Insightful newsletter of Drishtikone

Globally, the deaths from the Corona pandemic have risen to over 300,000. That is a large population which is now gone forever.

Today , we will begin with a poem by Sri Aurobindo. A poet, spiritual being, freedom fighter and above all a genius! This poem, shares Aurobindo’s invitation to live a life that COVID-19 may be pushing us to live now.

audere est facere

“to dare is to do”

Some people are born for great brave lives. Colonel Ashutosh Sharma who laid down his life on May 2 during anti-terrorist operation at Handwara, was one such being. Just 2 months before that, he had won the Sena Medal for gallantry.

“He had alpha grading in all courses which is the highest grade. He was a commando instructor eligible to train officers and did the prestigious staff college. He twice won the Sena Medal and two commendations. His men admired him,”

Said Col. Sharma’s elder brother, Piyush Sharma. Check out the complete story.

When the 'Rajwar Tiger' made the supreme sacrifice

‘A tiger knows his territory in and out.’ 'A tiger demarcates his terrain and never lets anyone enter.’ 'Similarly, Ashu knew the trees, houses, rivers and rocks of the Rajwar jungles.’ 'He didn’t allow any militant to come into his territory.

www.rediff.com • Share

the challenge and the response

The infections from the virus are increasing. Maharashtra has crossed 1000 deaths figure. Here is a nice comparison between India and the world and Delhi in spotlight from Hindustan Times.

Some far reaching changes have been announced by the Indian Finance Minister

Nirmala Sitharaman Announcement: Rent, ration and free food for migrants focus of Sitharaman’s 2nd economic package tranche

Nirmala Sitharaman Announcement: Nirmala Sitharaman also announced the implementation of “One Nation One Ration Card” benefiting 67 crore people in 23 states covering 83 per cent of PDS population

indianexpress.com • Share

This infographic from New Indian Express nicely breaks it down.

Infographic - courtesy New Indian Express

challenges of a pandemic

This isn’t the first time that the west has been hit by a pandemic. Last time in 1918, it was also quite tough to promote proper security measures.

These surprisingly relevant vintage ads show how officials tried to convince people to wear masks after many refused during the 1918 flu pandemic

CoronavirusLive updates It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

www.businessinsider.com • Share

nota bene

While allowing ‘azaan’ during the lockdown, the Allahabad (Prayagraj) High Court said, it may be an essential and integral part of Islam but its recitation through loudspeakers or other sound-amplifying devices cannot be said to be an integral part of the religion

Bali officials used the village committees and Hindu beliefs to push residents to stay at home. No outside visitors were permitted to avoid wider infections

In the wake of the pandemic, Popcorn predicts a big spike in divorces; it’s already happening in China. Dating scene will be different due to fear and yet the need for intimacy. So, health passports may be in the in-thing.

Thousands of fresh graves are being dug up in Chile as the infections grow there.

“Deep-speare”, an AI computer, has crafted Shakespearean verse that most readers couldn’t distinguish from human-written poems. Verse seems nonsensical but it “scans well,” as an English teacher would say—its rhythm, rhyme scheme, and the basic grammar of its individual lines all seem fine at first glance