Interviewer:
Gurudev, Pranam.
Gurudev:
Pranam, my son.
Interviewer:
The COVID situation is gradually taking a horrific turn. We are seeing that while earlier it was mainly the elderly and the sick being affected, now young people and children are also falling ill. Another thing I've noticed, Gurudev, is that in families where an infection occurs, the neighbors and those nearby are isolating them in a very unfortunate way. They are avoiding them entirely. This is a very distressing social issue. I would like your guidance on this, as these people haven't committed any crime.
Gurudev:
No one has done anything wrong. This is a natural occurrence, a germ that is spreading. Anyone can be affected at any time. Just because I am infected doesn't mean my house should be completely avoided by everyone. I see this happening—people won't even go near. It is true the disease is like that, but what we see now is that while the second wave is subsiding, a third wave is approaching. From what we hear, this third wave might be even more horrific.
Gurudev:
The intimacy between people is diminishing. I have said before that since COVID started, even the relationship between a father and son has become distant. If a father is infected, the son may not look after him. This is a situation where I see no clear way out yet.
Gurudev:
Think about it—if your neighbor is affected and you avoid them, what will happen when it happens to you? This is how it is spreading. One thing I've noticed is that previously, you had to touch someone to get COVID. Now, it seems to be becoming airborne. Even those staying strictly indoors are getting infected. How is that possible?
Gurudev:
The government has been very late in its response. A lockdown should have been implemented much earlier. During the elections, they could have had a complete lockdown with only the voting day open, and then back to lockdown. But neither the central nor the state governments paid heed. As a result, we, the common people, are suffering. Those at the top are getting vaccines and proper care, but we are facing the difficulties.
Gurudev:
Our safety is in our own hands. The government isn't going to help much—giving some rice isn't real help. The main requirement is the vaccine, which isn't available in the market. The situation has become a mess. Even the person responsible for the vaccines seems frustrated and has left. We need the vaccine to curb this. This trend might continue through June and July.
Gurudev:
If people and the government don't become conscious, only the common man will suffer. They have kept buses running but stopped trains. What kind of lockdown is this? Buses are overcrowded with people standing shoulder to shoulder. We can see this with our own eyes; we don't need the TV for that. This only makes things worse. A lockdown of at least 15 to 20 days is necessary.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, many families are in home quarantine because there is no room in hospitals. Hospitals are saying they can take patients but can't guarantee oxygen or treatment. Moreover, the costs are beyond the reach of the common man. In such a state, if neighbors showed some sympathy and helped with medicines or daily groceries, it would make a difference.
Gurudev:
It's not just about sympathy. When a son doesn't look after his father, or a father doesn't look after his son because of COVID, what can we expect from neighbors? This social decline is tragic. We live together in a society, yet as soon as someone gets COVID, they are shunned. It's heart-wrenching. It could happen to me tomorrow, and the result will be the same.
Gurudev:
Helping from a distance with necessary precautions is what should be done. We live in a society, and we must do this. The government won't do it. An MLA might avoid a COVID patient out of fear for their own health. They were elected to serve the people, but if they flee out of fear, what's the point?
Gurudev:
I see many kind-hearted people helping others regardless of party or politics. That is necessary, or society will cease to exist. Those who survive won't trust society anymore. The government can't even provide vaccines, and you can't buy them even if you have money.
Gurudev:
In hospitals, the elderly are lined up everywhere. They only take a new patient when a bed becomes vacant. We need to increase bed capacity. The government should book hotels and convert them into wards. Even if they have to be treated on the floor, treatment and vaccines must be provided. That would give people some relief.
Gurudev:
This wave will continue. The third wave is already here, and no one knows its symptoms yet. Doctors can't say for sure until it happens. We are all worried. Here at Shantipur, we are performing religious rituals and prayers for world peace. We aren't being negligent, but the virus isn't stopping; it's increasing due to people's lack of awareness.
Gurudev:
People aren't maintaining distance or wearing masks properly. Although, I've noticed lately that about 99% of people on the streets are wearing masks and carrying sanitizers. But that might not be enough for the third wave if it's truly airborne. This is like a biological war—you don't need bullets to kill; people just die.
Gurudev:
It seems designed for humans to kill humans. God will never forgive those who are doing this. What is the fault of the common man, the daily laborers, or families? Those who created this think they've achieved something, but they've lost control. It has become a massive business for vaccines, involving international conspiracies. We are the victims—not just here, but in Bangladesh and across the world.
Gurudev:
Even the WHO (World Health Organization) knew about this and should have taken precautions earlier, but they didn't. It's as if people are born just to die. My request to everyone is to wear masks as much as possible, stay home, and stay safe. The government won't do much. Your life is in your hands. Oxygen is also scarce in the market. We don't have clear guidelines. People are just doing what they can to survive.
Interviewer:
Friends, you heard Gurudev discuss various aspects of the pandemic. As you know, spiritual prayers for world peace are being conducted regularly at Shantipur. Today, we emphasized helping those who are affected—while maintaining your own safety—rather than shunning them. We must move away from the mindset of isolating these families as if they've committed a crime. We must take responsibility for our own safety because relying solely on the government in a country of 140 crore people is impractical. Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam.
Spiritual Insight
In this urgent message, Gurudev highlights the devastating social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic beyond its physical toll. The breakdown of family bonds—where a son may not care for an infected father—reflects a deeper spiritual crisis. The warning about the third wave being potentially airborne and the description of the pandemic as a "biological war" remind us that human actions have unleashed forces beyond our control. Yet, the core teaching remains: we must help each other while taking precautions, rather than abandoning those in need. The rituals at Shantipur demonstrate that spiritual response must accompany practical action in times of crisis.