Category: Specials

On the eve of 31 December 2019, as the world celebrated the start of a new decade, the province of Wuhan alerted the World Health Organization of several ‘flu-like’ cases. Less than a week later, a novel coronavirus, was identified. In February, the disease it caused was named COVID-19.

The symptoms of Coronavirus are dangerously similar to that of the common flu: fever, coughing, breathlessness, tiredness, headache and muscle pain. But in India, that has such a high population density, we will have to do more than just stick to Namaste to greet each other. What we need most right now is credible and comprehensive information from professionals that can help us understand what the Coronavirus is, and how we can prepare and protect ourselves against it.

Panic is historically an integral component of pandemics. Understanding the Coronavirus within a larger, historical context of pandemics and survival is crucial to prepare – mentally, emotionally, and strategically – for the times about to come. Find an introduction to the history of the coronavirus below:

The Coronavirus

The story of the coronavirus (CoV) begins with Dr David Arthur John Tyrrell, a British virologist studying the common cold. Dr Tyrrell was born in Middlesex, United Kingdom, in 1925, and completed his medical training in 1948. The same year, the Common Cold Research Unit (CCRU) was founded under the auspices of the United Kingdom’s Medical Research Council. In 1957, Dr Tyrrell joined the unit, excited at the prospect of developing a cure for the common cold and, in 1982, became its director.

At the CCRU, he experimented on volunteers to study viruses responsible for the common cold. Newspaper advertisements offered a unique ten-day stay at CCRU where

The volunteers would be infected with preparations of a cold virus. They would be paid £1.75 per day and would be housed in small groups, strictly isolated from one another.

In 1965, Dr Tyrrell’s team isolated an unusual virus from a young boy with the common cold. They exposed several volunteers to his nasal washings and they developed a cold. Interestingly, the virus, initially named B814 after the number of nasal washings, grew exclusively on human embryonic tracheal cultures.

In 1966, Dr Dorothy Hamre and Dr John Procknow identified a similar virus in medical students sick with a cold. Later that year, Dr Tyrrell demonstrated under an electron microscope that the new virus resembled the bird bronchitis virus and the mouse hepatitis virus. With this new information, scientists around the world identified related viruses, giving them similarly unimaginative alphanumeric names. Shortly thereafter, these new viruses were collectively named coronaviruses (CoVs) for their crown-like appearance.

Dr David Tyrrell’s brilliant discovery laid the groundwork for modern research on coronaviruses. Scientists have since identified numerous coronaviruses in a multitude of animal species. These include alpha, beta, gamma, and delta coronaviruses. Gamma and delta coronaviruses infect birds and have not been proven to cause human infections. Alpha and beta coronaviruses have infected humans and many other mammals, especially bats. The seven coronaviruses that have infected humans are called human coronaviruses (HCoVs). Of these, HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63 are two human alphacoronaviruses, while HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-OC43 are two human betacoronaviruses. Last, there are the three notorious human betacoronaviruses that have caused SARS, MERS and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The WHO has declared COVID-19 as the most dangerous threat to world public health, the first pandemic due to a coronavirus.

To understand responses and possible ways forward by placing COVID-19 in a historical context, the authors mention Lord Byron’s words: ‘The best prophet of the future is the past’.

A complete story of a disease must include the 5 Ws: the what, who, where, when and why. Epidemiologists are the disease detectives who investigate a new disease like COVID-19. They explore the what (health issue of concern), who (person or people affected), where (place in which the disease is occurring), when (time course of the disease) and why (causes, risk factors, modes of transmission).Stories of past pandemics and viruses help disease investigators and scientists build this framework in order to tackle the novel Coronavirus affecting the world currently.

The Coronavirus: What You Need to Know About the Global Pandemic is the first book that addresses the history, evolution, facts and myths around the pandemic.

Momspeak: The funny, bittersweet story of motherhood in India is an original, provocative book that peels off the layers of social propriety and delves deep into the visceral reality of motherhood, much glorified but barely understood in India. Exploring the spectrum of experiences mothers have as women, as humans—from ecstasy to depression, jealous possessiveness to indifference, exhaustion to sensual desire—Pooja Pande reveals the personal, social and emotional roller-coaster that motherhood can be.

This Mother’s Day, Pooja Pande shares her thoughts on the experience of motherhood during these unprecedented times, and shares an excerpt from Momspeak. Read on below.

These may be the best of times and the worst of times

It’s the best of times because a pandemic the intensity of which they say is still to come has already caused the human race, every single human being on the planet, to take stock, in different ways, of their lives, their selves, their pasts, presents, and futures.

It’s the worst of times because a pandemic, the intensity of which they say is still to come, has already crippled nations, it’ peoples, its leaders, its economies, claiming lives by the millions, affecting many more. The uncertainty is a never before experienced event for all of humanity.

