Quarantine Reflections by Madhuri Mahato

Photo via: Pradeep Yadav

QUARANTINE REFLECTIONS: “I am a leader. I travel often in my constituency to understand people’s problems. I was on one such visit when I got infected with the coronavirus. When I tested positive, I was shocked. And then I was terrified. Over the months I had come to believe that I was not going to be infected because I had taken all the precautions. But I was not careful enough. Meeting people, going to events are all important aspects of a politician’s life–whether it is formal meetings, inauguration or visiting the flood areas during monsoon. How can I tell people that I can’t see them? In the quarantine, as I recovered from the infection, I often thought about the virus and our society. My main concern is for the common people and how they have been neglected and how they suffer. The solution for not being infected is simple, take precautions, be careful. But how can we end the stigma against people who are infected?”

Pradeep Yadav

Member of the House of Representative from Parsa Constituency 1

Text: Madhuri Mahato @mmhisimmy

Photo: Pradeep Yadav and Madhuri Mahato @mmhisimmy

Copy Edit: Nisha Rai @nishastoryteller

Edit: Mallika Aryal @mikaness

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