Lockdown Photo – Stories: Visualising the Everydayness of ‘New Normal’ - Velivada

Photographer – Banshanlang Marwein

Documenting photo stories isn’t easy as it seems because it takes a whole lot of your sharp attention of moments to capture the daily mundane and picture them as it is. Photos can sometimes speak volumes beyond what the eyes can fathom, should you leave that memory lying there without capturing them it might be a missing moment. They heal, touch, provoke yet nothing can easily make us realised how the Pandemic has impacted us at a personal and professional level, pictures and videos anyhow can make us feel the pinch of daily mundanes. Not all pictures necessarily represent the dark side of the story, it is also essentially the lighter side of what everydayness means to one and all. Three months on, people have been trying hard to ‘live with the virus’ and the ‘New Normal’, life is not going to be back again in any time soon as we are grappling with the tensed economic downturn and the loss of jobs and livelihood.

During the pandemic, aside from cherishing old habits and introspecting ourselves, we can find solace in photographing the moments we come across while also killing time amid monotony not to mention the time spent on eating and web surfing among other activities. These pictures are not in good quality but at best they try to signify some details of the everydayness of the ‘New Normal.

(Banshanlang Marwein is a doctoral candidate at Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)

Airport Rush – The most unwanted place throughout the pandemic, unless it is extremely necessary one can travel otherwise avoid going. Hey, frequent flyers stay away from the Airport for now.

Black Tea and Rainy Day – Black Tea and Suji along with drizzling weather are best treat for you any day. Do not miss taking both.

Face Masks – Then, it was fashionable to wear face masks, but today it is compulsory what else can we react to this ‘New Normal’ but to wear them whenever we are out from home.

Feed the Hungry Stomach – At the end of the day, one must not go empty stomach, feed your stomach and others too.

Haircut – Make use of your skills you have during such challenging times, have a haircut at home when you can

Musical Chair – We only know well how musical chair in the government establishment works, but this is how the game actually looks when children play joyfully. How I long to play with them but that would make me violate the Home Quarantine protocols if I do so.

Rainy Day – Even the monsoon weather tells us to stay back home as much as possible, the rain in parts of the country has been preventing people from moving out unless it is absolutely necessary. Nonetheless the suffering of the people because of floods and incessant rain is worth is rather heartbreaking.

Sky – Even look up to the beautiful sky is worth doing rather than piling up with the negativity around us during the age of pandemic.

Something Fishy – As usual, the makeshift markets has been the source of blessings at a time when markets are totally closed, should we deny the street hawkers their rights ?

Street of Laitumkhrah – The street of lockdown trying to be back to normal, but make sure you follow Odd-Even formala.

The Centre Point – The Khyndail Lad/Police Bazaar as they call it; the commercial hub is almost back to where it was, we just do not wish the pandemic to continue to hit us hard.

The Church – Three months without the congregation is indeed long enough but reopening it should be reasonably think. Thanks to the cooperations though, much better than mere mud slinging.

The Makeshift Shop – You would see this Van-Shop around the city and the outskirts not only during lockdown but even before as well, mostly you get good and fresh stuff from them, I got one.

The piece of Information – Who isn’t reading newspapers these days? But make sure you do not fall under the guise of fake news peddled by the WhatsApp University Graduates.

The Tea Seller – Trying to make a living amid the pandemic, rest assured the best you can get from the street amid lockdown, do not leave them without trying.

Umbrella for social distancing – The Dorbar Shnong of Pyndengumiong Mairang went one step ahead to implement social distancing protocol by making umbrella compulsory while queuing for groceries and otherwise.