For Subhrakant Panda, it’s been the best of times and the worst of times.
The managing director of Indian Metals & Ferro Alloys (IMFA) Ltd can’t find a more apt way than to borrow Charles Dickens’s famous line to describe the last 10 days during which the country has been under a lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus pandemic.
Like many other heads of companies, Zoom calls have become the norm for Panda as work from home policies are instituted across industries.
“A lot of time also goes into processing information pertaining to the impact of the virus on the personal and work fronts. The children are, thankfully, also busy with their own schedule of studies and chatting with friends — online, of course!” points out the IMFA MD.
Amidst the conference calls and meetings, he is glad to be spending more time with the family. “I get to have two meals with them every day which is a rarity since I normally travel a lot. We also play outdoors (within our compound!) every evening with cricket and table tennis being the preferred sports,” adds Panda.
He even makes time for a walk and does a light workout, which wasn’t otherwise possible due to a busy schedule.
“Delhi’s air is the cleanest I have seen in a long time and stars shine brightly in the clear night sky. It’s peaceful without aeroplanes flying overhead and the constant buzz of traffic,” feels Panda.
As the world deals with a deadly pandemic, with lives being lost by the thousands across the world, Panda wonders whether this was the reset global citizens needed.
“The real question is not how to get through the lockdown but how to hold on to the good things it has brought,” signs off Panda.
