In December 2019, life as we know it changed across the world, and we were brutally hit by the pandemic.

COVID-19 affected the lives of our near and dear ones, and everyone across the world was caught in the wave of distress. It was not just the virus that governed our lives but the fear of pandemics becoming the new normal took a toll on our mental health as well.

We lost many, but we fought and survived; we shared our sorrow and adapted to the new world and came out even stronger. These unprecedented times brought the best and worst within us and the people around us.  

In India, the world’s largest democracy with a population of 1.3 billion people, the pandemic spread like a wildfire. Hospitals were packed, the healthcare system was overburdened, and most did not have access to quality healthcare. While many people were confined to the four walls of their homes, in every city there were people who provided for others without a second thought.  

Yes, they existed, heroes among us.

As Debi Mazar, an actor and television personality, said: “A hero is somebody who is selfless, who is generous in spirit, who just tries to give back as much as possible and help people. A hero to me is someone who saves people and who really deeply cares.”

These were the heroes who took responsibility on their shoulders and saved lives day after day.

They didn’t ask for recognition, fame, or even a thank you. A 16-hour shift was a duty to them, and treating one more patient was their responsibility. They shone like a beacon of hope in times of desolation.

As the pandemic became the new normal, Dainik Jagran-inext took the initiative to recognise the efforts of these heroes so the stories of their sacrifices do not go untold. Dainik Jagran-inext stood as the voice of every Indian.

To honour the selfless services of these doctors, the COVID Warrior Award was conceptualised.

As part of one of the largest media publication houses in the country where print is still recognised as the most authentic source of information, Dainik Jagran-inext carried the stories of these heroes and told of their selfless service.

Stories of 20 professionals across the Hindi-speaking market were carried, explaining their journey, vision, and sacrifices. All 2o professionals were invited to an award ceremony where they were honoured for their contributions to society during the unprecedented times and recognised by the Honourable Governor of the State. The award event was also broadcast on TV so the world could see our heroes and hear their stories.

Dainik Jagran-inext was the first publication to organise such an event, which garnered a lot of appreciation from the public and government authorities alike. The honourable governor of the state made the event even more memorable with his words of gratitude to our heroes.

The COVID Warrior Award was a small effort of Dainik Jagran- inext to give back to the heroes of the society.

For these heroes, any amount of gratitude won’t suffice, any amount of appreciation won’t be enough, but they will be there when we need them. It is our duty to thank them for their efforts; it’s the least we can do.

They are human, yes, but not ordinary ones. They are givers and caretakers, and they exist like a shining light in the abyss of the darkness. They are the ones who give you hope in the darkest days, one who fights for the life of your near and dear ones. The kind of person who makes us revere them for the sacrifices they made, risking their lives to save one more life, one more person, day after day.

These are the heroes among us, called by different names in different languages but with the same feeling of hope. These are doctors.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .