Page 17 - Biotechnology newsletter 2023-24
P. 17

In The Shadows of Freedom’s Light
                                                    A fictional story about biowarfare
    50  years  seems  like  a  very  short  duration  of  life,  right?  In  that  duration,  an  average
    person would probably spend the first 25 years of their lives getting a good education
    and the next 25 years earning a livelihood, settling down, and starting a family.  Now I
    know  you  all  must  be  wondering-  why  am  I  talking  about  the  mundane  and  most
    common outlook on life? What about the moments of fun and joy that make life worth
    living? What am I trying to achieve with all these questions? Hold your horses, this story
    is yet to begin. The story of freedom – but unconventional.

    A few years ago, the people of Ardinia would have begged to differ with the very first
    statement  that  I  made.  What  we  consider  as  mundane  looked  like  luxury  to  them-  a
    dream that seemed out of their reach. 50 years can be extremely excruciating when you
    lose your country to another after years of war. 50 years of misery, pain, suffering, and
    oppression is most certainly, a dreadful and really long time.

     With the exotic fruit variety, rich textiles, and high crop yield Ardinia had always been a
    target for Maldona to conquer and thrive on. This motive is what initiated the war in the
    first  place,  and  after  winning  it,  they  did  just  that.  Ardinia  had  its  own  government,
    unbiased  elections  and  even  their  national  treasury.  So,  then  what  was  the  problem?
    Well, the entire government of the country were mere subordinates to the Maldonian
    President and was under military rule. Maldona was like the capitalists who exploited
    the working class. Their industries were imposed with heavy duty taxes, the fruits were
    imported but the orchard owners were paid only minimum wages. The only source of
    income  for  the  Ardinians  was  their  rice.  Maldonia  imported  rice  from  Ardinia  with
    acceptable global standards. But it wasn’t enough for even half the population to survive.
    The Maldonian government, as they claim, “rescued the Ardinians out of their dilemma
    by  handing  out  loans  at  0%  interest  rate”.  Now  not  only  was  Ardinia  struggling  to
    survive their crippling economy, but also drowning in tons of debt.
    Living in such an oppressed society takes a toll on every person. No matter how strong.
    And so one day  or the other day, people will have some  idea to help them become
    better.  And  this  time  around,the  idea  was  due  to  a  person    daydreaming  of  a  better
    future.  A  rather  gruesome  daydream.  A  desire  to  become  the  grim  reaper.President
    Henry Frik.

    What was supposed to be a regular government meeting turned out to be the stepping
    stone for Ardinia’s freedom. Just sitting around the table with the other generals of his
    country,The president casually commented, “I think we should cause deaths in Maldona-
    cause  them  to  lose  so  many  lives  that  they’re  forced  to  retreat  from  here.”  And  the
    moment those words left his mouth everyone around looked at him flabbergasted.They
    didn’t see that coming from someone as kind and gentle as him.But situations really do
    change people. For a brief moment at least.
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