The Observer An IIJNM publication
Indian students in Ukraine face anxiety, uncertainty about their future as the war continues | P 2
Vol. 21, Issue 23
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Many schools in B’luru unaware about the scheme By Swarali Bodas
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Owing to a shortage of Braille books in schools for the blind in the city, multiple students have to share one book | Courtesy: Pexels Prakash G, A teacher at The Divine Light School for the Blind, Whitefield, said the government sometimes does provide them books, but never on time. “More than a year goes by and then they send us some books... those are of no use then,” he said. Kannikka Rajamurthi, another teacher at the same school,
also spoke about the difficulties that she and her colleagues face as their students do not have access to enough books. “It is difficult to teach blind students. On top of it, if one book is being shared among four or five students, it gets really difficult. They aren’t getting quality education not because of their
disability, but because of lack of accessibility,” she said. According to the state budget for 2021-22, to assist visually impaired students studying in classes 1 to 10 in special schools, ‘Sushravya’ digital book banks were to be established. Digital books were supposed to be supplied to the special schools. However, the budget for 202223, presented by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on March 4, had no mention of Braille books or digital book banks. The administrative heads of most blind schools in Bengaluru have not even heard of the digital banks promised in the budget. Siddhesh Davekar, administrative head at Jyothi Seva, a home for blind children, said: “I am at this school for more than seven years. In these seven years, I have heard promises from the government about Braille books and other facilities, but we have never received them. This is the first time I am hearing of the concept of digital book banks.” ►Continued on page 3
Work from home during lockdowns raised mental anguish among women
Had more work at home despite help from men By Tina Freese
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omen working from home had more workload than men during the pandemic-induced lockdowns, affecting their mental health, as per a study. Deloitte’s study on the impact of pandemic on working women has revealed that 65 per cent of the surveyed women had shouldered greater responsibility than men for household chores, one-third believed their workload had increased, 58 per cent of those with children reported added childcare responsibility.
Gender roles and stigma in the society contributed to the increased workload on women during the pandemic | Courtesy: Apeksha Priya Nearly 82 per cent of women said their lives had been severely disrupted by the pandemic. Namrata Poptani, who works in GSS Architects, informed The Observer: “Sometimes it became
https://twitter.com/ observer_weekly Epaper: https://issu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in
Fitness watches and Fitbit trackers gained popularity during the lockdown as gyms closed down | P 3
Govt’s promise of Braille books yet to see the light of the day
harathi Kokade, 15, a blind student studying at Sri Rakum school, Indiranagar, still learns from old Braille textbooks provided by her school. At the Divine Light School for the Blind, one Braille book is shared among five students. The promised Braille books and digital book banks never reached the table of blind schools in Bengaluru. “Our seniors used these books and now we have been given the same books. We aren’t getting any new books,” said Bharathi. Jyothi Suresh, administrative head at Sri Rakum, said they never received any Braille books from the government. “We either get funding from NGOs or manage on our own,” she informed.
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very difficult to manage work and home at the same time. Besides household chores, if there is something going on in the house, we can’t ignore it, right? We have to attend to it. The men
in the family do help, but most of the work mostly falls on the women. That’s sadly how society is programmed to work.” Many women faced a lot of stress during lockdowns. Atashi Sharma, 48, a school teacher, had a similar experience. “The lockdown time was very stressful. Not just for me..., it was (so) for almost every working woman. With no domestic help all, work like cleaning, cooking and office work on top of it was a herculean task. Relief came only when things got better and I could get my domestic help back. “I could not keep track of time, it was like the days were passing so quickly, and all I did every day was just work,” she added. The workload was more on women, but family support helped many to cope with it. ►Continued on page 3
News Briefs
US Fed hikes rates first time since 2018
The US Federal Reserve has announced a 0.25 per cent hike in its benchmark short-term interest rate. Amid high inflation, the decision was taken at the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The last hike that was approved by the committee was back in December 2018.
World court orders Russia to suspend invasion
The UN top court has ordered Russia to suspend its invasion of Ukraine. “The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend military operations that it commenced on 24 February on the territory of Ukraine,” presiding judge Joan Donoghue told.
