“My grandfather performs shamanic rituals at home to treat people in the community. He has been doing it for a long time. He has gained trust in the community due to his knowledge. Many people come to our house to visit him. However, it has become a thing of concern for me, especially during times like this. So I have placed masks and sanitisers in his room hoping that it will somehow prevent the virus from getting into my ailing grandfather and the rest of us in the family.
When the pandemic hit and the hysteria started, the number of people who visited grandfather declined rapidly. But I think gradually people got tired of being locked down. People were hungry and desperate and they started risking their lives. If we look around now people have gone back to their old ways. And now more people have started visiting my grandfather again. All the people coming and going in and out of my house scares me. I know my grandfather will not close down his practice. What really worries me is that he does not seem afraid or even worried. I think he is convinced that nothing is going to happen to him. Explaining the risk is difficult not only to my grandfather but also to my parents. They have resigned to the notion that whatever happens is meant to happen and there is nothing they can do about it. Mom says, 'Those who live will live and those who die will die'. My father on the other hand, although a learned man, easily gets influenced by fake news and conspiracies. I do not understand these fatalistic thoughts when we can practice safety and save people's lives.
In my opinion, this complacency amongst us is no less fatal than the virus. I know if we just follow basic guidelines, we can save those who can be saved. There are people who are dying. But I feel sad that even at home, my concerns sometimes are just brushed off. Just because I am the young one in age, and thus I must know less." (Unnati Maharjan, Lalitpur)
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SON X UN