Abnormal means 'new normal'

‘We will not be able to rewrite those chapters of history that we have gone through. But from history we can learn, accept and change ourselves accordingly. The new normal may be a relatively good normal and it will definitely be a different normal. '

The above is from Ian Davis, a managing partner at McKenzie, a US-based management consulting firm. Many may think that he has made this comment considering the new situation that the world is facing due to the Kovid-19 epidemic. Because, the phrase ‘new normal’ or ‘new normal’ is quite new to many of us, heard in this epidemic. But Davis's comment came 11 years ago. He wrote an article entitled The New Normal during the 2009 global economic downturn.

In fact, whether it is an epidemic or an economic recession, these situations worry us about the days ahead. Uncertainty surrounds what the new situation will or could be. The future is considered considering the current present. It is considered a duty to consider or accept the current bad situation as 'normal'. I wrote an article earlier (Prothom Alo Online, July 14, 2020) asking how 'normal' the situation is being referred to as 'new normal'. Interested readers can read it.

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Over time, people's behavior, lifestyle, thinking changes. It has to do with the advancement of technology and the economy. There is a certain speed of change and there is preparation for it. But when a particular event or situation suddenly and unpreparedly changes our long-term habits and way of life, it cannot be ‘normal’. For now, we have no choice but to accept where Kovid-19 has brought life and the economy. But this is the new normal, this is how we will continue ধারণা there is probably no reason to accept the idea without judgment.

We always hear that life will never be the same again. We are reading the writings and opinions of many theorists about this. There is a real basis for such an idea. Because, Kovid-19 is taking the world through an unexpected experience that can change a lot of things. Just as some changes in lifestyle are not uncommon, their impact on every country and world economy will force people to shrink their way of life. But we are still in the epidemic. What is the basis of the concept of 'new normal' in this situation? Is the abnormal time we are in now being considered the standard for determining the 'new normal'?

Sustainable development researcher Chaim Essoni criticized the idea in an article titled "There is nothing new about the new normal" at the World Economic Forum, saying that the "new normal" concept is only true of the "current" situation. But which of these epidemics can actually be called 'normal'? Isolation of society is not a normal thing. The Covid-19 situation has created in us a feeling of grief and frustration of losing, telling us to get used to the new normal concept. According to Chaim, this distorted reality is being taken as the standard of New Normal. As a discourse, he says, the ‘new normal’ may be discussed, but the current crisis cannot be analyzed with this lens. This idea is first and foremost detrimental to a person's mental health. And for most people in society, the idea of ​​a new normal does not acknowledge the fact that the ‘normal’ thing does not work at all.

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Theoretical discussions and debates about the new normal are going on and will continue. But what do ordinary people think about this? I put a question to friends on Facebook; What has Covid-19 changed in your life? Has anything been added to your life as ‘New Normal’ or ‘New Normal’? If so, what is it?

Uncertainty may not be the right time to come to a conclusion or find a solution. But the idea of ​​a new normal is now pressing to find a way. Chaim thinks that in this uncertain situation, on the contrary, it is better to admit that what is happening now is not normal. Our grief or the fear we have is okay. It is not right to seek solace in what is happening now. Instead, we should all be uncomfortable with the current situation, because the 'new normal' speaks of a reality where many will have no place.

Theoretical discussions and debates about the new normal are going on and will continue. But what do ordinary people think about this? I put a question to friends on Facebook; What has Covid-19 changed in your life? Has anything been added to your life as ‘New Normal’ or ‘New Normal’? If so, what is it?

A total of 59 people responded. There are very few answers that add something specific to someone's life as a new normal. A lot of what I've got is like this; Shopping online, wearing a mask, using a hand sanitizer, washing hands, living a clean or healthy life, leaving the home office, job or being financially damaged, etc.

Apart from this, everyone has written in the context of their own experience, enlightenment about life or what they are going through at this time. In general, what they say is that they have become accustomed to housework, have given time to family, learned new jobs, reduced waste, understood the importance of saving, learned to be moderate, matured, and so on.

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Understandably, the fact that we hear so much New Normal New Normal, the impact is actually very small in our lives. Is it possible to use masks, be aware of cleanliness, get used to online shopping or add anything other than home office to this list? Most importantly, these are issues of urban, educated and conscious people of the country. It has nothing to do with most people in the country. And the big question is how long people will survive in an unusual situation like an epidemic.

Offices and courts are all open except for educational institutions. Will any organization try to hold on to the idea of ​​‘home office’? Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix, was asked by the Wall Street Journal if he saw any positive aspects in the home office. His clear answer is, ‘No, I don’t see any positive side.’ He thinks the fact that people can’t be directly involved with people is very negative. However, he suggested that once the epidemic was over, his staff would be able to do homework one day a week.

The future of the home office does not look very bright as usual. In fact, this whole new concept is related to dealing with the damage that the Covid-19 epidemic is doing to the economy. Economists say the recession will be long lasting. As a result, austerity or cost reduction will be organized around the world. Attempts will be made on how to run the organization with less manpower. Small businesses and enterprises are closing down because they can't handle the pressure and will go further. The main pressure of this economic downturn will be on employment. People will lose their jobs and their income will be reduced.

That tragic and unusual thing has started to happen. I read an article by Michael Ashley, a professor at Chapman University in California (What If the Old Normal Becomes the New Normal), about how many of the world's largest organizations are calling Zoom to lay off employees. In many cases, even that is not being done, only the bad news of layoffs is being given to the workers by sending text messages. There may be a cruel reality behind this ‘abnormal’ situation, but how come it is called ‘new normal’!

The coronavirus not only claimed the lives of millions of people around the world, but also caused great damage to human civilization. In the name of the new normal, we will try to make the abnormal life as normal in the days to come.