By now we have all heard many many views, and opinions about post Covid-19 world. About this and that in the time of Covid-19. About how Covid-19 is a historic event. About how it is going to change life as we know it. About what would be the new normal. About how remote work technologies, vaccine research or online marketplaces would be the only ones that matter. About how many others would merge together. So in this article, instead of jumping to conclusions, we’d try to look at Covid-19 from historical and developmental perspectives and explore what’s the greatest opportunity it has to offer. Interesting? Let’s do this!

Before we approach what these opportunities are, let’s go back to another history altering time.

Year 1453 AD; soon after Ottomans took over Constantinople, they blocked Silk Road and Spice Route. Both these routes crossed through Constantinople as it was the only link between Asia and Europe. Around the same time, Mughals were busy plotting their way to India, and Yuan Dynasty had just been ousted from China. All three – Ottoman, Mughal and Yuan – were of ethnically Mongol origins. Seljuk Turks were originally from Central Asia near Aral Sea, Mughals (Persianized/Indianized Mongols) were from the same area, whereas Yuan Dynasty was established by Kublai Khan, the Grandson of Genghis Khan, perhaps the most known Mongol.

Europe was well settled by that time. “English” people, originally coming from across the pond in Denmark and North Germany in 6th century, were firmly established in Britain; Britishers had dropped Celtic to speak English. Franks and Germanic people were strong in Middle and Western Europe. Fall of Constantinople was also a victory of sorts for Latin Rome over Greek Orthodox Constantinople. Catholics from Rome would get stronger, whereas Orthodox would move to Moscow after the fall of Constantinople. Russia itself was in the final phases of driving Mongols/Tartars out; Ivan “the Great” would go on to ascend the throne in 1462 and call himself Tsar (after Caesar or Kaiser of Rome), and Moscow as the “Third Rome” (after Rome and Constantinople). Until that point, trade balance was in favor of Asia, where most goods and crafts were produced, to be sold into Europe and Middle East. Therefore, most riches were in Asia. For example, India, world’s richest country back then, commanded 23% of world GDP. Caravans were popular trading convoys; hundreds of towns had mushroomed along Silk and Spice routes, Constantinople being the grandest as every caravan had to pass through “The City”. So, when the Ottomans blocked the routes, there was complete disruption.

What happened next?

Exploration of alternative routes via the oceans would be pursued aggressively. Portuguese and Italians would lead due to their navigational and geographical strengths. A certain Christopher Columbus would end up in Americas, the “new world”. Vasco da Gama would discover sea route to India. Dutch would find lands down under and name them Nieuw Holland and Nieuw Zeeland which would eventually be won over by British (Captain Cook & others) and renamed to Australia and New Zealand respectively. Europeans would divide African continent among themselves as slices of pizza. Slave trade would soon become the most profitable industry of the time. Europe and Middle East would enjoy riches for few centuries, while lands and people they ruled would be robbed out of their last penny. All wealth (money, precious metals, precious gems), and many good looking women, from the rest of the world would be taken to European and Middle Eastern countries. Local economies, industries, agriculture, schools, temples, manuscripts and even family records would be destroyed by the invaders and colonizers with an intent to keep locals enslaved forever. “Manifest Destiny” (actually in practice since several centuries BC) would be expanded in several parts of the world. Mass-murders and artificial famines would become favorite tools to kill millions of able bodied and terrorize the survivors. Almost entire native populations of the newly found lands (Americas, Australia and New Zealand) would be wiped out by the colonizers. This great loot would go on for few centuries. Some robbers would then turn around and laugh at the poverty of the robbed poor. Religious/racial superiority, class and refinement would be claimed based upon neo-riches. Alongside these, new consumption patterns and supply chains would emerge. Silk would be grown in Europe, along with other fabrics coming out of new mills. Industrial revolution would follow, mostly financed by the loots, and sometimes by the knowledge of captured territories. Printing press would be established close to London, and hence London dialect would become ‘Standard English’! Eventually, traces of Silk Road, Spice Route, and Mongol Origin Dynasties would be confined to historical maps.

