Skip to main content

India’s 2021 excess deaths: was it the virus — or the containment frenzy?

By Bhaskaran Raman*

Tyagu (name changed), a vegetable vendor recalls of his brother’s death in 2021. The victim had a normal fever, but was forcibly taken away to the hospital saying that it was Covid. He had been coerced into taking the Covid-19 “vaccines” by that time. After 10 days in hospital, he died. There was no proper information during his hospital stay, and no one was allowed to visit, saying that visitors could also get Covid.
Was this death caused by the virus, or virus containment frenzy?
Paresh (name changed), a professor at a college recalls 2021 with deep sadness. He lost his sister in the month of May 2021. She had a mild fever and was advised to get the RT-PCR test, which came positive. She had a kidney failure in hospital in a few days. The family only got the dead body after that. In-between his brother-in-law had loose motions, but no fever or cold; he too got an RT-PCR positive. He too came back in a sealed bag. Even the last rites were conducted by the authorities, not by the family. There was no information on the patients or what medication they were given, during the hospitalization, no visitation was allowed.
Were these deaths caused by the virus, or virus containment frenzy?
The Indian Govt recently released the estimated number of deaths in 2021, based on data from the civil registration system. To no one’s surprise, 2021 showed a significant increase in deaths compared to prior years, i.e. there was significant “excess deaths”. Various “experts” as well as media have been quick to label these excess deaths as being undercounted Covid deaths. This is a complete misrepresentation and misinterpretation of the data as well as of the reality of 2021.
To the contrary, the data shows three things: (1) There was no pandemic or excess deaths in 2020, despite widespread spread of virus, (2) The 2021 excess deaths were primarily caused by panic and the fool’s errand to “contain” the virus, using the unfit-for-purpose PCR test, and (3) Covid-caused deaths were in fact overcounted rather than undercounted.
Little excess deaths in 2020
The above table gives the total deaths registered in the CRS, and the percentage increase in deaths each year. We can see that there was an even lesser increase in 2020 than in 2019. So there is no sign of the so-called “once-in-a-century” pandemic in 2020, as per this data.
The official narrative attributes this to lockdown. But such attribution is wrong, as the virus was spreading widespread in India anyway – none of the “containment” measures worked. For instance, as early as July 2020, 57% of Mumbai’s slum-dwellers showed antibodies from natural exposure. Where were the dead bodies from these slums from the so-called deadly virus? A reality check with any slum-dweller (household workers, office cleaners, taxi/auto drivers) will quickly reveal that there was no deadly virus in their midst in 2020.
Fool’s errand of virus containment
Legend has it that King Canute of England sat at the edge of the sea and ordered the tide to stay back. This was hubris. Virus containment efforts in 2020/2021 were even more of hubris-filled fool’s errand. Worse, all of the containment efforts caused immense damage and deaths.
Ventilators: In April 2020, thousands of people in New York were put on ventilators, not for the patient’s benefit, but toward virus containment. This was later corrected, but thousands had already paid the ultimate price for the containment frenzy.
Remdesivir: Remdesivir was pushed as an effective treatment for Covid, and it was selling in the black market for lakhs of rupees in India in 2021. But remdesivir was already known as poor viral treatment, and was stopped mid-way in a trial for the much more deadly Ebola virus. Worse, a study showed that Covid patients treated with remdesivir spent longer time in the hospital. Even worse, remdesivir is associated with renal failure as well as cardiotoxic effects.
Did Tyagu’s brother and Paresh’s sister die of Covid or of official panic-driven medications like remdesivir? Where is the honesty in probing this?
Inreased risks: Containment frenzy denied the majority of Indians sunlight and exercise for an entire year – increasing Vitamin-D deficiency, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and anxiety – all of which increase anyone’s chance of death – Covid or no-Covid.
Societal destruction: Man is a social animal. Social connections are known to improve physical and mental health – that is why we visit friends/family in hospital. Whereas, containment frenzy saw the total destruction of societal fabric, with everyone considering everyone else as a biohazard. Why would deaths not increase, after one year of such destruction?
Economic destruction: Tens of millions of Indians lost jobs, lost their lifetime savings in the lockdown containment frenzy of 2020. So if an illness hits them shortly after, is the virus to be blamed or the mindless destruction of livelihood?
Given these, the primary likely cause of excess deaths in 2021 was the virus containment frenzy, rather than the virus itself. As 2020 data shows, the virus did not cause widespread excess deaths. The official claim that 2021 somehow saw a more deadly “delta” variant holds no water, and has little scientific evidence. The claim goes against known the virus evolution path of becoming less dangerous over time, and is a mere cover-up for the fool’s errand of virus containment.
Covid deaths overcounted
In the same CRS data, Kerala is supposed to be the state which “counted” Covid deaths most correctly. Nothing could be more absurd. Let us look at the official excess death count in Kerala. It had 3.4 lakh deaths in 2021 compared to 2.5 lakh deaths in 2020, an increase of about 36% ! Whereas the average excess death in 2021 for the whole of India was much lesser at about 26%.
The above conundrum has a simple explanation. Kerala was overcounting so-called Covid deaths by labeling any death following a PCR positive as Covid – as per the official protocol. Anyone who understands the PCR test will immediately tell that it does not detect virus presence, but only viral fragments, which can remain for several months after a person has successfully fought off the virus. Therefore, Kerala (the most among all states) denied healthcare to people based on a unfit-for-purpose PCR test, and hence ended up with a large excess death percentage.
Vaccine-caused deaths in 2021-22
None of the Covid vaccine candidates whose trial started in 2020, have completed phase-3 trial results. Specifically, the Indian governemnt as well as ICMR are till-date dodging the phase-3 trial results of both Covaxin and Covishield. Not just in India, but worldwide, there have been excess deaths following the mass roll-out of the inadequately tested products. India’s own life insurance claims data shows that 2022 has shown almost as high deaths as 2021. There has thus far been no honesty in probing this.
Summary
In summary, there is no doubt that India saw huge excess deaths in 2021. However, the attribution of this to the virus is an achievement of propaganda, rather than any logical analysis of available evidence. There have also been excess deaths in 2022, likely caused due to the unsafe Covid vaccines, and this has been swept under the rug. Indians would do well to learn that most of the media and most official “experts” acted in hubris during the Covid containment frenzy – this has implications for further such containment efforts – such as for bird flu, Nipah virus, etc.
---
*Bhaskaran Raman is a Professor at IIT Bombay; views are personal. He has authored the book “Math Murder in Media Manufactured Madness”, presenting simple math to illustrate various absurdities related to the mainstream Covid-19 narrative; available at: https://tinyurl.com/u5india

