Isolation .... March 27, 2020 I was born in Kanpur, into a joint family consisting of parents, grandparents, assorted uncles and aunts and cousins. As such, I developed quite a liking for company and the social activities that being there involved. The house was always full of fun and laughter. Winter months were especially interesting, as cousins joined us during their school vacations. I remember that, at one time, we had some twelve adults and an equal number of children crammed into the five bedroom house on the first floor of a lane in Tilak Nagar. We were never, but never, alone. There were people always around - whether at home, or on the streets and markets, where my grandpa would often take me along when he went to buy vegetables or groceries. And then came school! Yes, I still had human company but, with school, came the first exposure to the concept of punishment and isolation. The nuns who managed the kindergarten were kindly, but strict. The slightest infringement ea...