Couple centuries of colonization later – local uprising, fights over the loot in ruling nations, and labor movements would ensure a new global reorder. Time would be pregnant with massive change. Communism would start with a promise of equality and romanticism, but end-up being the most corrupt and criminal (it would soon reduce to – “power belongs to the state; we the pimps are representatives of the state, so you commoners suck up and don’t ever question; meanwhile we gradually encroach territories, capture more people and gain more power for ourselves”). Which is exactly how religion worked! (“Power belongs to god; we the clergy are the chosen ones, so you commoners must suck up and don’t ever question; meanwhile we gradually encroach territories, capture more people and gain more power for ourselves”). Both systems would have lobbyists, media, artists, court jesters and clowns who would sing their paeans; both would perform some charity work to justify their rules. In due course, some of the oldest religions of the world would make their own ‘Sangh’ (aka union or clergymen) and try to replicate the same.

World wars, genocides, post-colonization, new countries along religious lines, massive riots, cold war, collapse of USSR, post-cold war – list can go on – would be marquee events. Rise of the US would make democracy very attractive for the rest of the world. US nation builders would deliver a remarkable constitution and a wonderful model. This model would take power out of the hands of regimes and give it to the people. The success of their model – advancements in living standards, education, science, business, military, smooth power transfer, fair immigration policies, rule of law, to name a few – would go on to establish them as the the richest and strongest nation in the world. Life, culture, and business would flourish. People across the world would clamor for the same. Even autocratic nations would be forced to at least maintain a veneer of decency. US model would be refined and strengthened by giants like Lincoln, Gandhi, Dr. King, and Mandela in different parts of the world. New developments would result in modernization of housing, lifestyle, healthcare, trading, energy, transportation, space exploration, communication, and technology. China would reclaim the the manufacturing powerhouse status; would try to reestablish the old silk route in 21st century. Cross cultural people would live everywhere. However, this would be a major problem in many border areas which would become hotbeds of extremism and brainwashing. Even in mainlands – religion, race, caste, language etc. would be the basis of much discrimination and social upheaval. US machinations abroad, too much celebration of European roots, too narrow focus on short-term profits, abuse of their systems by outsiders, lobbies, interest groups and corruption would give rise to the same problems in the US that caused the downfall of several empires outside.

Big powers would develop and transfer nukes together but would seek non-proliferation from others outside of their club. Neo-rich countries would enforce strict visa regulations for entries to their own country. Religious nations would go a step further and derecognize right to normal life for adherents of any other religion, while constantly trying to propagate theirs in secular countries. It would be the most twisted version of ‘manifest destiny’. Communists would be the worst though, who would unleash a model of surveillance, state-media, and terror on their own citizens.

Capitalism would be the reigning champion. But it would be corrupted by rules and laws that would themselves be written by/for vested interests. Delinking of gold guarantee from bank notes and corresponding need for “petrodollar” in 1960’s and 70’s would result in new oil powers and oil wars later. Inside societies, soon there would be so many rules and laws that everyone would be in violation of something. At its worst, some capitalistic systems in different parts of the world would have coupons for guns and schoolgirls.

Communists’ state oppression would offer their people only one relative freedom – eat anything! And eat they would! Bats, wildlife, what not? That, coupled with climate change, would result in several epidemics. Travel and connectedness would carry these epidemics to the farthest corners of the world. Climate itself would keep getting worse and natural catastrophes would become more frequent and more severe.

World institutions would fail to deliver; they would mostly become puppets of their paymasters. Their representatives would be busier enjoying their lives. As always, business leaders would just be interested in making more money and enjoying their lives. They’d rather be caught with their pants down resulting in multi-billion-dollar divorce settlements, than to make any meaningful change. There’d be pick-up lines and catch-up slogans for every situation, but that too would be geared towards making more money. Meanwhile, people exposing their body parts would become ‘celebrities’. In general, media all over the world would champion a ‘blank everything and just enjoy’ lifestyle because it would be profitable for people up and down the supply side. People with conscious would drift away.

Technology would bring much good. But it would also cause fallouts like i) revival of old ‘empire’ based nostalgias, ii) fake news with no editorial control, iii) political correctness, and iv) “getting offended” industry. Food, travel, pets, apparels would be the only acceptable topics. Everything else would attract hordes of people who’d descend and try to immediately take it down. Women suppression, apostasy killings, infant’s genital mutilation, no freedom of religion, and religious-code-based eating/dressing would be passed as ‘culture’ by this political correctness. Thousands of micro-influencers would pop-up selling ‘dollar-nudes’. There would be an alternate cyber universe for everything. Industries would come along to support and/or exploit this eco-system. Social Media would nurture tribal thinking.

