Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video message on Friday, calling on Indians to light lamps at 9pm on Sunday to show commitment to fighting coronavirus, has triggered the usual set of reactions. While supporters of Modi have praised the move as an effort to build unity in the struggle against coronavirus, others were critical. MP Shashi Tharoor accused Modi of embracing numerology, while ignoring real issues such as the economic impact of the lockdown.
Other reactions tended towards the spiritual and metaphysical, in a manner similar to how some people believed the banging of metal objects during the Janata curfew on March 22 would kill the coronavirus. One such explanation on Modi's latest message was made by K.K. Aggarwal, an eminent cardiologist. Aggarwal received the Padma Shri in 2010. Aggarwal has also been the national president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
Two videos of Aggarwal speaking in support of Modi's message have gone viral.
In one video clip, Aggarwal claimed Modi's request to light lamps and hold up torches was "based on the principle of collective consciousness, which comes from Yoga Vasistha Chapter 6". Yoga Vasistha is a popular philosophical text attributed to the sage Valmiki. Aggarwal claimed this principle stated that "just as five per cent of the population does, 95 per cent will do and as one per cent of the population thinks, 99 per cent of the population follows".
Aggarwal claimed that "if 130 crore people in India prayed together with one intention (against the coronavirus), its effect will be on 100 crore people". Aggarwal added his belief was based on principles of quantum physics, arguing, "Collectively whatever we think, at the level of quantum physics...at level of String Theory... everything will unite together to work in our body."
In another clip, Aggarwal claimed the healing ability of the ACE 2 (Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptors in the body was "based on collective consciousness". ACE 2 receptors are considered as the entry receptors of the coronavirus in the body. "If we collectively think that the coronavirus should not be deposited on the ACE 2 receptors in our bodies, the collective consciousness will make sure it won't happen."
Interestingly, a government website, mygovindia, tweeted one of the videos of Aggarwal, terming it at an explanation of the "science behind PM Narendra Modi's request to light lamps, candles, torches". The tweet was quickly deleted.
