2021 – Make it a year of Health, Family and Community

The year 2020 will not be forgotten in a hurry. It will be remembered not only for the challenges it brought with it but also the changes it ushered in. The way we live and work is possibly changed for good

The year 2020 brought alive empathy, compassion and human ingenuity. We became more resilient adaptable and agile. We learnt the art of staying far yet being together. 2020 brought along the need and created opportunities for a more sustainable and more equitable future.

Now as we are over a week into 2021, there is a tinge of optimism in the air. The vaccine is well past its dry run stage with millions vaccinated in many countries, just on the horizon in India. While there are several strains and mutants that pose a threat, while a sporadic incident in America dents the concept of democracy, the hue of certainty that the new year brings along remains largely intact. In this passing moment between uncertainty and predictability, I would urge my colleagues and all friends to focus particularly on health, family and community as we pursue our growth ambitions of 2021.

Health is of paramount importance; once again comes to the fore, in the face of Covid-19. Nothing else matters as much, individually and systemically. No matter how successful we are, no matter how much wealth have we amassed, it is good health and immunity that see us through in times like these. Similarly, as a nation, no matter how much have we progressed economically, we have not done well enough if we have not invested in social infrastructures like health and education.

"There are a lot of people around who are less privileged than many of us. There is a need to create stability and happiness for all, to see through times of crises and even otherwise"

For a good part of 2020, while the world worked from home and still continues in some sectors, work and home got merged into a thin blur and at times it was both and at other times neither. For whatever it was worth, with its merits and demerits WFH kept us in, saw us through. As we come out of it, we are left largely unsocial, out of touch with friends and extended family. This year and in the years to come I resolve to spend dedicated time with family and friends (once again). I am happy at the prospect of being able to socialise more, meet up with family miles away in India and abroad more frequently and without any fear.

Another important area I would focus more and urge all to pay attention to is the community. There are a lot of people around who are less privileged than many of us. There is a need to create stability and happiness for all, to see through times of crises and even otherwise. There is a need to be more socially responsible as individuals, as organisations, as a nation. There are many ways we may be of use to the community. We must do anything small or big that we can; teaching those who cannot afford education, feeding those who sleep hungry, clothing those who die of cold, creating shelter for the homeless. Although most countries have progressed on most social indices over the last few decades riding on individual and collective efforts, but whatever is done is clearly not enough. The pandemic proves once again, health, immunity and well-being of my neighbour and the community at large is as important as my own.

I am confident that whatever the setbacks we have had in the past few months, whatever may have been the challenges, we will come out stronger to build a more sustainable world there’s vaccine on the horizon, hopes of one bold reform after another to rejuvenate the economy and the promise of a wiser, healthier way of life. As we welcome 2021 with great fervour, let us not forget Covid is not gone from the face of the earth and we still need to be careful when it comes to health and hygiene. Let us pledge to take care of ourselves, spend time with friends and family and be useful to the community.