Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the planet will not be the same after COVID-19 and noted that the events in the future will be remembered as either pre or post-Covid.
The world has not seen a pandemic like this in a century, said PM Modi while delivering the keynote address on the occasion of “Virtual Vesak Global Celebrations” on Buddha Purnima.
However, he added that now there is a better understanding of the pandemic, and described that vaccines are absolutely important to save lives and defeat the virus.
Prime Minister also extended his condolences to those who have suffered and lost near and dear ones in the pandemic, saying that he grieved with them too.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said Vesak is a day to celebrate the life of Lord Buddha and to reflect on the noble ideals and sacrifices he made for the betterment of our planet. He added that he dedicated last year’s Vesak day programme to all the front-line workers leading humanity’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. A year later, the COVID-19 pandemic has still not left us and several nations, including India, have experienced a second wave.
Speaking at the Vesak Day programme.
We remember the noble ideals of Lord Buddha. https://t.co/JMmup8Mvtm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2021
He remarked that this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic has brought tragedy and suffering to the doorstep of many and has impacted every nation. He said the economic impact left by the pandemic is huge and our planet will not be the same after COVID-19.
He said there have been many noteworthy improvements as well over the last year, like having a better understanding of the pandemic, which strengthens our strategy to fight it, and having the vaccine, which is absolutely important to save lives and defeat the pandemic. He lauded the efforts of the scientists for developing the COVID-19 vaccines within a year and said this shows the power of human determination and tenacity.
The Prime Minister said that while fighting COVID-19, one must not lose sight of the other challenges faced by humanity like climate change, etc. He added that the reckless lifestyles of the present generation are threatening the future generations and resolved to not let our planet remain wounded. He reminded the Lord Buddha’s emphasis on a way of life where respect for Mother Nature is paramount. He announced that India is among the few large economies to be on track to achieve their Paris targets. He said for India, sustainable living is not only about the right words but also about the right actions.