#LifeInALockdown with Manav Kaul

I am in lockdown since the 15^th of March since the day it was announced. Living in self isolation is not new to me because I like being in my own company. I write poems, plays and short stories at my home alone so I am used to this situation. But that is something I do by choice but here it is imposed on us as we have to stay isolated and in self quarantine for our and other’s safety.I was suppose to launch a new play of mine and also wanted to visit Himachal Pradesh for the same but my decision making took time and the lockdown was announced by then.
In a time like this it is very important to keep the spirits and excitement high throughout the day. To make sure of that I am learning how to edit my own videos through a phone based software which allows me to put my thoughts and poems on social media along with a video. Now that I am doing that I can upload one video everyday on social media for people to see. I am asking my friends too to send me videos who are in their houses or the ones who are in the mountain areas. I can further club these videos with my writing. The second activity which is keeping me busy is cooking. I absolutely dread to cook and until now I didn’t realize that I could enjoy cooking too at some point of time. Due to the limited resources available I am cooking simple dishes like paneer, aloo tamatar and rajma and I cook good. Because I am the only is cooking and I am the only one who is eating that too. All of this is being done under the supervision of my mother and Bhabhi who are in Indore through daily video calls. They tell me how to chop the onion correctly and the amount of spices I need to add. We all virtually cook together through these calls and all of this has brought us all more close. Even though Indore has recorded the highest number of positive cases I am relieved that my mother is with my brother and I consider him more responsible than me.
Whatever is happening around I feel it is like watching a bad Hollywood movie where unreal things are happening and things we have never thought about is the reality. Something happens or comes and attacks the city of London or Paris and one thing which I don’t understand about these movies is that the attack never takes place in any other place. What problem do they have with the other places? Similarly now we have a virus problem which has spread across the globe it emerges out as a havoc and every country on the global map has to deal with it. But on the other hand it has also brought everyone together and everyone is ensuring each others saftey. Everyone is supporting each other and fighting for humanity.


1. Article 15
2. Mulk
3. Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aaata Hai
4. On Body and Soul