Indian J Med Res 151, May 2020, pp 499-501 Quick Response Code:
DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1765_20
Correspondence
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Community engagement in times of COVID-19: Lessons from
neo-Vaishnavite practices
Sir, is limited1. In such situations, we should look towards
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local traditional practices as a tool while developing
The article ‘Public engagement is key for
CRCS. India is fortunate in having a diverse range of
containing COVID-19 pandemic’ published recently
cultural and religious practices, which have established
was an enlightening read1. In this article, the author has
public acceptability, and many of which are in
elaborated the various aspects related to the issue in a
consonance with modern scientific practices.
lucid and nuanced manner. Based on the arguments and
suggestions, we would like to offer our humble insights While exploring some of these local traditions, we
on the same. found many scientifically relevant practices of personal
and social hygiene in the neo-Vaishnavite sect of Assam6.
We agree that public engagement is inalienable
A random questionnaire-based survey done among 100
to contain the transmission of any pandemic, and
followers of the neo-Vaishnavite culture in the city of
COVID-19 is no exception. In the current situation,
Guwahati revealed some interesting results. It was found
where a definitive pharmacological cure or vaccine
that our respondents were used to take a bath before
is yet to be developed, personal hygiene and social
cooking (65%) and before entering the premises of their
distancing are the only two weapons that we have in our
homes (50%). This behaviour is rooted in the strong
fight, both of which are proven non-pharmacological
tradition of personal and social hygiene in their culture.
interventions2. This engagement can be coercive or
Among Vaishnavites, there exists a strong distinction
willful. Coercive measures such as the nationwide
between the state of hygiene (called ‘saj’) and the lack of
lockdown are an invaluable part of any strategy for
it (called ‘phura’). ‘Saj’ can only be attained after taking
the modification of public behaviour. The nationwide
a ritual bath and is to be maintained by strictly avoiding
lockdown in India has been successful to a large extent
physical contacts with the ‘phura’6. Washing hands is a
in flattening the curve of the disease, as evidenced by
ritual in this culture and is to be ritually repeated several
the steady decline in the R0 factor3. At the same time,
times, similar to the modern scientific hand washing.
it has to be acknowledged that coercive strategies are
Almost 100 per cent of our respondents replied that they
short-term measures only. At some point in time, the
washed their hands before cooking and after attending the
economy will have to be opened up and lives will have
toilet. In Vaishnavite culture, cooking is never allowed
to be protected without compromising livelihoods4.
in the ‘phura’ state, and before entering the religious
‘Trust’ is a recurring theme in this article1, a theme compound, a Vaishnavite has to mandatorily discard
the importance of which cannot be stressed enough. his/her ‘phura’ clothes and don the ‘saj’ ones6. Our
As mentioned, the comprehensive risk communication respondents seemed to generally follow this practice as
strategy (CRCS) approach requires that information 65 per cent of them said that they used fresh clothes for
is disseminated in the community in a manner that is cooking. While serving food in community gatherings,
trusted by the community. This strategy ensures the a Vaishnavite is supposed to wrap a scarf/towel over
best possible public participation to achieve the desired his face to cover his mouth and nose. Almost 100 per
public health outcomes1,5. The CRCS becomes all the cent of our respondents answered that they followed
more important for a population that is diverse and this practice during community services. These rituals
where the penetration of pharmacological interventions are in consonance with the current guidelines regarding
© 2020 Indian Journal of Medical Research, published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow for Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research
499
500 INDIAN J MED RES, MAY 2020
the droplet transmission of disease and the use of face References
masks7. 1. Bhatia R. Public engagement is key for containing COVID-19
The current guidelines in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Indian J Med Res 2020; 151 : 118-20.
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came relatively easy for the Vaishnavite people, 2. Cowling BJ, Ali ST, Ng TWY, Tsang TK, Li JCM, Fong MW,
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as most of our respondents (95%) were practicing et al. Impact assessment of non-pharmaceutical interventions
against coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza in Hong
‘near similar norms’ of personal and social hygiene
Kong: An observational study. Lancet Public Health 2020;
for more than 20 years as a part of their tradition. 5 : e279-88.
While the scientific relevance of these traditions
3. The Print. India’s R0 lowers further to 1.29, say scientists,
remains a matter of further study, the widespread predict Covid cases at 30,000 by 3 May. Available from:
acceptability of these practices in the Vaishnavite https://theprint.in/health/indias-r0-lowers-further-to-1-29-say-
community offers insights that may be applicable scientists-predict-covid-cases-at-30000-by-3-may/, accessed
for behavioural changes. It is noteworthy to address
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on May 5, 2020.
the concerns of the local community for developing 4. India Today. Lockdown extension, more stringent measures:
CRCS1; we further suggest that the traditions of local PM Modi’s speech in 10 points. Available from: https://
communities may be explored for their scientific www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-speech-on-lockdown-
soundness. If found suitable, the practices may be summary-1666698-2020-04-14, accessed on May 5, 2020.
used to reinforce the modern scientific guidelines. 5. Blendon RJ, Koonin LM, Benson JM, Cetron MS, Pollard WE,
In doing so, the religious and other community Mitchell EW, et al. Public response to community mitigation
leaders should be involved as key person for the measures for pandemic influenza. Emerg Infect Dis
2008; 14 : 778-86.
engagement and propagation of scientific messages.
The propagation of such messages should in no way 6. Saikia B. An introduction to the Sattra culture of Assam:
Belief, change in tradition and current entanglement. J Ethnol
interfere with social distancing. Web-based tools such
Folkloristics 2018; 12 : 21-47.
as e-mails, SMS and WhatsApp can be used for the
7. World Health Organization. Modes of transmission of
dissemination of information.
virus causing COVID-19: Implications for IPC precaution
In this light, identifying and adapting a scientifically recommendations. Available from: https://www.who.int/
sound tradition from within the same community news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-
virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-
while developing its CRCS may help for better public
recommendations, accessed on May 5, 2020.
engagement. Here, we reiterate that the traditions of
one community cannot and should not be imposed on
any other community. The aim of this communication DOI: 10.4103/0971-5916.286494
is neither to propagate a particular ideology nor to
disparage any other. Fortunately, India has enough Quick Response Code:
diversity so that practices that are traditionally accepted
and yet scientifically sound are found in almost every
community. Individualization of approach to suit every
community is the key to success.
Conflicts of Interest: None.
Bishwajeet Saikia1,*, Raktim Pratim Tamuli2 Author’s response
& Dewark Sharma3 Saikia et al1 have reiterated my contention that the
1
Department of Anatomy, North Eastern public engagement through efficient, trustworthy and
Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health comprehensive risk communication is the key to contain
& Medical Sciences, Shillong 793 018, Meghalaya, pandemic2. So long, an efficient vaccine is elusive, only
2
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, the non-pharmaceutical interventions and hygienic
Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati 781 032 & measures can mitigate transmission of infection of
3
Department of Diabetology, MRM Memorial SARS-CoV-2. It has been emphasized that risk
Hospital, Kokrajhar 783 345, Assam, India communication should be appropriate to the local needs
*
For correspondence: and in alignment with the local customs, faith and
[email protected] beliefs.
