*The enormity & invisibility of our tragedy*
4 out of 16 pages of Kutchmitra newspaper's Bhuj edition yesterday contained obituaries.
There were total 117 obituaries: 93 text-only and 24 with photos.
But Gujarat govt says no one has died of Covid in Kutch in last 3 days.
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Guj govt says zero persons have died due to Covid in Kutch between Thursday & Saturday. (see attached pics)
Kutch, the westernmost district of India, has a population of around 21 lakhs (as per 2011 census).
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Also, Kutchmitra's Editor Deepak Mankad yesterday questioned Guj govt's statistics.
In his editorial, he said when relatives these days are asked the cause of death of the deceased - whose obituary has to be published - most of them reply with one answer only: Corona.
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As per Mankad, on an average (non-pandemic) day, the text-only obituaries take half page in the newspaper.
He is right.
Exactly 2 years back - on 25 April, 2018 - the newspaper's Bhuj edition published 30 obituaries - 25 text-only & 5 with photos of the deceased.
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Most of those mentioned in the 117 obituaries died of Covid, as per their loved ones.
But they will remain invisible even after death, not even deserving the dignity of being a govt statistic.
As a small tribute, I roughly translate 5 of 117 obituaries of yesterday:
His name was Hareshbhai Moorji Badga. He's 47 years of age.
His native place was Beraja village in Mundra taluka of the district.
His wife's name is Hiralben. He has two sons - Umesh & Chetan.
He died on April 20
Family has organised "telephonic get-together" to remember him
Her name was Fatmabai Fakirmamad Manjaliya. She was 55.
Her father's name is Ibrahim Reliya. She has two sons - Abdullah Siddique & Haji Jusab.
Her husband's name is Fakirmamad.
She lived in Mundra taluka.
She died on April 23.
His name was Anil Bokhani. He was 39.
He lived in Bhuj.
His father's name is Valjibhai Samatbhai Bokhani.
He died on April 23.
His name was Ramesh Premchand Senghani. He was 37.
He lived in Bidada village in Mandvi taluka of the district.
His mother's name is Narmadaben Premchand.
He died on April 23.
"We have not organised prayer meeting for him due to corona pandemic," says the obituary.
His name was Mohanbharti Kunvarbharti Gosain. He was 56.
His wife's name is Prabhaben. He has two brothers: Popatbharti and Chaturbharti.
He lived in Lakhond village in the district.
He died on April 22.
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