Authors’ Background: Author Vishnu Mithinti is a qualified Engineer, an ex-defence officer, a Life Skills Trainer, a Motivational Speaker and now, a third time Author. Two of his earlier books, ‘Love Lost & Found’ (Fiction) and ‘Deception on Westminster Bridge, London’ (Non-fiction) are out on the stands. Whereas, this particular title, “COVID 19 And HUMANITY: A Retro — Introspection” is published by Astitva Prakashan!
Questionnaire:
Neel Preet: You’ve had a rich and diverse career — from engineer to defence officer to author. How did your experiences in these roles influence your perspective while writing this book?
Vishnu Mithinti: I have also been a Life Skills trainer and a Motivational Speaker at Schools, Colleges and Institutes, which I still continue along with my passion for writing. Also, being an Air Force Officer, I travelled across India for the last 40 years. All these experiences have definitely played a role in my understanding every aspect of life which helped immensely while penning down my ideas.
Neel Preet: What inspired you to revisit the global pandemic in such detail in your book, “COVID 19 And HUMANITY: A Retro — Introspection”? Was there a particular moment that pushed you to write this?
Vishnu Mithinti: Yes. A very strong reason which I have brought out in the book too at a few places. Within four days of my moving into the ICU, the way that young, innocent girl was wrapped up in a plastic bag and taken away in a municipal vehicle shook me to no bounds. And that was the fate of millions of people across the world. And whose fault is it? Life is so precious, yet why do humans time and again land themselves into meaningless situations created by their own narrow minded thoughts and actions resulting into their own destruction? I got angry with a whole lot of things at that time. I just decided to pen it down, if I survive, for whatever worth it is.
Neel Preet: You mention that humans feared humans more than the virus itself. Can you share a personal or observed moment that really captured this idea for you?
Vishnu Mithinti: During Covid days, when we were even in a small crowded place, a small cough or sneeze from someone sent shivers down our spine. I actually saw people running away the moment they heard a cough or sneeze. For almost two years and plus during that time, we all have experienced this. What else do you call it? Whether virus strikes or not, but humans feared humans. We were afraid to touch each other let alone shake hands, hug each other, even stand closely. Humans should never forget these experiences.
Neel Preet: The first part of the book deals with retrospection — looking back at our collective experience. What do you believe is the most important lesson humanity failed to learn during the pandemic?
Vishnu Mithinti: In my opinion humanity hasn’t learnt anything from the pandemic. Most importantly, they have failed to realise that the root cause of such disasters is their own greed for power and wealth.
Neel Preet: As a life skills trainer and motivational speaker, how did you personally help people deal with the fear and anxiety of the pandemic era?
Vishnu Mithinti: I had a couple of friends who landed up in hospitals after I got discharged. There was this close friend who got really scared and was extremely anxious before he got admitted. I just told him one thing, fear and anxiety will kill you before the virus does. I do believe that most people who died, died of giving up due to fear and anxiety. Once fear and anxiety takes over, your mind goes blank and gives up. Body follows soon. Heart stops soon after. The only mantra is accept it, face it. Don’t go to the past, as it would breed fear. Don’t imagine the future, as it would make you anxious. Just be there and face it. For that, do what ever you can. And he came out alive.
Neel Preet: In the second part of the book, you’ve highlighted the ancient Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam!” What made you tie this philosophy to the global challenges of COVID 19?
Vishnu Mithinti: In my childhood, somewhere in a spiritual gathering, I had heard this philosophy first. I didn’t quite get it then. I then heard the speech of our PM Sri Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly in 2014. It somehow got stuck in my subconscious memory. During my Introspective days in the ICU, I came to a firm opinion that all such calamities happen because we humans are living in a fragmented world divided by geography, politics, religions, economy, and the likes, where each frament feels it can isolate itself from being effected by the doings of other fragments. Worse, each fragment thinks it can hide it’s doings from others. This lack of feeling for oneness is the root cause for a collective sufferings of humans. That’s when Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam came into the fore of my mind.
Neel Preet: Your book references Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vaccine diplomacy. How do you see his actions as a reflection of the ideals discussed in your book?
Vishnu Mithinti: Just imagine. After providing for a country with 1.4 billion people, he just didn’t sit satisfied that, ok, now we are safe, I don’t care about others. He sent out vaccines to about sixty countries. That’s the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. And he lived it.
Neel Preet: You’ve written both fiction and non-fiction before. How did the process of writing this introspective, socially reflective book differ from your past projects?
Vishnu Mithinti: The fiction was just for fun. I wouldn’t have completed it had my daughter, who was not only continuously monitoring but also reading it, insisted. She was getting excited to what would happen next. And I kept writing for her to read.
My non- fictional books are more of my reflections on human nature, that includes my own experiences too. For some reason, I land up trying to find a solution to human nature and follies.
Neel Preet: In retrospect, do you think COVID-19 was more of a biological crisis or a moral and social one?
Vishnu Mithinti: Be it biological, moral or social, I strongly believe that we humans are the reason for it to take birth. We are responsible for it. It could be a combination of all.
Neel Preet: If there’s one message you hope the readers will take from your book, what would it be?
Vishnu Mithinti: What you have not asked about till now are the basic necessities of humans for a peaceful collective coexistence. Food, Health, Prosperity and Peace. None of these will reach the last human unless and until we follow Dharma, A righteous way of Living. And Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is the only mantra that will ensure a collective peaceful coexistence with all the above five under its ambit. Finally, the UN has to operate as a physical manifestation (an epitome) of this philosophy, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The part II section (bottom half) of the coverpage shows it all.
Neel Preet: Now that “COVID 19 And HUMANITY: A Retro — Introspection” is out, what’s next for you as an author? Can the readers expect more such incredible works in the future?
Vishnu Mithinti: I have couple of ideas in my mind to pen down. It would be a non- fiction, maybe.
Yes, ofcourse. Thank you.