The uncertainty has caused a never before experienced event of togetherness. As always, even with this global health crisis worsening by the day, perspective is everything. And there’s no other experience that works wonders for putting things into perspective – by first shattering and then reshaping it – than motherhood. Right from carrying the life inside her to birthing, going onto watch her grow, shaping what she can, and above all, letting her go, for she has to ultimately forge her path in the world, a mother’s only lesson is one in perspective.

Thoughts I gathered on this lesson holds me in stead during these best and worst of times – it asks of me to turn the worst of times into the best. I explored them deeply in the chapter titled Letting Go, in my new book Momspeak, and On Mother’s Day today, I’d like to share them with you.

The letting go has to do with the future too, and a preparation, affirmation, acknowledgement of it. We all know we’re going to die, but do we ever mindfully contemplate a world where we have ceased to exist? Nisha, mother to Nakul and Neel, voices this, but she poses a string of fun questions to me, ‘Like, have you ever thought how one day your daughter might be a super-famous pop singer and you will become the famous X ki maa? And then you’ll be a Wikipedia entry when you’re dead? What does that mean?’ Even as I reel from Nisha’s clairvoyant probing—how does she know about Ahaana’s predilection and penchant for crooning Ariana Grande songs?—she goes all existential, but in a good way, ‘It’s a deep, changing the centre of the universe, kind of truth. Genetically, sure, it’s a perpetuation of your pool. But, for all practical purposes, they’re a memento mori—a symbol of your death, your mortality—from the moment they are born. And really, nothing else.’ When they say birth and death are intrinsically intertwined, this is what it means for the mother who has done the birthing business—not only is the certainty of death a given for the one who has just been born, the mother, in her near-death experience of giving birth, is also, in effect, that much closer to it. This universal truth draws attention to itself bang in the middle of her giving life. (…) It is up to us to seek the affirmation inherent in it then, because letting go does not mean you do not care. Oh no. There is much too much building and shaping and crafting and moulding to be done here, with a lot of care. Oh yes. It is, in some sense, an ultimate letting go, because you have made a bid for reaching out to the universe.

Read the many funny, bittersweet stories of motherhood in Pooja Pande’s Momspeak. Get the book here.

You can’t have a happy family unless you’re happy yourself. Raageshwari Loomba, an award-winning speaker on mindfulness, shows us how to create an excellent atmosphere for the entire family to thrive in. Her relatable style is coupled with real-life examples, such as that of Albert Einstein, who couldn’t speak till the age of four and was a poor student. His parents encouraged him with love and allowed him to learn at his own pace. This, she shows, is the way to bring up your own little genius.
Building a Happy Family brings to you 11 simple mindfulness philosophies that will enrich and strengthen your and your children’s inner world. Through scientific research and her own intimate story of heartbreak and facial paralysis, Raageshwari emphasises how our thoughts can manifest further struggles or glory, and how teaching children early that our inner world attracts our outer world is key. Parents are taught to encourage their children’s original expressions, creativity and joy, and not lose sight of it in their own lives too. This is the secret to a happy family.

Read below an interview with the author:

Please tell us about a piece of advice that you got from your mother and still hold on to.

As a child, I remember standing in the kitchen beside my beloved Mom Veera, watching her cook. She would return from office and whip up a delicious tadka dal. She always said and repeats even today “Be grateful you have food that you can eat. Be grateful that you have a family to share it with”. As a child, it translated in my mind to the idea that women must cook. But today, I know the deeper significance it has is to create the true essence of a family. It’s all about gratitude, simplicity and togetherness. 

You mention in the book that parenting is about raising the parent and not the child. Would you like to tell us about how you came to a realization this profound?

Even as a child, I would spend time with children younger than me. In school, my friends would be looking for me but I would be helping the teachers in the kindergarten section. I have always loved  spending time with toddlers. Where others see tantrums, I see wisdom. I like that toddlers are mindful, easy-going, loving, forgiving and filled with unique insights. They hold no grudges from the past and have no anxiety about the future. The way they learn to walk is a treat to watch. They have single-minded focus. They fall many times but they stand up and try again. And it’s not out of a sense of competition. They are not looking over their shoulders to see if other toddlers have started to walk first. They simply excel in completing the tasks that matter to them. They walk up to strangers and cuddle and bond, not affected by any culture, status or moral ground. They relish these moments and enjoy them to the fullest. What a marvellous attribute of Mindfulness they have. What a pity we parents make them lose it. However, we are well-meaning parents, and once had these very qualities too. So it makes me wonder why many of us don’t see that we can learn about life from these ‘little masters’!

With parents in metropolitan cities working longer hours, children have less access and time to spend with their parents. Any tips on how families can consciously work on this?

