Observations from Urbana, Illinois

As a citizen of India currently in the US, with near ones living in both countries, I have my feet in two far-apart places. Millions are similarly stretched. I belong to their tribe.

Whether or not our feet are confined to one land, all of us -- of all tribes of every place -- are now common victims of an invisible parasite. To combat it, we have isolated ourselves, and in our solitude, we feel the beat of a single humanity. 

Finding himself in Bergamo in Italy -- along with his wife and 11-year-old daughter --, a young friend from Taiwan marvels at the care that endangered and exhausted Italians are giving to the neediest amidst them. 

Bergamo (northeast of Milan) is among Italy’s worst-hit places, with infection numbers, already into hundreds a day, swelling by the hour. 

“Here in Bergamo,” the friend writes, “the curfew bell on Piazza Vecchia tolls 100 times at 10 PM: a tradition dating to the 12th century which signifies that the gates would soon be locked for the night. I had hardly paid attention to the bell…, as it was usually drowned by typically noisy streets. Yet, thanks to this new silence, I heard the bell last night, loud and clear.”

Spirits remaining strong, his 11-year-old daughter has joined in writing posters for Bergamo emblazoned with the words, “Andra tutto bene” – “All will be well” – along with the same declaration in Chinese characters. 

In country after country, every afflicted locality appears to be displaying a similar morale and a similar mutual care. 

For the first time, America finds it is not in control. The world’s most powerful country will probably not have enough hospital beds and ventilators for patients who will need them today and tomorrow. Even worse, perhaps, America’s care-givers – doctors and nurses -- may not have, in sufficient numbers, protective covering for their hands, faces and eyes. 

Calls have gone out and needs have been understood. America’s armed forces may be fully enlisted.

The directive that many if not most businesses should close -- so that people can isolate themselves -- may create an economic challenge of a size the US has never seen before, not even during the Great Depression, not even during World War II. 

For how long? That’s the question America is asking. 

There is sudden and impressive bipartisanship. Republicans and Democrats are about to agree on the Treasury sending relief to every needy person in America as often as necessary, and to helping businesses with immense aid. 

And while Trump continues to relapse every few sentences into self-praise, many of his utterances now praise others as well, including Democrat governors and mayors. He has even named Speaker Nancy Pelosi positively. 

Two other observations: Every day, Trump, his deputy Mike Pence, and officials heading different aspects of the war against the virus appear before an anxious America to provide the latest facts and answer the media’s questions. At these appearances, Trump often strongly defends himself and at times blames his predecessors, but such remarks come and go: the bulk of the time is taken to inform the American people of hourly developments. 

The overall directness and conciseness of the US team’s answers to questions offer a refreshing contrast to how Indian politicians and officials usually respond to the media’s questions, if indeed they are willing to field them. But maybe the virus has transformed things in India.

My second and final observation is about the valuable role that many Indian Americans are playing in today’s US. Thus, television channels regularly seek out persons such as Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Congressman Ro Khanna of California to explain to Americans what is happening in America on the health-care and economic fronts. 

And often it is a doctor or researcher of Indian origin who is found explaining the nature of a medical challenge, or the state of play in a particular locality. 

Thankfully, experts with other origins, American or non-American, are also in evidence. Still, it is heartwarming for someone of my tribe to watch a series of Indians applying their talents to assist the US in its hour of need. I know that a similar dedication is at work in India.