Bus catches fire in MP, no passenger injured
About 60 passengers escaped unhurt after the bus they were travelling in caught fire on a highway in MP’s Betul district on Wednesday night. After smoke started billowing, all passengers safely disembarked from the vehicle. A probe is on to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Israel records 2 cases of a new Covid variant
Israel’s health ministry has said that it has recorded two cases of a new Covid variant. The strain, combining two sub-variants of the Omicron version of the Covid-19 virus – dubbed BA.1 and BA.2 – was recorded during PCR tests on two passengers arriving at Ben Gurion airport.
Rupee rises to 75.89 against US dollar
The rupee advanced 32 paise to 75.89 against the US dollar in the opening trade on Thursday, supported by positive domestic equities, broad dollar weakness and softening crude oil prices. The rupee opened higher, tracking overnight weakness in the greenback and crude oil, Reliance Securities said in a research note. “Risk assets rose, and the dollar declined despite the Federal Reserve signalling an aggressive monetary tightening cycle and could also lend support to the rupee,” it added.
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The Observer
EDUCATION
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Students face uncertainty as the Ukraine crisis continues
They are waiting for online classes to begin By Saumyangi Yadav
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ndian students studying in Ukraine are worried about their education and future as uncertainty looms due to current Russia-Ukraine situation. Anushka Pant, 22, a first-year medical student at the Kharkiv National Medical University in Ukraine,informed The Observer: “Our education has been severely affected by the war as all our classes have been halted. Not only that, the stress and anxiety that we suffered during our days in the bunker and even after that has affected our education and mental health a lot.” About 2,000 Indian students were stuck in their hostel bunker for more than a week in Kharkiv when the war started in Ukraine. Anushka and her fellow Indian students were brought back to India on March 7. “Even if online classes start, as the university is saying, it will be nearly impossible to complete all the chapters that we have this semester online. So we are really not sure what is going to happen now,” Pant added.
Across the City
Sunburn holi weekend in Phoenix Marketcity on March 19, saturday 9 pm Ekatvam Holi Music Fest 2022 on Friday, March 18, 7:30 pm to Sat,March 19, 12:00 pm in The Bangalore Gayana samaj Jokes Aaj Kal: Comedy Show in HSR layout on March 20, 12:30 am to March 27, 12:30 am. Isha Hatha Yoga Fest in Bengaluru from March 5, 7:30 am to March 27, 6:30 pm. Walking Tour Bangalore starts in Cubbon Park on March 20 at 10:30 am
Quiz
1. Which Hindu festival is the ‘festival of nine nights’? 2. During which month of the Islamic calendar do Muslims not eat and drink during the daylight hours? 3. Which Jewish festival celebrates the Jewish exodus from Egypt? 4. What is the major cultural festival of the Welsh speaking people of Wales? 5. What is the Sikh new year? 6. The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as what? 7. What is the fourth Sunday before Christmas called? 8. In which Hindu month, is Holi celebrated? ►Answers on page 3
Education is severely affected as classes have been halted due to the war, say students I Courtesy: Anushka Pant Ukraine’s universities have been trying to continue education. The Kharkiv National Medical University has notified its students it will start online classes on March 22. “Our university has been in constant touch with the students.By the look of messages and mails that we get, it seems they are conducting meetings to figure out a way of conducting distance education. How they are going to do with a war going on, we are not sure,” Pant said. Other universities like VN Karazina and universities
in Lviv and Uzhhorod have started online classes on March 15. Authorities have said if the situation does not improve soon, the students will have to be transferred to universities and colleges in other countries. Nikunj Gupta, another firstyear-student at the Kharkiv National Medical University, is hopeful about online education. “We have full faith in the university. I am sure the authorities will do their best to cope up with the syllabus and provide the students with the best education, even in these uncertain times of
a war in Ukraine,” he said. Parents are getting anxious about their children’s education and safety as the war has entered its fourth week. Geeta Pant, 50, mother of Anushka Pant, expressed to The Observer her concern about the prevailing situation in Ukraine. “Right now, we are just waiting for the situation to get a little stable. If online classes begin properly, then it will be a positive sign for us that the situation has stabilized. Of course, I am also concerned about her safety. I don’t know if offline classes will resume any time soon, but as long as it’s safe and education is not getting hampered, I will be thankful,” she said. According to an Indian Express report, the National Medical Commission (NMC) does not recognize or approve any medical course which is conducted only in online mode. This has caused anxiety among students. “We are also worried about this new NMC guideline as we might not be able to practise in India if online classes continue for a long time. But I hope that as it is an emergency situation we will be exempted,” said Anushka. Even if online classes are a success, the mental health of students is impacted which could then impact their education. saumyangi.y@iijnm.org
