Gender, Caste and religion lens about Corona

When one asks you about identity - You generally bring out PAN Card, Voter card or Aadhar card from the pocket. These Identity cards deal with your name, address etc. There is much other Identity which is very deeply rooted and decide a lot of things consciously or unconsciously. It's about Race, Gender, Caste, Religion, class etc.

Identity is the Driver of Global politics today. Trump became president with the vote of the White Citizen. Older White citizen of Britain voted for the BREXIT, Middle-class Hindu elected Modi in India. Global observers writing articles that Corona going to reshape the global power dynamic. The outbreak of the corona is such an important event then Hindu can one assume that it can remain aloof from the Identity issue. There is lots of the Itentiy related linkage to Corona. Before coming on Twitter trends like "Corona Jihad", I like to discuss others in brief.

Let Start with the Gender Lens:-

Project syndicate publish an article with title A Gender Lens for COVID-19 - on their website.  In that, They write that - "Girls and women experience outbreaks differently than boys and men. A gender lens highlights the specific risks and vulnerabilities girls and women face because of deep-rooted inequalities and traditional gender roles. ....To reframe our pandemic response with gender at the centre, we need, first, to protect and support the global health workforce, 70% of whom are women"

Now Check the Caste lens:-

As far as now, Physical distancing (Called Social distancing) is the only cure. From Doctors to Prime minister, everyone suggests the Handwashing and the Physical distancing fight against the corona. This practice resembles with the rituals of the infamous caste discrimination prevailed in India namely - Untouchability.

Few Days back, I have written about Class lens on the corona. 

After that one more incident took place. In Bareilly, Returning Migrant Workers Showered With Disinfectant on the Road. On another hand, just recall that how a government treat those who were evacuated from Wuhan and Iran? They were treated with all dignity. They were kept in ITBP and Indian army camp for quarantine while these labour migrants were pushed in dense rooms of the colleges where there was no basic facilitate at all. It is the class difference - Class identity is responsible for such discrimination.

Some People also writes that Social Distancing and the Handwashing is also a privilege thing for millions of people in India . Many people in India living 30*30 Feet homes where social distancing is impossible. Many are so poor that, can not manage two time meal and for them Sanitiser is a luxry to have. This is class lens to see disease.

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Now when there is Gender, Caste and class lens of the corona. Why one can expect that there is no religion lens to see the corona?

We can notice the Gender Caste and class regarding issues over corona before the 30th of May but there was no religion-based debate on corona in India till then. But there was a religion linked debate in west Asia on the corona. In fact, I tweeted the article of the Foreign affairs on 29th march. Foreign affairs publish an article with title: The Coronavirus Is Exacerbating Sectarian Tensions in the Middle East.

On 30th and 31st of March,  the News of the infection from the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi broke. This was a Muslim religious meeting which was attended by the people from various states and even from aboard. It has been reported that attendee of Jamat spread it to the various part of India. This divides the Media, Social media and Citizen into two camps as it always happens in India on the Religious issue. 

Here I like to Just write that what happened in Iran and the Middle East. You can draw parallels with India easily. So happen in Middle east was - 

Every year, millions of Shiite pilgrims from all over the world visit a circuit of shrines in Iran, Iraq, and Syria, kissing or touching each one to obtain a blessing through the connection to the member of the Prophet Muhammad’s family that the particular shrine honours. On February 21, Lebanon confirmed its the first case of COVID-19, a 45-year-old woman who had recently returned from Iran. On February 24, the governments of Iraq, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait announced their first cases of coronavirus infection, and by March 2, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had reported cases as well; in all six countries, the earliest coronavirus patients had recently travelled to Iran.

Then the Sunni Neighbours of the Iran - Suadi, Kuwait, Bahrain etc. Blamed Iran for the Corona spread in the region. The coronavirus crisis now appears to be amplifying anti-Shiite prejudice and discrimination.

The debate in India is on an issue that, Should Muslims who attended Jamat can be called responsible for the spread of the Coronavirus or not. I don’t want to fall into this debate. I just want to assert thing that Identity issue is closely attached to the Corona outbreak. You can ignore only your peril.

India is a land of diversity. The government should take care of each identity while making any policy decision regarding corona. Government has to take cognizance of the menstrual period and related health issue of women health worker on duty. The government have to take quarantine and social distancing measures by maintaining the of the dignity of the poor and keeping mind the economic conditions of the poor. The government have to ensure that in time of such distress, Nation voice doesn’t get split on Hindi Muslim. All these thing possible only when the policymakers take note of each identity issue while making policy.