Chatham Student Recounts COVID-19 Pandemic In New Book

CHATHAM, NJ — For many, the COVID-19 pandemic was a time of uncertainty. Businesses across the state were forced to close their doors entirely, and unemployment statewide hit 16.8 percent.

To help understand that impact on a local level, Chatham High School student Aryan Kumar spent a year researching and writing a book about Chatham businesses titled "Main Street During COVID: A Chatham Story."

“Everyone in my generation will always remember the fear, uncertainty and change that happened because of COVID-19. It's really the first piece of history we all shared. Chatham became a new world overnight, and no one experienced this more acutely than the store owners, public servants and police officers who had to figure out what came next in a hurry,” Kumar, a junior at Chatham High School, said.

Kumar's book discusses what local business owners did to survive the epidemic, both commercially and personally, preserving a moment that left an impact on those who lived in Chatham.

“Through interviews, photos and conversations, I tried to create a book for locals that captures the ordinary acts of heroism our neighbors on Main Street made to keep things as normal as possible,” Kumar said.

While the rest of the world is more than ready to move on, Kumar wants to ensure that the pandemic does not become a footnote in the town's history.

“We saw the very best of the people we depend on most. That’s what I hoped to capture in my short history – what happened from the perspective of those who had to act the fastest to preserve our way of life,” Kumar said.

His book, "Main Street During COVID: A Chatham Story," can be found at Sonny’s Indian Kitchen on Main Street, Chatham, between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

For more information on how to get a copy of the book, contact Kumar at aryanskumar2020@gmail.com.