George Orwell Lives: The Times of India

George Orwell’s novel 1984 describes an unsettled society under constant surveillance by a totalitarian government promoting ignorance and striving to control every action and thought. In the absence of trust, leaders expect citizens to agree mindlessly with any proclamation regardless of the facts. Nayan Chanda compares the novel to China’s propaganda and censorship in touting its leadership role and authoritarian system while rewriting history of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country fails to acknowledge responsibility for failure to provide timely warnings and contain the virus. “Chinese television is showing an endless loop of Chinese doctors and medical supplies being rushed to virus ravaged Italy and Iran, and receiving warm thanks from countries around the world,” Chanda writes. He criticizes China for waiting 44 days before informing the World Health Organization about the virus, punishing physicians who raised concerns, condemning countries for imposing travel bans before establishing one of its own, supporting conspiracy theories that the United States arranged release of COVID-19, and blocking discussions and scrutiny at the UN Security Council. Leadership during a global crisis does not evade responsibility. – YaleGlobal