NEW DELHI: I took the news of contracting coronavirus as my 'new posting order' like being sent to a Naxal or terrorist affected area in the past, a 35-year-old CRPF jawan said on Monday post-recovery.
The head constable is a radio operator of the 31st battalion of the force that is based in Mayur Vihar Phase-III area of the national capital.
The unit made news recently after at least 134 troops living in its premises were found COVID-19 positive, while a 55-year-old sub-inspector succumbed to the disease, making it the first case of death from the pandemic among the various paramilitary forces.
The way to defeat COVID-19 is that you should not take the report of your being positive for the disease to your heart and mind, the jawan said.
The jawan was discharged from Noida's Sharda Hospital on May 9.
He is back home practising self-quarantine for some more time.
He was admitted to the hospital on April 23.
However, his phone keeps ringing as he has now become the 'agony aunt' for the rest of his hospitalised troops and even those who are well.
He says his friends now ask him various questions and doubts and seek his help to better prepare against the viral disease.
"As soon as someone hears that he or she has coronavirus, they feel sad and deeply disappointed. But I can tell you from my experience that the disease is not to be feared about," he told PTI over phone.
"Coronavirus beemari ko haraney ka tareeka hai ki isko dil aur dimaag par nahi lagana hai," he says in Hindi.
"One should not take the coronavirus positive report to one's heart or mind. That is where you get defeated and the fear of the infection takes over you," the jawan, who joined the country's largest paramilitary force in 2007, said.
I had been suffering from typhoid when I was detected with the pandemic, he said.
"As soon as I got my COVID-19 report, I took it as my new posting. The hospital was my new battleground from where I had to come back victorious and I did," he said.
He has served tenures in the anti-Naxal operations grid of Chhattisgarh and in the counter-terrorism theatre of Kashmir as part of various CRPF units in his about 12 years of service.
"I am the radio operator of the unit and as I am the most vital link between the unit on patrol and its base behind, I am trained to keep myself and my buddies safe."
"I have come back successfully and now I will ensure that all my battalion colleagues are back home sooner than later," he said.
He added that a healthy and nutritious diet is essential during coronavirus treatment as it boosts immunity and supplements energy.
"The doctors only give you the regular medicines. They took very good care of us. But a good diet is very essential," he said.
The head constable, who hails from Jhajjar in Haryana, said he found that the people who have a "spirited frame of mind and are enthusiastic to get well soon" were discharged soon from the hospital.
He says his samples were taken five times during the treatment period and the last three came negative after which he was discharged.
The jawan also praises his force commanders, especially his neighbours who took care of his son and wife when he was admitted in the hospital.