Page 58 - Magazine

Adapting to the New Normal

T
“ hese are tough times and everyone is hoping to come out of it in the
strongest way possible.”

A Philosopher from the 5th century BCE once said - “The only thing that is
constant is change.” It never felt as true as it does now in 2020. Everything
from peoples’ habits to their mindset has changed.

One of the positive changes has been in the way how people view health.
People who earlier preached about the importance of money are now
enlightening people with their knowledge of health.

International trade came to a halt during the initial period of the spread

of the pandemic. As a result, countries realized the importance of being
self-sufficient and our government has, as a result, started promoting local
goods. Some of the popularly used Chinese apps have also been banned
due to the misbehavior of the Chinese army on the borders.

But not all changes have been positive. Millions of people have lost their
livelihood and have been forced to return to their villages with no clue about
their future.

A multitude of literate and illiterate people have switched to digital
applications and websites for everything from offices to schools, health

consultations to get-togethers, and shopping to window-shopping. Street
vendors have started accepting online payments and local shopkeepers
have begun delivering things to people’s doorstep.

Despite students initially enjoying month-long extended holidays, schools
and teachers came up with the idea of online teaching using ingenious
techniques, and students were again attending schools, from their homes.

There have been many guesses about whether the new normal will remain

or things will go back to the old normal. But the only correct guess is that
time has the answer.

By Pragyaat Goel | XI-D

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