Buffoons with twitter handles, and demigods with deprived troll army would take advantage of this situation. They would come to power in several parts of the world. Elections would be won or lost by artificially generated sentiments. Law and order would be a complete chaos, leading to allegations of majority appeasement. A constant melee would be the order of the day. Good people would withdraw themselves to their loved ones, but heck, they won’t speak!

Overall, society would resemble a twisted solar system, where moon (people) would revolve around the earth (beauty, security) which would revolve around the sun (money).

Take a moment now and think again. Would Covid-19 change any of this? Would it change the vulgarity of having a state religion and forcing everyone to live the same way? Would race become any less important? Would language not be a top reason why people fight and claim their own ‘culture’? Would people suddenly start getting centrist governments free of right and left, free of clergy, totally secular? Would it start making people behave more responsible? Would cruelty on animals stop? Would people start living more sustainably? Would the robbers return any of their loot? Would it reach the poor? Would it stop the clamor for big city anonymity or lifestyle products? Would fear of outsiders won’t be invoked to misguide gullible locals? Would people start accepting others more? Would people stop being ego maniacs in homes, offices, and streets? Would ‘Kawkblocking’ cease to be a team-sport that mediocres play to stop the talented? Would those who keep silent would suddenly start speaking up? Would clapping cease to be most people’s ultimate contribution to society? Would people stop chasing money? Would businesses not focus on short-term profits and baits? Would more people not get induced by this short-term profiteering? Would supply chain move out of China? Would communist governments give freedom to its people?

If you answered no to any of these, you get the picture. However, the good news is, none of these is beyond the realms of possibility. In fact, only one generation could achieve all of this in just a few years. That is why taking this message to the youngsters (and to the mature but reasonable people) is important. We have all seen glimpses of hope. People with conscious should come together and face the self-centered lot together. Those who have to give up would of course cry foul and resist change with all their might. We need to be both civil and tough with them. And no, this doesn’t mean taking it from the rich and giving to the poor, that would be communism, and we already discussed why that won’t work. What it means is, giving equal opportunities and equal treatment to every child born anywhere. Removing systemic biases, removing crony capitalism and hateful communism, banning religious or autocratic nations, dumping disgusting racial discrimination, celebrating each life, clearing the stereotypes, providing succor to the those who get left behind, fair taxes, equal access to things like education and healthcare that everyone needs, impartial law and order delivery systems, and ensuring human dignity for everyone would be must have’s. But these won’t be all. Now is the time to decide the full program for the greater good and go for it in an organized manner across the world. The governing world bodies must lay out and supervise these programs across the world with clearly defined rewards, enforcement, and punishments systems. Who gets in and who pays for these world bodies should also be fair and not lopsided. All nations must abide to play by the same rules. Climate change measures would also need to be factored so that we live on a healthier planet and pass it on to the coming generations. A personal moral building element can be agreed upon and shared across the world. Good thing is, attempts have already been made towards all of these, and we have the data and experiences to build upon. What this new system provides is, it removes the root causes that led to previous failures.

Like in any project, we need to keep in mind the present state, decide the future state, roadmap to get there, modus operandi, checks and balances, terms of engagements etc. We have tools and technologies for that. Despite all the negativity, we have made tremendous progress. We have developed fair bit of understanding of each other. Most things in life get determined by the event of birth – species, country, state, race, language, religion, caste, educational background, affluence, connections – maybe this lockdown would force people to look beyond! It is ridiculous to claim superiority and inferiority based upon anything except individual being good or bad. That too could be changed by giving everyone equal opportunities and respect irrespective of their backgrounds. Nobody is from nowhere; biggest of cities (and civilizations) started with few nomads erecting humble huts by the rivers. Areas that received more sun got people darker. Every local area developed it’s own language (often similar to nearby languages but different than far-off languages); most developed local customs and traditions. Since then people have constantly moved from river valleys to silicon valleys and everything in-between, often taking their cultures with themselves. World has been a big melting pot. Power brokers have always tried to create divisions but people have always found ways to adjust, mix and co-exist. And we have come this far. Maybe this lockdown would give people perspective and bring forward other nomad(s) who could lead the humanity to its epitome.

Would it!?