Parents who work don’t have any lesser of a bond with their children than the parents who are home with their children all day. The secret lies in connecting with your child and their deep interests. A study by the University of Toronto published in the Journal of Marriage and Family in 2015 said that the average number of hours that parents spend with their children has only grown over the years, contrary to what parents may feel or believe. It has grown from 7.3 hours in 1975 to 13.7 hours in 2010, even as the share of mothers working outside the home rose from 41% in 1965 to 71% in 2014. For fathers, the number rose from 2.4 hours in 1975 to 7.2 hours in 2010. Yet, we parents think we are not doing enough and end up feeling guilty and at fault. So the answer lies in quality time. It is not at all important to always hover around your children to build a bond with them. In fact, step back, and try to enjoy just a 15-minute play date filled with presence, no agenda and complete trust. The idea is to be fully present and give them your complete attention whenever you are with them.

You emphasize on reading as a habit. Which were your favourite books growing up?

Little Snow Girl, Cinderella and Ramayana immediately bring back memories of my childhood. I actually think Cinderella is a masterpiece if explained to a child well. I had little focus on the Prince. For me, the moral of the story was loud and clear—if you are kind, miracles will surround you.

What is the best time for kids to use affirmations during the day? How can a parent choose the right one?

The morning time as they wake up is the best for affirmations, because a good night’s sleep is a mental cleanser. As we wake up, we are naturally in a meditative state. So it is best to stand in front of the mirror or affirm in bed itself to cement your cleansed mind with these beliefs. Choose affirmations according to an attribute you wish to invite into your life. Observe that most probably the child will mirror qualities that you possess or struggle to have yourself.  For example, if your child is shy, but wishes to be an extrovert, let them affirm something like, ‘I love my ideas, and I happily share them with the world’. If your child is struggling to focus on books, they can affirm, ‘I enjoy observing the shape of numbers and letters in books.’ If the child is older the affirmation could be, ‘Books are my doorway to great ideas. I’m falling in love with books on a daily basis.’ If your child stammers (first observe if the home has caustic fights, or if the child or either parent is reprimanded constantly to ‘shut up’ or ‘be quiet’) the affirmation could be, ‘I love the sound of my own voice. The world loves the sound of my own voice. I speak clearly just like a king/queen. 

Raising kids in a competitive world can bring out parents’ insecurities at times. Any suggestions on dealing with those?

This book is not about training your child to be the best. This book is about making YOU realise that you already have the best child. The Mindfulness journey can only begin from this thought.  Observe ‘successful adults ’ (according to your definition )  Do they look happy? The highest number of mental health tragedies are linked to the so-called ‘high achievers’. Our definitions of success and accomplishments will have to change. Most of us adults walk around directionless, and with that empty soul we decide to guide our children. We will have to first nurture our inner child and tell ourselves ‘we are perfect the way we are’. And we will have to allow our children to follow their bliss. We as a community of families, schools and colleges will have to collectively re-define success and accomplishments so our children can truly thrive. We will have to focus on building their inner world first. It is important to make them believe that they are perfect the way they are, and that a parents’ love is not conditional at any cost. We adults will have to first believe ourselves that happiness is not a moving target; happiness is right here, right now.

Looking after yourself before others is necessary for an emotionally healthy life and also very tricky when you’re teaching your kids. Any tips for parents on this?

In my book, I feel the most important chapter is one called ‘Oxygen mask theory’. When you are energized with oxygen first, you will be more alert and able to attend to your child and navigate a crisis situation far better. Parenting too needs an oxygen mask theory. Your needs are like oxygen. Parents must learn to attend to their own needs first, so they can enjoy parenting, not have outbursts and handle decisions with balance. Another important reason why you must value your needs is that it sends an important message to your child. I talk about childhood patterns in the book, so if you want your child to grow up as someone who nurtures himself/herself, then there is no better person than you to show this to your child!

 If you could go back to your 20-year-old self and give her a piece of advice, what would that be?

Forgive and let go of the past, don’t worry about the future. Just enjoy this beautiful moment called NOW!

 On the occasion of Mother’s Day, is there a message you’d like to share with all the wonderful mothers out there?

First I want to make a space for women who may be struggling to become mothers biologically. I always think of you on every Mother’s Day. I want you to remember this—we women are born mothers. There is something deeply spiritual how daughters nurture their parents from the moment they are born. So you were, are and always will be a mother.

Happy Mother’s Day! Now I would like to wish the rest of us who have been lucky to have been blessed with a child. Remember that you have a child, which is a blessing.  On Mother’s Day, I would like to all  of us to remember that we are the only ones who can understand each other’s pain, shortcomings, guilt and turmoil like no one else can. Hence, we must be the last ones to cause pain to each other’s soul.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Get your copy of Building a Happy Family here 🙂