Pandemic, a path to rediscovery

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 18

A long spell of the pandemic and its aftermath on mental and physical health has been nothing less than traumatic.

While there’s nothing much in the name of inspiration as the second wave batters the country, a few persons have found their own way of beating the pandemic blues by doing what they always wanted to do, but never got the required support.

Harjit Bamrah has spent a large part of her life taking on the responsibilities of her family, but when pandemic struck, Bamrah got a chance to rediscover herself as a singer.

“I have passion for music, especially Punjabi folk. I have been a big fan of legendary Surinder Kaur. Since, I had a busy social life, confinement during the lockdown made me look for something else to overcome the stress. That’s when my husband and few friends suggested that I should try singing,” she said.

Bamrah released her debut song ‘Jutti Kasoori’ in April on a digital music channel. “I have no professional training in singing, no prior exposure as a singer. I never thought of singing and performing in a music video, but this first step has given me enough confidence to pursue a new career,” she said.

Her debut came as a surprise for her three grown-up kids. “During the pandemic, I got time to spend with myself, something I never really did before. There is so much going around that it becomes difficult to focus on positive aspects of life. I listened to my inner voice and got the confidence to perform.”

Latika Arora, is another person, who turned to self-exploration. Arora has been a choreographer for the past two decades and used to teach dance for livelihood when the pandemic-induced lockdown halted everything. “It was a really difficult time as everything came to a standstill, with so much uncertainty and no other option available. When you have been doing the same thing comfortably for years, it takes a while to adapt to anything new. For me, the lockdown was a time to pause and re-invent myself as an artist,” said Arora.

“I spent the last one year singing. It was a good way to distract myself from negativity of the pandemic,” she said.

Recently, Arora released her first ghazal, a version of Mehdi Hasan’s classic ‘Duniya Kisi Ke Pyar Mein’ (from Jaag Utha Insaan in 1966). She’s also working on an upcoming Punjabi web series and featured in Ekta Kapoor’s ‘Who’s Your Daddy?’

Shefali Diwan, a mother of two, who loved cooking for her large and extended family, came out as a writer.

“Like many, I too spent a large part of the lockdown in my kitchen. A friend suggested that I should start with professional cooking videos. I got ahead of myself and tried my hand at writing a book,” she said. Diwan has penned a book on therapeutic and homecooked recipes.