CORONA Foretold ?

Has the outbreak of the dreaded Coronavirus been predicted?  Yes, I am inclined to believe. In general, I don’t accept prophetic claims, but this case is different.  I happened to see an article in the popular Bangalore-based English daily “Deccan Herald” on the subject some days ago.  Out of curiosity I did some research myself.  I was astonished to find some solid evidence to prove that the onslaught of the virus was indeed foretold as many as 12 years ago.

PROPHETIC VISIONS

(By Subbaram Danda)

Sylvia Browne, who is no more, was an American author, who claimed to possess psychic powers.  Several of her books were on “New York Times” best seller lists.  She was a regular participant in television and radio programmes, especially the famous Larry King shows.

In her book “End of Days” first published in 2008 she predicted on page 312, “In around 2020 a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments.  Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later, and then disappear completely.”

What made me to accept it as a real premonition?

First and foremost, the year 2020 was specifically mentioned.  The scourge was pin-pointed as pneumonia-like.  Its sweep across the globe was correctly highlighted. More importantly, the illness was precisely characterized as resisting all known treatments. The current Coronavirus contagion fits neatly into this description. So, it was not a shot in the dark. 

What remains to be seen is the revelation that it would suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived and would attack again ten years later.

Sylvia Browne

Born on October 19, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, Sylvia was a controversial person. Though she was very popular till her death, many of her predictions were off the mark.  This earned her several critics. In a Larry King show, she was asked to predict how long she would live.  Her answer was 88 years.  But she died when she was 77 – on November 20, 2013.

“End of Days” did not foretell where from the disease would emerge.  There is another book that carries a reference to Wuhan. We all know that it is this Chinese city that has been the epicentre of the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. The book titled "The Eyes of Darkness" by American novelist Dean Koontz was published as many as 40 years ago.  I have gone through its e-version and it is fascinating.

The main story of the book revolves around a woman Tina, who goes searching for her young son Danny, who was believed killed in an accident but was only missing.  In her search she traverses several curious places and learns about bizarre developments.

One passage on page 353 kindles our interest.  It says, “….a Chinese scientist named Li Chen defected to the United States, carrying a diskette record of China’s most important and dangerous new biological weapon in a decade.  They call this stuff Wuhan 400 because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside the city of Wuhan and it was the four hundredth viable strain of man-made micro-organism created at that research center…”

The 1981 book was purely a work of fiction.  Why it is relevant today is that it has a reference to Wuhan.

When people talk of predictions, the name of Nostradamus, the 16^th century French prophet, will always crop up.  Has he made any prediction about the Coronavirus?

Nostradamus

Some people believe that he did predict its outbreak.  The following lines attributed to Nostradamus are cited in arguments supporting the prediction. 

 “The sloping park, great calamity,

Through the Lands of the West and Lombardy."

According to one interpretation, the sloping park refers to a garden in Wuhan. It is this Chinese city from where the virus emerged and swept through the west and other countries. What is significant is the specific mention of Lombardy, a region in northern Italy.  Its capital Milan is a global hub of fashion and finance. Interestingly, it is this Lombardy that stands worst-affected in the current Coronavirus calamity in tragically devastated Italy.  

Have there been any Indian predictions?

The popular Tamil daily “Dinamani” carried an article on January 28, 2020, where it quoted a paragraph from a Tamil almanac, which said, “Lethal creatures will create enormous hardship to the people.  One new virus ailment will emerge from the western direction.”  (Oru pudhiya virus noy merku dhikkil irundhu urpattiyagum.)  Though the almanac correctly talked about the emergence of a new virus, its direction of arrival was not correct. 

When will this virus vanish?

An Indian astrologer, whose views are making rounds on WhatsApp, has this to say:  The Karaka (perpetrator) of viruses is Rahu.  He is currently placed in the toxic star Arudra.  Only when he moves to the nectar star Mrigasira, this virus can be expected to completely go out of the world.   Between May 12 and 15, Rahu moves to Mrigasira.  Till then chanting Vishnu Sahasranamam and following medical advice will mitigate the hardship of the people.  

If one searches deeper, more predictions will surface.  Each is different in its own way.  Only test of time will prove which is correct.

March 22, 2020

NAMASTE, Corona !

