Friendship in Pandemic: Digital mode takes the stage as populace bank on friends to liven up lockdown

Strap: Reunions, video chats with old friends rules the roost as social distancing protocol hits socializing

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Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 31

The coronavirus crept into everything a person can think of — hitting, knocking down establishments, spirits of people and what not. In these pandemic struck times, when going about freely is a luxury being missed dearly and ensuring sound mental health amidst the lockdown stress the only thing on agenda, friendship, a necessity being fulfilled over digital mode, is something that has been saving the day for many.

People have been engaging, catching up with the long lost friends like never before. As the International Friendship Day was on Thursday celebrated across the world, an exceeding number of citizens spoke to The Tribune about how they have banked upon friends to share their thoughts and keep themselves from going insane during the restrictions. However, as video calls, Zoom chats, reunion videos and a barrage of other social media wishes for friends have flooded the internet.

A bunch of teachers – hailing from India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia and the US — came together to discuss the crisis their respective students faced during the sudden technological demands facilitated by transformation in education across the world. All of them faced with the challenge, began taking help from each other thus strengthening their bond. The group had met at a conference in Nepal last year. Professor Ramnita Sharda, who teaches English at the HMV College, Jalandhar, has been catching up with her fellows Tamas Kiss (Malaysia), Moti Kala (Nepal), Hendri Wonto (Indonesia), Anuja Busgeeth (US) discussing ways to teach students in these trying times of Covid.

The doctors, the frontliners, who have been leading from the front, have also lighted up the occasion. Eight doctors, the college mates separated for years decided to shoot a video — an idea born out of leisure time during the Covid. That’s how they celebrated their camaraderie. Dr Sanjeev Lochan, psychiatrist, Civil hospital, Phagwara, Dr Sumesh Handa Neurologist (pvt), Dr Anu Kaushal, SMO, Civil hospital, Jalandhar, Dr Mandeep Dhesi ,medical officer, Nakodar, Dr Parvind Dhingra, pathologist, (pvt), Dr Manjula Singhal, gynaecologist (pvt), Dr Ajay Marwaha (urologist) got together to shoot a video during the times of the lockdown to liven up college memories.

However, on Thursday, they came up with another video celebrating bonds with the song ‘ye Dosti Hum nahi chorenge’ playing in the background as they danced. They even included some of their other batchmates’ pictures, dug up from their personal archives.

Campuses missing warmth of cordial relations

As campuses, educational institutions continue to wear a deserted look, most of the action is happening on the Zoom calls. While exchange of friendship bands, cards, wrist bands and souvenirs used to rule in past, this year, unfortunately, the chain of events happened only on social media as the colleges and campuses went about their business without students. However, some of the campuses had little celebrations. At the CT Group campus in Jalandhar, working colleagues gathered to greet each other and shot a video of the on-campus revels. Some lucky chaps right there, right?

The digital age

As Prof Sharda says, “It takes three GB data for three Zoom video calls a day.” Internet connectivity and phones is a must. It is the new anthem for friends as they have to catch up with each other only through the internet. And as far as the importance of a cell phone is concerned these days, they are no less than a life partner. Friends chatting for hours with each other on the phone and social media is flooded with those reaching out to each other through poignant, emotional friendship messages. Video chats are the new order during the social distancing with friends unable to hug or meet. Not only this, the digital companions are the new workplace, the class room, recreation centre and even a shopping mall. Hefty phone bills have been reported as well.

However, an unusual lot — away from the rat race – has also emerged who are worried over the onslaught of technology and believes in more traditional holistic means of upholding friendship. Also, they are believers in the asynchronous modes of teaching and believe in relieving students from the burdens of real time mobile calls and zoom chats to help their better growth and learning.

Speak Out

Beenu Rajpoot, filmmaker and artist, says, “We are a bunch of friends who were together during our studies in the HMV College in the 1990 batch. During the lockdown we were hit by nostalgia and got together – started talking and doing video calls on the web. Our web reunion led to more brainstorming and eventually we shot a video film about our reunion from the comforts of our respective homes. It was welcomed by the batchmates and friends at our college and widely loved. The video has only increased the bond between us and made us more emotionally attached to each other.”

Ramnita Sharda, Prof, HMV College, Jalandhar said, “Some of us who met at a Teachers’ conference in Nepal Last year have formed lasting bonds during the lockdown. We were already in touch but began taking notes with each other on how to cope with the new technological demands during teaching and how to help students who don’t have access to technology. Apparently, this is a problem worrying teachers across the world. Discussing this, has opened up a world of experiences.

Psychiatrist, Dr. Sanjeev Lochan said, “We were all batchmates at the Government Medical College, Patiala, and have been working 24X7 during the pandemic. I’m a psychiatrist and all the patients who came to me during the lockdown said they were bored or stressed or need of entertainment. As friends, also it had been a considerable time since we caught up and we were already working hefty shifts. So we decided to make a video after I came up with a concept that would provide cheer to heavy hearts burdened due to the drudgery of the lockdown. We shot slots from our drawing rooms, living rooms, gardens and porches and uploaded them. Song selection was done by Dr. Anu and video by Dr. Umesh. All our batchmates loved it as lot of colleagues and batchmates, calling after years, said the video got them nostalgic.”

Kanwarpreet Singh, media and PR professional, “I have been hanging out with my friends before the lockdown. I pair up with one of my friends who is a colleague from the workplace. While socialising was normal before the pandemic, now we have routed our energies to videos and work. Unable to catch up sans social distancing we make up for the lost fun by shooting pandemic special videos with social messages and also catch up via video chat. Technology is a very potent way to catch up with friends and if we know how to manage things amid this pandemic, there are a lot of options to fill in our times with excitement.”