutta Ma- ment and Social Justice Emotions, Mobilisations jumder By Manish K. Verma and South Asian Politics (Manohar, New Delhi, (Routledge, London, 2019) By Amelie Blom and 2019) Stephan Tawa Lama-Rewal (Routledge, London, 2020)

72 l Monthly Bulletin, March 2021