Citizen’s Voice
Congress faces threat of being edged out
The results of the recent state assembly elections have reaffirmed the BJP’s status as the dominant force in Indian politics. Its primary opponent, the Congress, put up its worst show in the history of the UP elections. Unless things change drastically for the party, regional parties might create an anti-NDA alliance without the the Congress in it. Sourasis Bose
Hijab verdict could cause more dropouts
Rejecting petitions filed by Muslim girls, the Karnataka High Court has ruled that wearing a hijab is not an essential part of the Islam and a restriction on school uniforms is constitutionally permissible. The decision could lead more Muslim girls, particularly those from conservative families, dropping out of school, affecting their studies. Arshiya Agarwal
Missing out on the fun in Mumbai’s Holi
Holi has been a big part of my life. The Festival of Colours always brings joy.Unfortunately, it comes around final exams every year. . Presently living in a city that doesn’t celebrate the festival on a big scale, I will miss Holi in my home city, Mumbai. I will miss eating ghughras and jalebis, and attending DJ parties while panicking about the exam. Snehi Shah
Entrance exams are tough to crack
Students left with little hope about their future By Chhavi Vohra
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hristi Sharma, 21, a student, has given CAT twice, but wasn’t able to score the required percentile to clear the examination. She feels demotivated as all her friends are now pursuing their masters, whereas she’s still trying to crack the exam to secure admission to a well-reputable college. “I can get admitted to an average college, but then I won’t be able to secure a good job. Going abroad for studies isn’t an option as my parents won’t be able to expend that much,” she said. The tough exam pattern, high competition owing to limited seats and stress, pressure to clear the exams have left students like Shristi with very little hope for a bright future. Another student, Shivani Kaul, 22, informed The Observer: “The competition is fierce with everybody in the race to get admitted to premier institutes of the country. I am currently doing
Students face stress and pressure due to tough exam pattern and high competition owing to limited seats I Courtesy: pexels.com my masters from distance… But I sometimes miss the college environment, the corridors with the hustle bustle of students, the teachers and the air filled with the aroma of canteen food.” Due to the rising competition, many Indian students are now opting to study abroad. Rhea Rawal, 22, a student preparing to go to Canada for her masters in economics, shared: “The quality of education in western countries is good and the living standards are also superior. The entrance tests, too, are
easier to crack. So it seems right that one opts for these colleges rather than waiting to meet the high percentile requirements of Indian entrance examinations.” On the other hand, parents are worried about their children’s future. Shilpa Sharma, mother of Shristi, who made two futile attempts at CAT, said: “There’s an urgent need for reforms in our testing system or an increase in the number of quality institutes in India, or students will continue to suffer, especially those with dreams and the cali-
bre to achieve them. There needs to be space for each and every student; otherwise, it will give a rise to complex and demotivation among students.” Atul Poddar, an economics teacher and director of Lotus Circle Study Centre, wishes there is a more appropriate testing mechanism in place. “We admit so many students each year, but only some are able to crack the entrance. It’s sad to think of those who can’t even enroll in the classes. There shouldn’t be a single exam to decide your future. One’s personality needs to be considered before they can get admitted to a college,” he said. Some students end up compromising their school tests to prepare for entrance exams. Abhilash Sinha, co-trustee of Little Seed NGO, an education NGO, explained: “Students face a lot of pressure due to these examinations. There is a problem of time management as they don’t know if they should study for the CBSE board exams or entrance exams as both have completely different pattern and require thorough study. There is not enough time to study and give one’s 100 per cent. This confusion can waste more time.” chhavi.v@iijnm.org
CITY
The Observer Thursday, March 17, 2022
Fitbits grab people’s attention
They track heart rate, calorie burn and sleep By Anwesha Singh
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ockdowns and closure of gyms led 24-year-old Mayank Gupta to use Fitbit watches and trackers to track his calorie burns and better understand his sleep quality. Fitbit watches and trackers are devices that keep track of activities like steps and distance covered, calories burned, heart rate, sleep quality and duration, and breathing rate, etc. “As lockdowns were imposed and gyms closed, I decided to try a fitness tracker as I had heard about it a lot from my friends and family about its benefits. I liked their features a lot ... the best one was heart rate variabilities which informed me about my stress levels,” Mayank Gupta informed The Observer. Meha Sharma, 23, said the devices enable her to keep track of her health. “I purchased a fitness tracker online on my friend’s recommendation. The fitness tracker I use updates me about my calorie burn, menstrual cycle and stress levels.” She further added that she even asked her father to purchase one, after he started working from home, in order to keep track of his health.
