At a stage in life which is often described as Vanaprastha, I was not willingly retreating into the forest, but was largely confined at home over the past two years. It has been a difficult, trying, sometimes fascinating, mostly exhausting year. How does one capture in few words the most significant facet of the year? For me the most obvious symbol of this time has been the "mask”.
The metaphor of wearing mask is not new. As psychologists inform us, we all wear social masks. We put it on, go out and put out our best image. We wear different masks as situations demand and most of lives is spent on putting on and taking off masks! Often we wear the masks to protect our vulnerable inner selves. With the advent of the Covid we became aware as to how physically vulnerable we can be and masks made inroads into our everyday lives in tangible ways. But mask wearing is not new. They have been with us for aeons The earliest well documented masks were from the arid Judean Desert in the Middle East which were found in caves near the Dead Sea about 9,000 years ago. They are the earliest preserved masks that we currently know of. It is possible that they were funerary masks. During the Black Death when plague ravaged Europe, doctors wore a mask with a bird-like beak to protect them from being infected by the deadly disease. It was believed that the disease spread by miasma, a noxious form of ‘bad air.’ To battle this threat, the long beak was packed with dried flowers, herbs and spices providing a sweet fragrance. A French doctor named Charles de Lorme is credited with the design of this mask. He designed the bird mask to be worn with a large waxen coat as a form of head-to-toe protection, modelled on a soldier’s armour. It was perhaps the first PPE to be used during pandemics! It’s even possible that the cumbersome beak helped to create a small amount of “social distancing!” The discovery in 1861 of the presence of bacteria in the air by Louis Pasteur made people aware of the dangers of breathing in harmful pathogens. This led doctors to prescribe cotton masks to limit contagion during epidemics. During the Manchurian plague epidemic in 1910-11 in China, it was Wu Lien - a Cambridge educated doctor who emphasized the important role of masks as a ‘prophylactic apparatus’ that could be worn by all to protect themselves from the plague. In the same decade as the Manchurian epidemic, over 40 million people around the world lost their lives to the Spanish flu of 1918. This number is greater than the total casualties from World War I. The same outbreak, when it reached India, arrived as the Bombay fever and took 17 million lives, 40% of the total deaths worldwide. The practice of covering one’s face with scarves and veils with the intention to ward off disease originated during this period. Over the past two years we have been striving to protecting ourselves from an unseen virus that can be present anywhere and masks have played an important role in this. We make sure that we wear one when we venture out into the world and heave a sigh of relief on taking it off once we reach the safe confines of our homes. Beyond every mask there is a story… As I take off the mask in the sanctuary of home, the task has been to creatively engage with the physical isolation. During this year we also had the first-hand experience of being quarantined! Our house help tested positive during a routine testing and as primary contacts we were confined to the home for two weeks. Quarantine has its origins from the Italian word quarantena, a shorthand for quaranta giorni, meaning “forty days.” It has biblical connotations referring to Christ’s forty days in the desert, the forty days of Christian Lent, the forty days of rain that compelled Noah to build his ark, even the forty days that Moses spent waiting atop Mount Sinai for the Ten Commandments. The religious significance of the period for quarantine was not simply coincidental: it was chosen to encourage those undergoing quarantine to look on it as a period of purification to be spent in devotion. Beyond the brief period of quarantine, we have been mostly confined to home and I spent time reading, writing blog posts and mostly listening to music. The books I liked the most are ( it is a long list…just mentioning five of them!): 1)The Overstory by Richard Powers. It is a brilliant and passionate book about humans and their relationship to trees and the natural environment. 2)Midnight Borders: A peoples history of modern India by Suchitra Vijayan: A brilliant account of a 9,000-mile seven year journey among the people living along the many borders of India. 3)Mrs Bridges by Evan Connel: An artful portrayal of suburban life in US. 4)Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker: A poignant story of a mid-century American family with twelve children, six of them diagnosed with schizophrenia written with compassion and insight. 