Anup Jain

Resident of: CJ Block

I am having the experience of a lifetime, staying home and looking after my family. I had the privilege of watching and helping my daughter and mother painting old T-shirts and dresses, coming up with amazing new designs and renewing their utility. We are baking cakes and dishes with leftovers. We are joining special quizes and games on social media.

It has brought family members close, making us do household chores, eat and chat together. It is increasing bonding among neighbours, with youngsters helping the elderly.

We also contributed to the Jain Purvanchal Terapanth Yuvak Parishad, which is disturbing food and medicine to the needy. I have been following only government websites for updates instead of believing and spreading social media forwards.

The lockdown is a fight of, for and by humanity. We people are staying at home but the real heroes are those working outside. The grocers, home delivery people, chemists, garbage collectors, fruit and vegetable growers and sellers, the police, health workers, researchers and NGO members are risking their lives to serve and protect us.

Sandip Sengupta

Resident of: Vidyasagar Niketan

I have not witnessed World War II but have heard a lot about it from my parents. Going by what I see around me now, I am sure the Covid-19 crisis is no less than a war.

Since I am a senior citizen, and thus more susceptible to risk than others, I have totally confined myself at home. I am keeping myself busy by doing routine household tasks daily. I start the day by making breakfast for me and my missus, who generally takes care of shopping for essentials nowadays along with cooking and managing other household chores.

After breakfast, I do some dusting and help with other indoor activities like washing utensils etc. Just before lunch and dinner, I heat food and try to arrange the table.

Since I am generally involved in work that requires me to go outdoors on normal days, the lockdown has surely made me realise how challenging and underrated regular household chores are. Hats off to my wife and all homemakers!

During afternoons, I scan through The Telegraph in detail and keep myself abreast of all the latest Covid-19-related news and happenings all over the world. But for the sake of my mental well-being, I make it a point not to watch too much TV 'breaking news'!

I also try to do some freehand exercise and asanas during early evening on our apartment terrace to keep myself physically fit. If I get time, I listen to music on my CD player and on TV, and connect with my friends and family over phone.

My main objective during this lockdown period is to chronicle my daily life and thoughts in a diary, which I plan to give to my grand-daughter, Raisa, later. Since she is less than a year old now, I can't explain the world situation to her right away. Maybe when she grows up, she will read the diary and be able to get a glimpse of it.

The diary should also be able to make her understand the value of responsibility, positivity, and co-operation in times of crisis.

Sharmistha Dhar

Resident of : AC Block

Ever since the lockdown, it has occurred to me more than ever that there is not a single day to be lost. Being a teacher, the first thing I did was contact my students — who to me are my world — and convey that classes must go on, come hell or high water.

I am now fine-tuning lecture notes and study materials, and uploading them on the WhatsApp group with my students. After finishing the work-from-home schedule, I unwind by forging my long-lost bond with nature, which has got a new lease of life for the first time in this century!

I feed a waif neighbourhood kitten, watch it play and observe and note down names of different species of birds flying into my backyard. Instead of bogging me down, the lockdown has taught me to unlock new avenues of learning and happiness.

I am listening to songs like songs like Jokhon tumi badha chile tar and We shall overcome to relive my mental agony of the Covid-19 crisis. I am singing them too. These songs have a morale boosting effect when one is despondent or crestfallen.