It has been almost one year for us
living with the coronavirus pandemic outbreak and while we are constantly bombarded with the news
related to the virus, there were several heartwarming things throughout
the year that brought joy and made us feel proud of our global community.
Surely 2020 hasn’t been what
we’ve all hoped, but if this article makes you remember some uplifting moments
of the year, then our job here is done.
Italians singing patriotic songs
from their balconies
When most of the countries in
the world went under lockdown due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, people
discovered many ways to cheer up each other and stay positive. Videos of
Italian neighbours singing together appeared on social media after Italy’s prime
minister Giuseppe Conte announced the restrictions that shut down virtually all
daily life.
Italians definitely boosted the
morale of each other by spreading a slogan of reassurance- “Andrà tutto bene”-
everything will be all right.
Pune’s ‘warrior aaji’
85-year-old Shanta Balu Pawar
from Maharashtra’s Pune district went viral on social media after a
video of her was uploaded online in which she was seen performing traditional
martial arts on streets. The clip was first spotted by Bollywood actor Riteish
Deshmukh. After this, several politicians and actors helped her financially and
now she runs a Martial Arts Training Centre, thanks to actor Sonu Sood.
“Till the time it is
physically possible for me to do so, I will teach students my skills. I am happy
to pass my knowledge to youngsters and am willing to do so till my last
breath,” she told TOI.
Barack Obama’s phone call
interrupted by a voter’s baby
Former US President Barack Obama
was doing everything he could to seek votes for the then-presidential candidate
Joe Biden for the US presidential elections 2020. In one of his attempts, he
called up Alyssa, an American voter, urging her to go to vote and also tell
people around her to vote, as well.
While he was talking to Alyssa,
an unexpected guest interrupted their conversation mid-way. The guest was
Alyssa’s eight-month-old baby boy. This adorable interaction garnered millions
of views on Twitter.
Baba Ka Dhaba
A video of an elderly couple,
who sell home-cooked meals from a tiny stall named ‘Baba Ka Dhaba’ in South
Delhi, went viral on social media. In the clip, the owner tearfully told how
lockdown had hit his business hard. Soon everything changed for 80-year-old
Kanta Prasad and his wife as customers made a beeline to eat his food as did
camera crews, bloggers, celebs and journalists.
A day after the heartbreaking
video, the food joint was flooded with more customers than it had seen in 30
years of being in business. The overwhelming support to Prasad was a ray
of hope for other small-scale shopkeepers and hawkers in the vicinity.
6-year-old Bridger Walker saving
his sister from a dog
Bridger Walker, a 6-year-old boy
from Cheyenne, UK, gained global popularity for rescuing his sister from a
dog attack. The brave boy jumped before the German shepherd to save his
4-year-old sister. In the fight, Walker was brutally attacked by the dog. He
underwent a two-hour surgery that required more than 90 stitches.
However, his heroic deed earned
him World Heavyweight Champion title by the World Boxing Council. He was
praised by many, including like Anne Hathaway and Chris Evans.
Marcus Rashford
Manchester United forward Marcus
Rashford was honoured with the Special Recognition Award for his charity work
during the COVID-19 pandemic. He partnered with the UK-based community group
FareShare, which aimed at overcoming poverty and reducing food wastage in
Britain.
Rashford hoped to raise enough
money for the meals of around 40,000 kids. The footballer managed to raise
close to 20 million pounds in charity.
‘Coronawarriors‘ uplifting
people’s spirit
Who can forget the efforts of
healthcare workers, police and people who had to work during the pandemic all
day, risking their lives? Still, most of them managed to do whatever they can
to stay positive and uplift the spirit of people who suffered from the deadly
disease. There were many doctors and nurses, who danced, sang, played
instruments for their patients to keep them happy.
These ‘coronawarriors’ not only
brought a smile on the face of their patients but were also loved by superstars
like Hrithik Roshan.
Sonu Sood
From a reel-life-hero, Bollywood
actor Sonu Sood became a real-life-hero during the pandemic. Ever since the
coronavirus outbreak, Sood lent helping hand to thousands of migrant workers
who were left jobless and clueless when India underwent lockdown. From
providing meals to transport facilities, he has done it all. He is now focusing on
giving students the benefit from his scholarship programme.
He also helped students who got stuck in Kyrgyzstan. The actor donated thousand of PPE
kits to health workers. This is just the surface we have scratched.