5)The Awakened Brain by Lisa Miller: An engrossing exploration into the neuroscience of spirituality. But the book that left a lasting impression on me is Nandini Murali’s “Left Behind.” It is an extraordinary, inspirational account of a suicide survivor written with sensitivity and compassion. Some of my blog posts during this year: www.profraguram.com/musings--reflections/through-the-looking-glass-with-apologies-to-lewis-carroll https://www.profraguram.com/musings--reflections/balpandia-silent-sentinel https://www.profraguram.com/musings--reflections/wayfaring-with-a-wilted-leaf https://www.profraguram.com/musings--reflections/a-unique-depiction-of-garuda https://www.profraguram.com/musings--reflections/the-mango-tree-and-bodisattva https://www.profraguram.com/musings--reflections/bewitching-murals-of-bodinayakanur This year also marked my 70th birthday. As Mark Twain commented on his 70th birthday, "It is the time of life when you arrive at a new and awful dignity; when you may throw aside the decent reserves which have oppressed you for a generation and stand unafraid and unabashed upon your seven-terraced summit and look down and teach--unrebuked." I resolved to take his advice seriously! We had a small pooja at Bhoganandeeswara temple near to Bangalore, which both Ahalya and myself like immensely. Glimpses are at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DjoP6coFEevY14X47. There was a small blip at the end of the year when Ahalya had to undergo a surgery. Fortunately, everything turned out well and she is back on her feet. We are forever grateful and deeply cherish the support and assistance from all our close friends. What remained concealed for long time and was then revealed in this tumultuous and agonizing year was the gross inequality in health care. It also unmasked the collusion of religion and body politics. Both religion and politics are so good at masking and unmasking realities! Fervently hoping that the hold of the virus will loosen in the new year and we can meet each other without the masks! We spent the past year Shielded by masks Alone in our dreams Waiting for the numbers to subside Waiting to shake hands, touch, embrace We are waiting… Look forward to your reminiscences about this post and that of the year too!
40 Comments
Tame Kena
1/1/2022 12:57:07 pm
Its such a delight to read your posts; eloquently captured with a layers of wisdom...the calender is a treat, as alwsys. Wishing you and Ahalya madam a very happy new year with good health and peaceful yea ahead..warm regards, Tame-from Arunachal Pradesh
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:01:10 pm
Thank you Tame and Ahalya joins me in wishing all of you a healthy year ahead!
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S R Jayaprakash
1/3/2022 07:01:38 am
Your blog helps me to realize "adding vibrance rather than contrast" is the way to go with my canvas!!! So nice, so healing!
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:01:32 pm
Wow! There's a poet in you SR!
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Kishor
1/3/2022 08:05:42 am
Wonderful Sir
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:01:45 pm
Thanks Kishor!
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Jagdish
1/3/2022 04:58:26 pm
I am reminded of Alexander Dumas' " The Man in the Iron Mask"which was adapted to make the Tamil movie " Uttama Puthiran".
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:02:11 pm
The tamil one was a big hit with some lovely music!
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1/3/2022 08:10:14 pm
You throw a challenge at us each time we want to respond, as we lose all words to express the impact of these jottings. In silence, therefore, we dare to reflect on the very core and essence of the reality, the Truth, that you share. OM TAT SAT.
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:02:43 pm
Deeply touched Anita,,
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Prathap Tharyan
1/3/2022 08:10:51 pm
Eloquent reminder that we will emerge from behind our masks with the realization that the world we live in changed beyond recognition over the last few years. While we were all masked, other forces unmasked the worst of what humankind represents. Hopefully, this process will reverse if sufficient numbers of people make this realization. Happy thought for the new year, and thank you for your erudite wisdom.
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:03:41 pm
Thanks Prathap. What has been unmasked beyond the virus is truly unsettling
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Abha
1/3/2022 09:02:44 pm
Didn't know there was so much history to masks...hot ability to weave in facts with your perceptions and experience is simple amazing....
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:03:57 pm
Thanks Abha
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Malathi Swaminathan
1/3/2022 11:32:55 pm
Thank you Sir for the history of mask and reasons all in a capsule. Masking the remedy then and now. Interesting indeed!!
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Dr Raguram
1/3/2022 11:38:55 pm
Thanks Malathi! Many talents like yours continue to be 'masked'!
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Nandini Murali
1/4/2022 12:11:09 am
As always, superbly evocative! Esp. Placing masks in perspective! Loved the inimitable Mark Twain quip! And the delightful surprise for me like the
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Dr Raguram
1/4/2022 12:41:31 am
2021 is the year of Lef Behind Nandini! You have had the rare courage to venture into an area where very few would dare to and narrate the travails of those who are left behind with such insight and poignancy. Kudos!
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Rajan Iyyalol
1/4/2022 12:26:55 am
Sublime reminiscence. Inspiring and enlightening... as always.
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Dr Raguram
1/4/2022 12:38:45 am
Thank Rajan...I will try and keep myself reminded of Kafka's words!
