Why I am about to face 'depression' ? Animals don't know that death is happening, human beings know and that's the tragedy around?

The animals don't know that death is happening and continue grazing placidly while others drop alongside them. The knowledge of death is reflective and conceptual, and animals are spared it. 

They live and they disappear with the same thoughtlessness: a few minutes of fear, a few seconds of anguish, and it is over. But to live a whole lifetime with the fate of death haunting one's dreams and even the most sun-filled days — that's something else.” 

― Ernest Becker author of the book 'The Denial of Death'

Snap: Chicago Tribune 

In Mahabharat, Yudhishthir is asked by Yaksha, What is truly the most 'amazing' matter in this world?

His response was : The most amazing thing is, though everyone knows human beings are mortal, yet everybody goes about their life as if they are going to live  forever and also 'protect' near and dear ones. 

The Covid19 challenge is really outpacing the human ability to control it. Next big thing to worry about this unseen virus is the 'death anxiety' and it is becoming a global phenomenon.

And all these not without good reasons.

"The COVID-19 pandemic creates universal death anxiety. It is everywhere and nowhere — making its lethal, invisible contamination seem almost a supernatural force. Patients in psychotherapy provide a valuable window into COVID death anxiety. Their voices change ..... They feel stalked by it but unable to find the inner resources to deal with its ubiquitous effects," says a joint report by Robert Jay Lifton and Charles B. Strozier of 'Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists'.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge in anxiety across the globe.

The 'fear of death' drives much of human behaviour perhaps more in the pattern human beings have suffered terrorism.   

"Emerging research data are already revealing high levels of anxiety concerning the virus, with findings from nearly 5000 participants suggesting that greater perceived severity of the virus is associated with poorer mental health outcomes," says another report by Rachel E. Menzies  and Ross G. Menzies of the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the US.

It is true Ernest Becker has also said, "Fears of death have been proposed to be a central and universal part of the experience of being human". 

Snap: Amarjeet :: A woman mourning next to funeral pyre

But as pointed out by Rachel E. Menzies1 and Ross G. Menzies, the COVID-19 offers an unusual scenario, in which mortality is made salient nearly constantly, given the daily updates on death tolls from the news and social media, and ubiquitous visible death cues in the form of face masks, anti-bacterial sprays and wipes, social distancing and public health campaigns. 

All these certainly increase the accessibility of death-related thoughts. 

Now as I pen these lines, my thoughts perhaps automatically lead to the Hindu philosophy on 'detachment' as a way of life. Here comes the crux point - the ultimate test of this detachment is the 'acceptance of death'.

There are enough rituals in Hindu society like breaking of an earthen pot or hitting the burning corpse’s skull with a stick to crack it open. The entire purpose is to release the soul.

We also know, to fully liberate the soul of  'mortal attachments', the ashes and bone fragments are to be immersed in water bodies.

But as long as we live in this materialistic world, attachments are bound to stay and men and women would be equally left puzzled about certain questions of death and sufferings.

Of course what goes without saying is that among the most common emotional responses to death - are --- anxiety and depression. 

Kohima Cemetery

Importantly, it is certainly erroneous to consider that 'death' or death-related anxious moments haunt only a dying patient or the relatives.

This 'death anxiety' starts showing even on medical staff especially nurses as well. This is really bothering me. 

Medical professionals experience these anxieties when they believe they are not capable of facing or dealing with the suffering and death(s) of their patients. The scale of deaths in recent times due to plethora of reasons following the pandemic could haunt the medical staff - how so much 'trained' they are to deal with deaths and human sufferings.

On personal count, coming from 'hotbed' of militancy Nagaland in 1980s and 1990s - I presumed I had a tough mindset. But, I have shared this earlier also, my vanity had failed when I was stuck with the post-Godhra killings in 2002.

So, my friends and relatives would realise that often I start talking about 2002 and the violence even if the informal adda is on something different.

Lately, I have been talking to some photo journalist friends who are running from hospitals to crematorium and I realise, their 'poor state of mind'.

My observation is not based on any research based on a set of questions or otherwise. But merely by interacting with them I find most have 'fear' about the process of their own deaths. This is something I felt passively during 2002 mayhem in Gujarat. 

"Kal raat phir dhamal hua (The hotel boy in Ahmedabad would walk into the room with the morning cup of tea.)  

This was about 30-years back and I was much younger and single. 

Experience 2002 !!

Now things stand changed a lot. I swear,  my fears grow up manifold as I wonder what would happen to my daughter especially and the family of course.

The vultures will be all around of course. There were vultures in 2002 and there are vultures this year too.

My pain only increases as many Indians give the impression that they 'secretly' (actually not so secret) presume, even 'pray' or hope that India should fail in this time of the second wave of the pandemic, only because they can find fault with the Prime Minister of the day.

ends 

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