Comments

TRENDING

Land under siege: A silent crisis, desertification is threatening India’s future

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  Desertification is emerging as one of the gravest environmental challenges of our time. Marked annually on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought reminds us that the fate of our planet’s land—and the billions who depend on it—is hanging in the balance.

Hyderabad protest demands end to Operation Kagar as senior Maoist leaders killed in encounter

By Harsh Thakor*  A protest was held on June 17 at Indira Park in Hyderabad by the Shanti Charchala Committee, calling for an end to Operation Kagar and the start of peace talks with Maoist groups. The event brought together representatives from several political parties and civil society organizations. Among those who addressed the gathering were CPI (ML) New Democracy Central Committee member Vemulapalli Venkatramayya, along with leaders from the Congress, BRS, CPI, CPM, Telangana Janasamithi, MCPI, SUCI, CPI ML, RSP, and VCK. The programme also featured performances by cultural groups such as CLC, HRF, TVV, Arunodaya, Praja Kala Mandali, and Praja Natya Mandali. Public figures including actors Narayana Murthy and Tudundebba Upendar and academics like Professor Anver Khan and Professor Vinayaka Reddy participated as speakers.

Madhya Pradesh village's inspiring example of how small budget effort conserves water amidst heat wave

By Bharat Dogra  Heat waves have been intensifying over vast areas of India in recent days and there are also many reports of water scarcity making the conditions worse for people. However the situation can differ significantly in various villages depending on whether or not significant water conservation efforts have been made. In recent years I have visited several villages of good water conservation efforts where I noticed that even at the time of adverse weather conditions, people of these villages as well as farm and other animals feel important relief in terms of access to adequate water. Due to water and moisture conservation, conditions of farms and pastures is also much better. What is more, with the participation and involvement of people, even quite low budgets have been utilized well to achieve very useful and durable results.     

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative   On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Population explosion: India needs a clear-headed policy, data-driven governance, long-term planning

By N.S. Venkataraman*  At the upcoming G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited as a special guest, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing two main reasons: India’s rise as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its status as the most populous nation. While economic growth is undoubtedly a point of pride, the latter distinction—India’s population—raises an important question: should this be seen as a strength or a source of growing concern? India has not conducted a national census since 2011, leaving the current population figures largely speculative. Estimates place the population at around 1.4 billion, with projections reaching 1.8 billion by 2050. Despite modest declines in fertility and death rates, the annual population growth remains between 1.5% and 2%. The next census, scheduled for 2026, will provide a more accurate demographic picture, but until then, policymaking remains uninformed by crucial data. Over the past eleven years, the gov...

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Exploring 'Volokolamsk Highway': A tale of Soviet heroism and resilience

By Harsh Thakor*  "Volokolamsk Highway" is a classical war novel by Alexander Bek, first published in Russian in 1944 and translated into English in 1958. Set during WWII on the Eastern Front, it describes critical battles fought by the Soviet Red Army against Nazi forces advancing toward Moscow in October 1941. Republished by Foreign Languages Press in 2023, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of Soviet soldiers' struggles to defeat fascism. It is recommended for those seeking insight into Soviet heroism during World War II.

Citizens demand judicial probe into Ahmedabad plane crash, cite neglect of intern doctors, victims' families

By A Representative    A wide coalition of concerned citizens, academics, medical professionals, social activists, and public intellectuals has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of India demanding an urgent judicial inquiry into the recent tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 240 lives. The petition, coordinated by the Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), calls for a high-level judicial committee, headed by a retired High Court justice and comprising eminent citizens, to investigate the incident beyond the scope of the existing technical committee.

Irregularities in Modi-initiated NSDC raise questions about the future of Skill India

By Onkareshwar Pandey  Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Skill India initiative was conceived as a bold national effort—to equip India’s vast young population with industry-ready skills and transform the country into the “skills capital of the world.” At the heart of this mission lies the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a public-private partnership under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). But recent revelations of large-scale financial irregularities within NSDC threaten to undermine not just the institution, but the very promise of Skill India.