As Corona virus sweeps the world, it continues to break the back of world powers – one after another. From the colonial powers of yester years in Europe, to emergent powers of Asia – none are spared.
This brings us to a real opportunity that India has. The Modi government has been able to India’s exposure to the disease. In the process the country managed to gain valuable time to prepare the response.
And now it seems India must face the invincible enemy.
To its credit the health ministry under Dr Harshwardhan has got all boxes checked. India has enough medicines and docs to handle the situation. By invoking powers under Disaster Management Act 2005, on 11th March, the Central government had already aligned entire state and local government machinery to act as a single entity under Union Health Ministry. As a result, one can easily see coordinated and well-disciplined local level decisions (Lock-down in Rajasthan, partial lock-down in 5 states etc) in resonance with national level decisions.
The army too is ready with emergency field hospitals in Jaisalmer and Manesar. All health facilities in India including Private and defence are also ready to accept casualties should a wider outbreak occur.
In effect India seems to have learned well from Chinese, South Korean lockdowns and seems to have used the time well to get ready.
We have a plan in place. Every military strategist knows that plan is the first casualty of first contact with enemy. In this war what we need is a strategic depth. So-called fall-back options so that the country can actually break the chain and survive the onslaught of this relentless virus.
It will mean extended home-imprisonment for most of us. The marketing savvy Prime Minister is for sure going to paint the situation with national colours and that of pride making it easy to go through.
In the end, that may last a couple of years, we will come out with a battered economy – no demand, shortages of everything. Neither tech nor the military might will matter. Only the most disciplined society will ensure that they get out unscathed.
Much like post WW II we will have that the survivor country guarantee world development. Its Currency will become the new fiat benchmark.
India may just be that country. Modi has opportunity that can change his name to Modi-the-great for all time to come. But then as noted earlier, that being the plan, first contact with enemy is still awaited.