The Coronavirus, which causes the dreadful disease Covid-19, is undoubtedly the century's worst ever disaster perpetrator in the world.  Having originated from Wuhan in China, it has so far spread to over 100 other countries, infecting more than a lakh of people and killing a few thousands of them.  Scientists all over the globe have been tirelessly working to find a reliable cure for it but they remain clueless.  If there is one virus that is wrecking the world, it is Corona.  

Ironically, in this gruesome scenario, the virus has proved to be a source of swirling inspiration for a large group of humour writers, cartoonists and photographers. Their creative works make us laugh away our blues and blow away our fears.  All the wings of the social media are full of them. Sample the following.

THE COMIC SIDE OF THE CORONA

(Compiled by Subbaram Danda)

In lighter vein

An Indian was trying to tease a Chinese citizen about the quality of their products.

Indian:  My China-made cell phone’s battery gets drained out quickly.  My China-imported pocket radio does not pick up the most popular FM station. Even my Chinese torch light does not work. 

Chinese:  Ha, ha, ha.  Don’t be too sarcastic.  Look at the latest offering from China Covid -19. You will now be able to see its real potency.  It will last and last and last!

A safety tip for girls:  Are you pestered by stalkers and mischief making boys? Whether you know karate or not, this will certainly help you to fend them off.  Go close to them as if you don't know their intentions and cough a few times.  Then utter the words, “Oh God, save me from Corona virus.” They will run away.

Have you seen a cleverer leave letter sent through email than the following and the official reaction to it?

Dear HR, I am suddenly down with Corona virus.  I shall be grateful, if you can kindly grant me leave for one month.

It received a quick response.  Dear sick employee, very sorry to learn about your ailment.   We know how contagious it is.  We appreciate your social responsibility.  We are asking all the employees to ‘work from home’ with immediate effect.  About your health, we are equally worried.  We have informed the health authorities and they would be at your doorstep any moment to get you hospitalized and quarantine your other family members.  Take care.  Wish you speedy recovery.  

Work from home

As Covid-19 spread relentlessly across the globe, many organizations, particularly IT companies, decided to ask their employees to work from home. For many techies it was a boon. But in the case of others, it proved a bane.  This paradoxical scenario was beautifully picturised by two WhatsApp enthusiasts. Look at the photos below.

Options

Wearing a face mask helps people keep the virus away, according to medical experts. But some women feel that a mask will tarnish their beautiful appearance and image.  To address this concern a resourceful designer has come up with an elegant mask.  It serves as an ornament and at the same time as a helpful mask.  Take a look here.  

Some women are fetish.  They don’t mind wearing the mask but its colour should match with the hue of their attire.   In the cartoon below, a woman asks a man at the sales counter of a pharmacy whether he can give her a mask that goes well with the colour of her sari.  See the amazement and bewilderment on the face of the man. 

There are women, who do not like wearing paper masks.  But they would like to cover their face in the most natural way.  Here is how they can do it.  

Do you know?

Corona means crown in Latin.  It usually means a bright circle around and close to a luminous body such as the sun or the moon, caused by diffraction of light.

Corona is a well-known brand in the beer world.  Mexico has been exporting it to several countries, especially the United States.  It has become the favourite brew of a large section of American drinkers.  

There is a Corona sari sold online by Amazon.in.  It has been available for long.  Corona ear-rings are keenly sought in the market by fashion-conscious teens.  But these Corona branded products have nothing to do with the virus. 

 Namaste, Corona !

The dreaded Corona virus has brought unexpected honours for great Indian traditions.  As hand-shakes and hugs became a taboo to check the relentless spread of the virus, world celebrities quickly adopted the Indian style of greeting people with folded hands – Namaste.

Openly appreciating India for its contribution of ‘Namaste,’ President Trump of the United States recently greeted visiting Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar with folded hands.  He acknowledged, “India is ahead of the curve.” 

The British royalty also gave up hand shaking and accepted the ‘Namaste’ way of greeting.  In the photo, Prince Charles, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, is seen greeting people with a Namaste at the yearly “Prince’s Trust Awards” at the London Palladium.  

There is a list of other VIPs also adopting this.  As a wise man commented, after Yoga Indian Namaste is sweeping the world.  However, ironically the recognition for the latter came tied with the spread of the frightful virus! 

Seriously, Corona virus is no laughing matter.  It is terrible.  Follow the advice of medical experts and protect yourself.  As our Prime minister Narendra Modi said, "Say no to panic, say yes to precautions."

March 13, 2020