Gujarat: Bhai, bhai! We will fight this together, joint family

AHMEDABAD: A large joint family is sitting on the verandah outside their house in Kerala’s Kollam and singing ‘Bhai Bhai’ (brother, o brother), a popular rendition by Gujarati folk singer Arvind Vegada, trying to lighten the mood at a time when the second wave of Covid-19 has hit the country hard.
Their spirit to keep the atmosphere alive comes at a time when 28 members, except three kids, have been infected with Sars CoV-2 virus.
There are as many as 31 members in this joint family of six brothers, all living under one roof with their wives and children. The family has been making videos and posting them in social media circles of friends and family to send the underlying message of living life to its fullest and not getting bogged down mentally.
The family has its roots in Porbander, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and singing Gujarati songs or Gujarati garbas is their mantra to stay strong in such trying times.
For the family, their tryst with the virus started on April 30 when one of the six brothers tested positive after showing some symptoms.
“The next day, 16 other members of the family tested positive. Till yesterday 26 tested positive. This tally went up to 28 on Wednesday when two more members got infected. Except three children, everyone is infected with Covid-19,” said Rajnikant Raiyarela, 66.
Raiyarela, the eldest in the family, is a retired bank employee with 31 years of experience. The brothers are into trading of cashew. The family has started medication under a doctor’s advice and they regularly monitor their oxygen and body temperature levels. A doctor on call has been arranged in case of emergency.
The family is popular in the area and they used to regularly organize the Navratri festival garba before Covid-19.
“We have been living together all these years, sharing one roof and one kitchen. We are fighting Covid-19 together and are sure of coming out as one family. In such times we realise the importance of a family. We want to spread the message that one must not lose hope and celebrate life,” said Raiyarela.