Afterglow, by Sudeshna Mukhopadhya, Kolkata

Born, raised, and currently residing in Kolkata, West Bengal, Sudeshna is a dreamer and doer who values the power of empathy and believes that any change we want to bring around us starts from within.

I was boarding my flight on the 20th of March, 2020, returning from Delhi to Kolkata. COVID-19 had taken over Italy, Spain, China, and Singapore by then, but India had just reported its first few cases. As I entered a deserted airport around dawn, an emptiness loomed. Worry was all over people’s faces, and it almost felt like an apocalypse had struck.

We had planned 2020 as a year full of happenings for our startup– we invested heavily, believing the investments would bear fruit as the financial year started. But on the 22nd of March, “Janta Curfew” started, followed by the nation-wide lockdown. Everything came to a standstill. In the following weeks, some of our major projects got shelved, existing payouts delayed, and everyone was unsure about what they should do next.

I still get goosebumps writing this now. I was anxious and disturbed but had to put up a positive dialogue to keep my people motivated, amidst the news of top organizations shutting down and firing people rapidly. Confined in my home, I scurried through news and stories to understand what was happening around the world, and it suddenly struck. We couldn’t control what was happening, the virus is mutable. But it is primary that we ensure the right protocols are followed, to contain the spread and make help available for people in need. This seemed like the only feasible solution.

We created a prototype of our application within two weeks. I called as many people and places I knew, eager to just run a pilot of the solution in government departments, hospitals, and so on.

We were told, “This is not the time for technology, bigger people and powers are at play.”

In March, we still had hope, but after giving countless demos and facing rude judgments, we were left disgruntled, while the number of cases started soaring by leaps and bounds around us and paralyzed our lives.

Then, in April, we launched  another intense period to take the product to the market.

In June, people took notice of what we were doing. India discovered a new economy, providing essential products and services– virtual offerings were set up for most of them. Initiatives were announced that gave us hope and motivation to continue giving this product our best shot. The best part is that it aligns with my vision of “technology for good.” It was a relief to know that in some way, we are helping people come back to their normal lives, empowering them with knowledge about their health, and enabling them to access help when in need.

I feel that the world at large has come closer together, to fight this pandemic. Rapid shifts are always uncomfortable, but this upheaval has opened up new horizons. There’s hope, empathy, and support. I am grateful to witness this mass acceptance of technology, and excited to build a promising tomorrow.

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(This story was prepared for an “Imagine Another World” online storytelling workshop held October 16, 2020.)

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