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A SCIFI Story

 

On the morning of May 21,2021 Krishnapatnam, the small port town of Andhra Pradesh, was in flash news. Thousands of people, including a few critically ill COVID-19 patients waiting in ambulances, were lined up, eagerly awaiting the distribution of a herbal/ayurvedic “cure” for COVID-19 that Anandaiah has been dishing out for nearly a month. Medical validation of his “miracle cure” was awaited by the regulatory authorities. The crowd was not observing the mandatory physical distancing, threatening to become another super-spreader event. Medical practitioners and rationalists view him as just another fly by night individual catering to a section of gullible public. But to literally thousands of people, Anandaiah has become a miracle man whose concoctions of herbs and spices protect them from the dreaded corona virus and cure them of the disease.

This is the biggest health problem facing independent India. No modern doctor can guarantee a hundred percent cure for Covid-19. When a disease has become exceptional and pandemic, the number of people looking for alternatives increases when there is no complete assurance of a solution in any one system of medicine. Alternative Systems of Medicine are not based on data on tests so they are not part of the health system that guarantees anything. 

Hailing from an agricultural family from Krishnapatnam, Anandaiah has been offering five different formulations made from locally available herbal plants and a few spices used in the Indian kitchen. Three of his preparations were offered as cure for those who had tested positive for COVID-19. One was a preventive medicine. While all those 4 were to be administered orally, the fifth formulation was to used in the eye as drops in patients with dropping/low blood oxygen saturation levels. Anandaiah had been distributing the preparations as COVID-19 treatment for nearly a month starting from April 21, initially to a small number of people. But by May 17, the number had swelled to around 4,000 to 5,000 every day. Taking note of Anandaiah's popular “medicine” as a cure for COVID-19, the State Administration constituted a three-member committee to probe the veracity of the claim on May 17.

The five concoctions of Anandaiah of Krishnapatnam were finally approved by Ayush and the health department of Andhra Pradesh as treatment for covid-19. This was not to the liking of the powerful pharma lobby of the world since these drugs would hit hard the business of giants like Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca etc. triggering wild reactions from them. News stories started to appear in the print and visual media about various conspiracy theories to eliminate the much sought after Anandaiah as he posed a serious threat to those giants. A Gujarati business conglomerate head (Mukesh Jingaani) suddenly woke up to the opportunity to extend his tentacles to the ever attractive pharma sector. He contacted a very senior National level politician (Nayudamma) hailing from Nellore district and established contact with Anandaiah through him. The Gujarati business conglomerate convinced him that they would offer all security. In return, he should allow the conglomerate the patent and marketing rights of the 5 concoctions. They also offered him a 15% share in the profits. The deal was struck.

Immediately, the Gujarati business conglomerate set-up a manufacturing unit to make and market the formulations. The products became very popular since they yielded very good result in the tratment of the pandemic. The products became instant successes in the market. With the advent of the five concoctions, India became the first country in the world to control and eliminate Covid-19. The economic activities resumed to pre-covid levels by July 2021. GDP growth climbed back to +12% by the end of September making India the fastest growing economy amongst major economies of the world. Since the results were very encouraging, there was also good export business since Covid-19 is a worldwide pandemic. The Company moved quickly high in the list of world pharma companies. Profits accrued made the Conglomerate financially very sound.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element on the planet, and having powered engines as long ago as 1807, it’s also the cleanest kind of fuel there is. However, hydrogen hasn’t really taken off in the world of motoring. Lots of manufacturers have experimented with the technology, and while some have committed to producing hydrogen-powered vehicles in small numbers, mass uptake still looks a long way off. If it ever happens at all. With the sudden boost in the earnings of the Gujarati business conglomerate due to great success in latest pharma business, the company set its eye on ever attractive automobile industry. 

Since the eye drops that Anandaiah developed had shown ability to boost oxygen levels in the covid patients (the postulation was that the concoction helped in triggering internal production oxygen from the body fluids) he was requested to turn his attention to help generate Hydrogen from water. Anandaiah turned his attention to a new area of research to find new concoction of natural herbs and spices to separate Hydrogen from water. Anandaiah achieved success in his search for such a concoction. The Gujarati Conglomerate made its entry into Automobile industry manufacturing 4 wheelers running on Hydrogen. Current Petrol stations adapted to change as dispensers of compressed Hydrogen through newly installed pumps. This facilitated easy shift in dispensing Hydrogen allowing quick change in people's prefence for Hydrogen Cars. India as a result becomes industrially and economically a world super power.

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