Dear Editor,

Your Coverage of Lakshadweep and Andaman reviving COVID 19 of 8th July, brings to mind a poem by Tagore, ‘Juta Aviskar‘ (The Invention of footwear).

In the ancient times, there was a King who was tired of getting soiled feet and ordered that no dust should touch his feet and ordered the Minister to cover the whole earth with leather.

The Minister decided to entrust the work with an old cobbler. The cobbler said that covering the earth with leather would be very difficult, due to constraints of skilled labors, leather, etc. He offered to cover the King’s foot with leather. And thus footwear was born.

Does COVID-19 seem familiar?

Instead of covering the suspects with mask, we are required to cover our face, nose and enforce social distancing.

Yours sincerely

(Samir Acharya)