Quiz answers
1. Navratri 2. Ramadan 3.Pesach 4. Eisteddfod 5. Baisakhi 6. Moon Festival. 7. The First Sunday of Advent 8. Phagun
Twitterati Talk
@vivekagnihotri For the first time ever, a Hindi film’s posters put up in prestigious sites of UK. Fully financed by the viewers. Thanks a lot @ManishTiwariUK
Team Observer Editor: Swarali Bodas Reporters: Anwesha Singh, Saumyangi Yadav, Tina Freese, Swarali Bodas, Chhavi Vohra Copy-editors:Anwesha Singh, Tina Freese, Saumyangi Yadav, Chhavi Vohra Page Layout: Anwesha Singh, Tina Freese, Saumyangi Yadav, Chhavi Vohra Photo Editors: Saumyangi Yadav, Chhavi Vohra, Tina Freese, Swarali Bodas Supplement: Simran Sharma, Ayndrila Banerjee
Different features of fitbit devices, like sleep tracker, pedometer and calorie counter, have caught people’s attention | Courtesy: Pexels Ishika Reddy, another user of Fitbit watches, is also impressed by its features a lot. “One of the best features for me is the distance covered and steps counted. It monitors my steps in a day and also motivates me to complete my goal of 10,000 or more steps per day.” The global demand for Fitbit watches and trackers has increased since the onset of the pandemic. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, the global fitness tracker market size showed a growth of 19.5 per cent in 2020, and the market is expected to grow from $36.34 billion in 2020 to $114.36 billion in 2028 at a CAGR known as compound annual growth rate of 15.4 per cent. Fitness trackers in market The market is filled with a variety of fitness trackers with an
array of features. Sumit Bhatla, owner of Sri Sai Electronics, informed The Observer: “People, especially youths, look for Fitbit watches and trackers which calculate their calorie burns and heartbeat rates. We sell watches ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 7,000 with features like calculating distance covered, heart rate every few minutes, sleep tracking among many others.” The trackers also check other health parameters which includes menstrual cycle, blood oxygen level, exercise routine, stress levels, etc. Ankita Pandey, a fitness trainer, believes that the technology used by these fitness trackers has enabled people know more about their health parameters. “Fitness trackers now determine people’s stress levels and are
No pressure on govt, Braille books delayed
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►Continued from page 1 ccording to an article published on the website LiveLaw.in, a comprehensive legal news portal, in September 2021, the Karnataka High Court had given the order to the state government to provide Braille textbooks for visually disabled students within a time period of 15 days. But even after six months, the students have not received the textbooks. As per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the education to persons who are blind or deaf or both should be imparted in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication. Shashi Kumar, an educationist and general secretary of the Associated Management of English Medium Schools in Karnataka, informed The Observer: “To come to think of it, it is nothing special. When the government is not able to provide the basic and regular textbooks to schools and children, then providing Braille textbooks to special schools is out of the question!” When sought to know about the reasons for the possible delays in distributing books, Kumar added: “The delay is because there is no pressure for anyone. There is a different department
guided with breathing exercises. They also get to know about their sleep routines and patterns, oxygen levels, etc. This kind of information helps people to get more information about their health. And they can consult doctors if they feel their health and wellbeing is not right.” Fitness trackers also motivate people to complete their daily targets as well goals. “Suppose you set a goal of… 10,000 steps a day and you try your best to achieve it. After accomplishing the goal, you feel happy… and… more inspired to maintain your health,” Ankita Pandey added further. When asked about people using fitness trackers, she said: “Technology has really changed things for us. Now, you can get fitness trackers which gives information about your sleep routine and rapid eye movement. Who would have thought that technology will notify you about your sleep and also monitor your stress levels?” An article published by The New Indian Express in March 2022 had spoke about some of the best fitness tracker bands in India. These include Mi Smart Band 5, OnePlus Smart Band and Oppo Smart Band. They come with features like swim tracker, sleep tracker, pedometer, calorie counter, heart rate monitor and blood oxygen saturation tracker and others. anwesha.s@iijnm.org
3 This day That year
Vote to end the apartheid On this day in 1992, nearly 69 percent of the white South African voters backed the reforms of F.W. de Klerk’s —which included the repeal of racially discriminatory laws—and also effectively endorsed the dismantling of apartheid.