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Satish kumar Sofat⁷
1/4/2022 01:45:37 am
Thanks for the eloquent write up on how lives have changed due to the pandemic.
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Dr Raguram
1/4/2022 05:05:28 am
Thanks Satish. Hope rides in the wings of the virus!
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Aruna Thyagarajan
1/4/2022 02:34:54 am
Just as you have poignantly and articulately expressed, these have been solitary, self reflective years. I don’t think the solitary part has done humanity much good, but the resultant self reflection, perhaps, will bring a much needed change in consciousness….from a material, self absorbed culture to a more community based, environmentally conscious, organic one? So one hopes🤞😃
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Dr Raguram
1/4/2022 05:06:44 am
Thanks Aruna. Unfortunately I don't see a glimmer of that yet, especially in India where the natural environment is getting denuded at alarming rates in the guise of 'development'
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1/4/2022 03:23:23 am
What a wonderful account and history of masks and quarentine. The pandemic certainly had impact on every ones heart and mind. Some took life in creative manner using this as opportunity to live with dear ones and spend time for creative things. Fortunate were those because they had resources to pass through difficult times. Living among common men in rural Kutch Gujarat I have seen many ups and down in life. Many dear faces disappeared for ever.
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Dr Raguram
1/4/2022 05:08:24 am
Thank You! Indeed it has impacted the lifeworlds and livelihood of many in ways that is too poignant to find expression in words.
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Dr K G Balakrishnan
1/4/2022 05:14:42 am
I enjoyed reading the blog. The virtual mask you referred to hides you from others knowing the true you, which is from within.The real mask protects you from being invaded from outside! The other uses of mask comes to my mind are children use for playing, criminals use for hiding from being identified and in North women uae to prevent them from being seen by other men especially in Islam! The recently published twitter by an Israeli scientist that at present know she looks a wishful thinking, according to him, Omicron is like cold virus, going to be mild and with such a rapid spread my help in building natural immunity to end the pandemic of delta and alpha! If that turns out to be true, your dream of "unmasking" may come true and we can be once again have a normal life style coming out of seclusion and.delression.
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Dr Raguram
1/4/2022 05:19:25 am
Thank you. What the covid has unmasked too is the glaring fragility of our public health infrastructure and I fervently hope that those in public office and elected representatives realize the importance of a robust public health system. Not everyone in India can afford care in the growing private health care industry
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A. chandramouliswaran
1/4/2022 07:09:11 am
I have gone through your reflections and posts in your Blog. I was able to see the reading you have done which must be in addition to readings in your speciality, viz. Psychiatry. The list of books recently read by you which you liked most is amazing for their coverage of unusual subjects/ themes. The one on the brain and spirituality is of particular interest to me and would like to lay my hands on it. Finally, I should say that I marvel at the range of subjects ( besides photography) which interest you I am happy that Ahalya is now fine after a minor setback in health.
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Dr Raguram
1/4/2022 07:14:58 am
Thank you Chandru for taking the time and browsing through the blogs/photos. In the process of penning these thoughts I learn a lot! Ahalya is recovering well
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Raaj
1/4/2022 09:22:31 am
Dearest Sir !
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Dr Raguram
1/7/2022 06:31:02 am
Thanks Raj!
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TG Sriram
1/4/2022 05:24:39 pm
Interesting and informative history of masks!
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Dr Raguram
1/7/2022 06:31:25 am
Thanks TG!
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Sathya
1/5/2022 02:03:30 am
Happy New year Dr. and belated 70th birthday wishes. Totally concur with Ms. Anita's comments above on the challenges you throw at us with each of your posts - absolutely in loss of words and so grateful for you sharing these with us. Haven't watched Uthama Puthiran, will do that. The pics you shared are wonderful - have never been to this temple, will visit once the current variant subsides. Glad to hear that Ahalya ma'm is back on her feet - our new year wishes to her.
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Dr Raguram
1/7/2022 06:32:57 am
Thanks Sathya. It is indeed a beautiful place. I post a detailed account of this temple one of these days
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Senthil
1/6/2022 03:14:15 am
Brilliant writing as always Sir! I can’t imagine how much lucky we are all to enjoy your writings!!! Thank you again Sir.
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Dr Raguram
1/7/2022 06:33:15 am
Thanks Senthil
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Shoba Narayan
2/24/2022 06:30:42 am
Lovely poignant piece plus a lot of book suggestions to read!! Thank you and happy birth year!
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Dr Raguram
2/24/2022 07:07:15 am
Thanks Sboba
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