As COVID-19 ravages India, Nashville’s local Indian community has joined in fundraising efforts, but community members describe a nearly hopeless situation with only so much they can do.
By most accounts, India responded rapidly at the beginning of the pandemic, closing its borders and banning all international flights in March 2020. By 2021, attitudes had relaxed, as many believed the worst of the pandemic was over. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed thousands at state election rallies, and in-person religious events returned, including Ramadan and Kumbh Mela, the latter an event only celebrated every 12 years.
By April of this year, daily COVID-19 cases exploded to more than 400,000 a day and showed no signs of slowing.
Between Shalini Dixit, communications director at the India Association of Nashville (IAN) and co-founder of Shuddh Desi Radio, and her husband, 10 family members have died in India due to COVID-19.
“It’s extremely heartbreaking,” she said.