Quote of the day
Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don’t complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don’t bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live! ― Bob Marley
Weather
Maximum temperature: 35°C Minimum temperature: 19°C Humidity: 19% UV Index: Very Strong Wind: 18 km/hr Precipitation: Nil
Working under stress is leading to anxiety
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The NEP talks about bringing in inclusive education for students | Courtesy: Pexels for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. They should be looking after this as it is their responsibility. It is really unfortunate and bad for the students that such kind of people are in power because of whom they are deprived of some of the essential things like textbooks.” NEP 2020 discusses about inclusive education like languageappropriate books with large print, Braille books. swarali.b@iijnm.org
► Continued from page 1 aishali Singh, 26, who works in an IT firm, said: “I feel women have more workload... than men. We have to do household work like cooking and cleaning, too. A supportive family is very helpful in such times. Whenever I had meetings and other critical work, my mother in law helped out. So that saved me from... stress.” Gender roles have always been a part of Indian society, but the Covid-induced lockdowns made them more evident. Preet Pal Singh, whose mother is an economics teacher in a senior secondary school, saw this gender divide in his home. “It is true that certain roles are assigned to women which is unfair. Everyone in the family tried to help my mother during the lockdown in household work.” But still, she had to do most of the household work. Working under such pressure from home and office lead to a bad mental health and anxiety issues, psychologists say. Trina Banerjee, a clinical psychologist in Bengaluru, said: “Women have a tendency to take up responsibility for household work. This mostly comes from the patriarchal set-up they grow up in. Many women do not
Women are facing mental health issues | Courtesy: Pexels even consider household work as men’s work. This excessive pressure to manage both household and office work can lead to anxiety; they might even feel depressed. Many of my female working patients complained about this during the lockdown.” Maria A, a Bengaluru-based sociologist, noted: “The fact that women still have to do all the household work is due to patriarchal society. Society mostly associates household work like cleaning or looking after kids with women which is unfair.” Survey by Economics Consulting Group shows that 14 per cent of women surveyed have been forced to move out of full-time jobs and 73 per cent of women reported rise in workload. tina.f@iijnm.org
Holi Holi: A stain that stays for a lifetime 4
The Observer
SUPPLEMENT
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Harassment and bullying during Holi in the name of festivities has ruined the Holi experience for many, writes Ayndrila Banerjee
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emember when the phrase ‘Bura na maano holi hai’ was normalised to justify lathering someone up with colour regardless of their choice? This is problematic, if not particularly against the festival itself. The issue is about those who use Holi as an excuse to indulge in invading someone’s personal space, inappropriate touching and, at times, even harassment. As kids, we used to arm ourselves with water guns, balloons filled with water and rangoli during the early hours of Holi. The celebration was limited to a small group of friends, family and a few acquaintances. But as we grew up the festival of colurs : Holi turned out to be something we had to avoid, if only to save ourselves from harassment. Riya Sharma, from Delhi, shared why she stopped playing Holi “I have stopped celebrating my favourite festival. I used to love Holi, but I just don’t feel like playing now. Aged uncles or deviant bhayyias would just touch you inappropriately in the name of festival. It has happened so many times. That ruined my whole festive mood.” Four years ago, women stu-
dents of University of Delhi held a protest as many of them were targets of sexual harass-
m e n t around their campuses. Women often fall victim to incidents much before the actual festival, when they travel to college or work. Such incidents are enough to scare them off the celebrations for life. While it is common to assume that the harassment is towards women, it is true that many men also share bad experiences. Harshit Lakshman, a student, suggests that there is a clear gap between how Holi is portrayed
and largely romanticised in movies while the reality is very different. “I used to like Holi as a child. But now I have realised that it is
further
said.
