Full Text | Indian Govt Failed to Act Even When Data Showed Rise in COVID Cases: Ashish Jha Ashish Jha, professor and dean of Brown University School of Public Health, speaks to Karan Thapar on various aspects relating to India's handling of the pandemic, emergence of new variants, among others. A patient with breathing problems is wheeled inside a COVID-19 hospital for treatment, amidst the coronavirus disease pandemic, Ahmedabad, India, April 14, 2021. Photo: Reuters/Amit Dave Health07/May/2021 Professor Ashish Jha, one of the world’s well-known public health experts, told The Wire that India’s decision to prematurely declare “victory” over the pandemic in February and letting the guard down have resulted in a massive surge in COVID-19 cases as the second wave of the pandemic ravages the country.