COVID: Through the Valleys of Despair / നിരാശയുടെ കോവിഡ് താഴ്വാരങ്ങളിലൂടെ : A Glimpse into the Lives That COVID Shattered / കോവിഡ് തകർത്ത ജീവിതങ്ങളിലേക്കൊരു എത്തിനോട്ടം

The Covid pandemic has caused massive dislocation among smaller businesses within months of its onset and even today the situation has not improved much. This book sheds light on the financial fragility of various small-scale businesses in Kerala underscoring the story of 10 different people affected by the Covid situation.  From a violinist to a martial arts instructor each of them has their own tale to share.  While the crisis unfolds governments must prepare for what’s coming next. We have lost the ‘normal’ forever and trying to cope with the ‘new normal’ is seemingly impossible for many industries that can’t deploy digital means. What the lesser affected class of people refer to as the new normal comprises complexities and uncertainties for the less-privileged. In short this book tries to reveal the ways in which the pandemic has affected the common man. As the Theyyam artist explains how performances have become a far-fetched dream for him there’s a soda manufacturer on the other side who hasn’t opened the shutters of his unit for a year now. This book will walk you through the life experiences of people who have taken a backseat in their personal and professional lives owing to the pandemic.