Apart from nonconsensual
just a way of bullying people or enforcing things on them ”he
touching and bullying, people like Harshit also feel that festivals like Holi trigger body image issues. He said: “When guys used to take off their tops for fun, I used to feel skinny.” Then there are people who feel that the festival blatantly vio-
lates their personal boundaries. The concept of ‘a ‘no’ means no’ diminishes and becomes almost neglected especially during festivals like these where touch is involved. There have been times where a person who might be out for work is bothered and thrown colours onby miscreants. What might give joy to some people translates to inconvenience for others. Nowadays it has come to a point that someone who does not relate to the delights of Holi gets questioned about their ‘manliness’. Rahul Agarwal (name changed) said: “There was a time I used to avoid playing Holi. My roommates asked me if I am a ‘man’ at all. But I held my ground and preferred to keep my right to privacy intact.” The true essence of Holi, the estival of Colours, gradually loses its meaning as people start to grow up. For many, it turns into a horrifying experience, prompting them to stay indoors and not celebrate it at all. If only people understood boundaries and stopped seeing the festival as an opportunity to create nuisance, it would be a celebration for all. ayndrila.b@iijnm.org
The Festival of colours is losing its charm With Holi losing its charm and traders its business, covid has changed the way people celebrate the festival says Simran Sharma.
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ith uncoloured cheeks, people fearing touch, confined within houses, Holi lost its colours to the pandemic, remembers Kavya Singh. “The pandemic has snatched away the enthusiasm we had during the festival”, Singh said. Holi is an integral festival in the country, and it has been a symbol of unity and joy for people. Holi is one of the most awaited festivals in India, with faces smeared in red, blue, green, and yellows. The two-day festivities start with ‘Holika Dahan’, which marks the victory of good over evil. Days before the festival, people start collecting wood for a bonfire. The second day of the festivities involves people soaked in more colours than a rainbow. Dancing and drinking ‘bhang’ are the indispensable parts in the holi festivities. Since the beginning of the Pandemic, the spirits of the festival have been dampened. The brightly coloured skies of North India have been seen in pale blue hues for the last two years. As per the Standard Operating Procedure released by the government last year, many states had banned all private or public celebrations to ensure the safety of people amid Covid-19. According to a report in India Today, many small traders lost tremendous business in the Holi time
People enjoying Holi in March, 2020 before the pandemic hit | Credit: Simran Sharma because of the pandemic. festival. Although Covid cases Rahul Sharma, 26 years old, were coming down by that time, told The Observer: “We did have many did not even come out of Holi celebration in the pandem- their homes. Festivals are for ic, but it was not the way it used families and friends to come toto be. We did have a program in gether and have revelry, but the our colony, but I could see people pandemic has done the contrary were very fearful of touch- the to all of us.” He was also very very thing that makes up this worried for his father who has
diabeties, so he did not want him to even go out and meet other people, let alone play Holi. Contrary to this, there were many whom the virus left undeterred. They celebrated the festival despite the virus spreading all over the country. Shilp Nidhi, a 12-year-old celebrated holi in full swing with balloons filled with water and colours. “No one said anything to us, and my friends and I went out to play with water balloons and different colours. All the old people of the house did also play although not as much as we did”, she further added. Many college students celebrated Holi properly for the last time in 2020. Apeksha Priya remembers missing home on Holi last to last year, and her friends came to cheer her up. “Although we were getting calls from home to not go to large gatherings, we did not pay any heed. Covid cases were rising, but it was not that big a problem. We played and partied but hardly knew that it was the last time we played Holi like this. Pandemic changed the definition of Holi itself.” With Omicron cases going down and life retreating to normal, people are looking forward to this year’s Holi celebration. This year, the festival of colours is adding its shade to the travel, hospitality, and airline industry.
As per a Business Line’s report, travel agencies have seen a 40 to 50 per cent increase in the number of bookings ahead of Holi. Kavya Singh hopes that she will be able to play Holi this year properly. “We all were so scared of colours and preferred contactless celebrations for the last two years. Things are looking better as of now, and I hope we will be able to play Holi as we used to a few years back before covid hit.” Many people have lost their family members to the infectionPandemic changed lives in a way that cannot be turned to normal ever again. However, people are hopeful and are looking forward to this year’s Holi with enthusiasm. But the horrid memories of the past years still come back with the festival itself. Atashi Sharma, a middle-aged woman, said, “The meaning of Holi has changed for me forever. Last year the festival had emerged as the calm before the storm; it came just before the catastrophic second wave. It was the last celebration of Holi for many families. When I think about the festival this year, all I see and remember is the terror that followed it last year due to covid. For a long time, I will not be able to enjoy the festival with the same enthusiasm with which I used to celebrate it.” simran.s@iijnm.org