Strange are the ways in which circumstances pushes us to the roots. The unleashing of the havoc by the mystical virus named after the Corona of the Sun has done this over a year and still pushing us further to seek answers.
It is still the norm that people still resort to the different syrups that are made out of various herbs besides placing reliance on neem, turmeric, guduchi amongst others. Prayers of different hues rent the air. Despair is met with hope. Modern science meets traditional home remedies to provide succour to the ailing and their attendants. Then could their be a remedy for this dastardly virus which has fed into the very vitals of the bodies, the society, the economy and the humanity as a whole in our old tales.
After all it is for nothing that it has been said that a diamond is to be cut by another diamond and a thorn in the flesh is to fleshed out by another thorn. Would Tanaji, the famed general of Shivaji have an answer to the strategies deployed by the virus? How would Charaka deal with this wheel of misfortune in which the humanity is clutched? Or would it require a Chanakya to advise the right course of action?
As these thoughts took yours truly back in time, the evergreen epic of Mahabharata which has many problems with matching solutions, shades of perception, strategies and counsel struck a chord.
The epic which revolves around the magical number of eighteen is renowned for its eighteen day war. The eighteen day war is highlighted with different war formations but the one that stands out is the Chakravyuha. Chakravyuha is an impregnable formation which reminds one of the charismatic Abhimanyu, the desolate Arjuna, the gloating Kauravas and drives home the destructive havoc that a war can wreak on humanity. After all it was described by none other than Sri Krishna when his nephew was still in the womb. The formation was sculpted to perfection by the Guru Dronacharya, the one who won his place as Acharya by lifting a ball out of a well by piercing blades of grass into a rope.
Match it with the circular illustration of the Covid and this very destructive formation strikes you like a thunderbolt. Strangely it has an alternative name Padmavyuha also. So we could treat it like a flower but should not be attracted to it like a bee. Therefore, we need to keep it at bay by following hygienic methods.
The different rings of the chakravyuha are said to number seven. Then, let us prepare for seven mutations of the virus too. As it is we are seeing triple mutations. On this front, the need to checkmate the virus at its own game is the theme of this muse.
Let us now use concentric circles to defeat this deadly virus which is playing mutation games. One has to also learn the way in which Lord Vishnu played a trick on Kamsa in a number game. The seventh child of Devaki disappeared from the womb raising the question as to whether the next one was the eighth or the seventh child. in the same manner, it is necessary to isolate the variants so as to eradicate mutation.
Having learnt the lesson is not adequate. The actual learning is in the application. Let us take the states of West Bengal, Maharashtra and Delhi. Isolate them like the Kauravas isolated Arjuna to beat Abhimanyu. No travel from and to these States should be allowed for a period of 84 days. Even travel through these States should not be allowed thereby restricting the strain to its present territory.
In the meantime, all the surrounding States need to ensure 100% vaccination of all the border districts bordering these States. The Vaccination should have a healthy mix of Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik with a third share for each. This would ensure that there is some difference in the lines of defence of each set of immunised persons.
Parallely, the vaccination programmes of these States also needs to be a mix of multiple vaccine mixes. These territories should be earmarked along with the border districts of the neighbouring States for double or triple immunisation meaning that each recipient will get two doses of each vaccine over a period of 28 day intervals. This would mean different lines of defence created in the bodies of all these residents. This would mean day 1, 28,56,84, 112 and 140, The mix of the doses in the first phase will ensure that the programme is completed by day 140 which is nearly 5 months. Therefore, the period of isolation for these States and territories need to extend for a period of 5 months.
In the meantime high risk areas in States such as Karnataka, Kerala, TamilNadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telengana also need to be approached with a similar strategy. Ideally the vaccination should move from InterState bordering districts inward closing the areas of defence for the virus and ensuring that the brakes are applied on the virus spiralling its way forward in geometric progressions.
The strategy having been devised the deployment of resources. The quantum of vaccines required for such a strategy with an additional 50% marked for other regions need to be factored in. For this purpose, the already vaccinated need not be excluded as it will provide for a further impetus in the programme. The programme needs to be devolved to election booth levels to accelerate the process.
The contingency plan for post 84 days should be that any incoming trains should necessitate that the travellers have completed 2 days of a single vaccine and it should be declared at the time of booking. On alighting a dose of another vaccine needs to be administered requiring them to take a second dose after 28 days. This would mean that the travellers also have a second line of defence. International travellers who will be allowed only after the period of 140 days should at least have a two layer defence and should be administered a third layer of vaccine.
To promote this end, compulsory licencing of the three vaccines available in India is required. All pharma companies in India should be asked to join the programme and manufacture a particular quota of all the three vaccines. Aids granted by countries like USA, UK etc should include other vaccines which will enhance the permutations by which the three vaccine formula can work.
This is a thought which needs to be vetted by the scientific community and if approved needs to be implemented at rocket speed.
