By Col Satish Singh Lalotra (Retd)
‘A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions’— what a quote by world famous Oliver Wendell Holmes. It is not for nothing that the famous US Supreme Court judge uttered these prophetic words. Drawn from a world of experience gained by a plethora of incidents in his judicial career, these words can be comfortably extrapolated to any given situation in our lives that may not fall into the realm of a judicial scrutiny. Science and religion are two facets of mankind that lie within the spectrum of beliefs whose dimensions may get blurred when seen from the prism of rationality. Yet, man in all his power may succumb to the dangers of dejection, disbelief and rootlessness when faced with a life threatening situation thrown his way in the form of epidemics; casting away his belief in the rationality afforded by the facets of science. In such life threatening situations, people often veered towards religion that was looked upon as a mature response to difficult times. Moreover, man considered religion and human resilience as complimentary to each other, sustaining and deriving strength from each other’s inherent force.
The current ‘Ebola virus’ epidemic outbreak in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) in Africa has surpassed 10,000 (ten thousand) cases as on date, thus making it the second largest Ebola epidemic on record. Not only this, the epidemic has a cross-border spread to now Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, etc. A few years ago, the spread of the corona virus too had surpassed the definition of epidemic afforded by WHO, and etched into the annals of a pandemic.
When one thinks of human scourges like the current Ebola epidemic fanning across the African continent or the past pandemic like the corona, one is reminded of the deadly ‘Spanish Flu’ of 1918 that ravaged continents upon continents. The Spanish flu claimed between 50 to 100 million lives worldwide, possibly more than both world wars combined, with India bearing the maximum burden at that time. Two of India’s leading and foremost poets, ‘Surya Kant Tripathi Nirala’ and the firebrand nationalistic cum Bengali poet ‘Kazi Nazrul Islam’ (later Bangladesh national poet) suffered the most during this Spanish pandemic flu of 1918. The tragedy of 1918 claimed almost the entire families of both these poets forcing them to change their outlook towards life. It made both of them schizophrenic in later life and saw them admitted in the ‘Central institute of psychiatry’ at Ranchi.
Faith and sanctity of life
At the heart of the world’s major religious traditions lies a common principle: preciousness of human life. Almost all religions emphasize compassion towards life in any form. This seminal principle acquires significance during epidemics and even during pandemics. The Ebola virus spread is no exception to the above dictum in Africa. Various researchers / scientists in the US & UK have thrown up startling facts about the relationship between the effect of the epidemics and religions. As an example to extrapolate the experiences of corona virus over that of the spread of Ebola virus in Africa shows that, while some find peace, others may be struggling with their faith. These researchers have found and identified positive and negative forms of religious coping, during epidemics cum pandemics. Not only the evidence that would have people experienced and expressed their faith in such activities but also having implications for their wellbeing and health are now so well documented for posterity. However, compassion must be accompanied by knowledge. True religious responsibility requires the believers to protect themselves and their communities while offering assistance.
The aura of positive side effects
Can the readers of this paper identify those positive side effects which go a long way in ameliorating or helping the masses cope with adversity while confronted with a scourge like Ebola virus? Extensive research shows that religion can help people cope with adversity by encouraging them to reframe events through a hopeful lens. Positive reframing can transcend worst of difficulties or such times by enabling them to see a tragedy as an opportunity to grow closer to a higher power or to improve their lives. Positive reframing of mind fosters a sense of connectedness.
Respecting religious traditions
One of the most sensitive challenges during an Ebola outbreak concerns funeral customs. Across religious communities, the washing, touching and preparation of a deceased person’s body are often regarded as essential expression of respect and spiritual duty. Restrictions on these practices can cause anguish among grieving families. If authorities impose measures without explaining their necessity, communities may resist official instructions. The answer lies in dialogue and cooperation. Healthcare authorities should work with religious leaders to organize safe and dignified rites that accommodate appropriate prayers and rituals whenever possible.
Compassion without discrimination
Ebola does not merely attack the body; it can also damage the social as well individual fabric of affected communities. Patients may experience isolation, survivors may experience rejection, and families may be stigmatized because of their association with an infected person. As quoted by my example of national poets ‘Surya Kant Tripathi Nirala’ and ‘Kazi Nazrul Islam’, the Spanish flu of 1918 didn’t spare their individualities forcing them to take shelter at the Central institute of psychiatry in Ranchi; the fear of exclusion is uppermost during such scourges. A responsible spiritual response recognizes that protecting the body and nurturing the spirit are complementary obligations that cannot be wished away as random action. The true test of religious conviction lies not merely in worship, but also in the willingness to stand beside those who suffer.
The Wrap Up
Scourges like the current Ebola virus spanning the African continent presents humanity with a profound moral challenge. It tests whether fear will divide communities or compassion will unite them. With the corona pandemic behind us, is that not a fit template for us to switch gears and move forward in a direction which acts as an ‘enabler’ for the humanity at large? Religion can make a decisive contribution by promoting solidarity, challenging misinformation, preserving dignity, and encouraging responsible behavior. But spiritual conviction must never become a substitute for scientific evidence or a justification for practices that put others at risk. Ultimately, combating scourges of the Ebola virus ilk is not merely a medical undertaking; it is an expression of our shared humanity. When faith encourages people to protect life, science guides their actions, and compassion unites communities, the fight against an epidemic becomes both a public–health mission and a moral duty.
(The author is a retired gunner officer from the regiment of artillery. Was commissioned in June 1985 from IMA Dehradun and is the 4th generation from his family in the armed forces and belongs to Jammu. Has served in various units of artillery and commanded troops in Gurez valley in 2003/04. Has served as well on the highest battlefield in the world (Siachen Glacier) way back in 1995. Retired in 2017, settled in Pune and took to the pen thereafter. Has written 4 books till date. He is also a regular scribe of Rising Kashmir paper which gets published from Srinagar (J&K) plus writes for Daily Excelsior of Jammu too.)
