– Ibn Shafi
We all are familiar with chocked up general compartments of Indian railways which is no less than a marvel in modern India. Despite of massive manpower, management capability, sophisticated software and ticketing systems passengers of General Coach are left unheeded. Passengers travel in very unhygienic and subhuman conditions and are self-responsible for any kind of risk or threat on board. Well to do people can strike a deal with ticket examiner to get a comfortable berth in a better coach. Money is the only determinant of availing basic human right and facility. It has eventually become business as usual for the authorities and passengers. Similar is the situation of Covid-19. Patients are pushed to pathetic health services in quarantine centers. As a result their health condition deteriorates rather than improving. A serious scrutiny will only reveal that more of deaths are due to mishandling, negligence and inappropriate policies. Silver bullet to deal with situation seems to be, what they call, “testing, testing and testing”. Such inhuman journey can only be tolerated for a limited time. It is surely a great disaster if Nation’s Health care facilities stand on par with a general coach compartment. We all have embarked on a very long and uncertain journey as passengers of covid-19’s general coach. Present crisis is the test for system and its foundation. The vital reason behind the banal apathy and sorry state of affairs is deeply entrenched in the structure and values of the system itself. We as nation suffer a hundred times more due to phobic policies, planning, and improper handling of current situation. “Prevention is better than cure” seems to have changed to “Prevention is the only cure”. Philosophy of “Extensive Testing” with existing health system on the verge of breakdown is unfavorable. Preventive measures like Lockdowns are time buying techniques to build up capacity and overcome gaps in Healthcare system hence enabling it to cater the massive population. Inefficient treatments and ill-planned lockdowns have impacted common people to a large extent. Immigrant worker crisis, one of its kinds in 21st century with saddening stories and visuals from across the country is just another illustration of apathy and inefficiency of the system and leadership as a whole. Declaration of Medical & Health Emergency is need of the hour. Such a Health Emergency should suspend or cut down major expenses and funds allotted to other businesses in budget, prioritising human health and sustenance. It should pump in capital to fortify crumbling health facilities. Standard testing and treatment should be made free for underprivileged and affordable for others. Economically we are strong enough to afford Rs 4.7 lakh crore for Defense Ministry and Rs 1.67 lakh crore for Home Ministry, Rs 3202 crore for Bhutan, Rs 1100 crore for Mauritus,Rs 1050 Crore for Nepal and Rs 400 crore for Afghanistan as foreign aids. Resource wise we are capable enough to escape the atmosphere to reach lunar surface. Despite of this, what exactly is failing us to provide an effective treatment & aid to relieve citizens in current crisis? Most disgraceful for any humane system would be to put its leadership beyond the ambit of accountability, which was very well done for PMCARES Fund. 2014 has transformed our nation, with “visionary”, “bold” and “decisive” leadership. Economic reforms like “Demonetization”, Military reforms like formation of “Chief of Defense Staff”, Technological initiative like “Make in India” and “Balakot Air Strike” along with most applauded, “scrapping of Article 370” has engulfed citizen in euphoria. These political decisions with all its fanfare still struggles to justify its success. Is such supposedly “capable leadership” at the helm really capable? Boldness and decisiveness to focus on Human welfare and take extraordinary decision to handle the crisis is completely missing. Nationalist Emotions have eroded people’s perception of competent Leadership. Brain Tracy has rightly said, “The True Test of Leadership Is How Well it Functions in a Crisis.” The role of leadership is to transform the complex situation into small pieces and prioritize them. Empathy and accountability are inescapable pre requisites without which everything is rendered as worthless exercise. Great leaders do not sit in ivory tower managing affairs on fingertips far away from agony of common people. But they hold themselves accountable before Allah Almighty and are sensitive to suffering of people which enables them to set phenomenal administrative example which can is rarely found in history. It reminds me of Caliph Umar’s golden words during a Famine that struck Arabia in 639 C.E. On being asked, why does he refrain from comfort and ease? He replied, “How could I care for the people properly if I do not feel what they feel?” Suffering and situations are by the will of Allah Almighty. Reasoning capability provided by Allah Almighty demands us to think, analyze and act positively. Overlooking and being comfortable in tough situations adds to our hardship and depletes us of intellectual aptitude to think and search for alternatives. It is our choice, either to be dynamic like a fresh water stream which runs over a long distance or like an unworthy stagnant drain of contaminated water. Islam as a system of life has not only prescribed principles of human welfare but also produced exemplary leaders throughout the history to realize human welfare in practice. We shall have glimpses of sincere and efficient Islamic leadership in our next issue.
