100 Hours 100 Stars: Kamal Haasan Explains How COVID-19 Will Change The World Like Other Debacles

The coronavirus pandemic sent the entire world in a state of panic. Our country is currently on a lockdown and staying indoors is the need of the hour. But have you ever wondered how the world will change once COVID-19 is under control? Superstar Kamal Haasan recently shared his thoughts on the subject in a chat during 100 Hours 100 Stars, an initiative taken by Fever FM, Radio Nasha and Radio One in order to encourage donations for the PM CARES Fund.

Talking about how coronavirus is the greatest challenge since World War II, the veteran actor shared, “I say use point of reference as World War II because that’s the closest to our generation. But Europe changed because of plague, Europe changed because of leprosy. Plague had been there for thousands of year but then when it came it swiped across Europe and suddenly wisdom dawned on Europe and many of the places when they learned that there is something called civic duty, can’t be selfish. Europe became more beautiful and more wise. I would say it became beautiful by virtue of its architecture and wise because the architecture was not simply palaces for kings but great libraries and hospitals and planetariums. They understood. And the rise of people, it didn’t matter which religion you belong to. Like Florence Nightingale and Father Damien or in the Middle East, you had great mullahs who did free surgeries even before Jesus Christ was born. We realized with each debacle.”

He went on to add, “A man like Genghis Khan who has seen death and brought about the death of many others realized the importance of communication and built the longest roads in the world. Even currency, we don’t carry gold or silver anymore, he started using paper. All these changes came with debacles and the worst violence.” Haasan continued to explain, “This COVID will teach us. Suddenly everybody is deep in introspection, not only seclusion, but they are deep into introspection which they have never been. They have been busy before. Now they hear the birds and they think about street dogs, they didn’t even realize they existed. They just walked around. Likewise, they would also now introspect on the suffering of cohabitants, be it Indians or world citizens, they are learning slowly. And new generation is understanding the word kindness, love and philanthropy.”

Talking about the lockdown and how he’s staying positive, the veteran actor shared, “It’s something that has been tutored to me by my parents and my family. So, it’s not only for times of COVID, but at all times in life. I’ve taken my share of spills, I mean fractures, injuries and hospitalization and I always come back bouncing. If not bouncing then at least on both my feet.”