MM : Model citizens ’ dark Diwali : Nov 12,2007
Model citizens ’ dark Diwali
30 families in a building in Parel switched off all lights and other electric appliances between 7 pm and 10 pm for four days during Diwali, so that the power saved could be used by those who faced load-shedding
SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI
While most of us in Mumbai were busy celebrating Diwali by switching on more lights in the house than we’d normally do, 30 families in a building in Parel decided to spend their Diwali in the dark in order to bring light in the lives of those suffering due to large-scale load-shedding in the state.
The families in Mahadeo Wadi, a twostorey building in Parel, switched off all lights, fans and all other electric appliances in their houses and lit only diyas (earthen lamps) in the peak hours between 7 pm and 10 pm from Thursday to Sunday, so that people who faced power cuts for 15 hours in some regions of the state could get to celebrate Diwali. Maharashtra currently has a power shortfall of over 5,000 mega watts.
Residents of neighbouring buildings said the decision not to use any electricity for 3 hours in the evenings was extraordinary because no one would voluntarily switch off lights during Diwali.
The idea was first put forward by Sharad Pathak, 42, a resident of the building, four years ago. Pathak, who is a trustee in an educational institution, switched off electricity in his house during Diwali in 2003 and managed only with diyas. In the next two years, some more families joined his, and this year, the number shot up to 30 (the building has 40 families in all). “As we were determined not to switch on the lights, at 6 pm every day, all the families would come together to light all the diyas. We needed 600 diyas in all and nine litres of oil every day, and everybody from little children to the old got involved in the exercise,” Deepali Kadam, a resident, said.
Though the diyas provided some light, initially it was tough for the residents to do without their fans, airconditioners, and desktop computers. Many women also missed their daily dose of saas-bahu serials on television but stuck to their commitment not to switch on the TV sets.
Their resolve did not weaken even when some neighbours suggested they were ‘driving away Lakshmi by switching off lights during Lakshmi pujan’. No such superstitions could influence any of the families.
The children also refrained from bursting crackers to make it a noiseless Diwali.
Amit Mane, a resident of the building who recently did his B.Com, said the youngsters did not mind not having power at all as they knew they were doing something good, and they got so busy organising the diyas that they had no time to think of other things.
Kavita Hode, another resident, said they wanted to save power because the state is facing a severe shortage. “This is a small effort on our part to save electricity. A lot of people, including guests visiting us for the festival, asked us why we were so bothered when mantris and other celebrities too were wasting electricity. We told them we were only doing our duty as citizens,” she said.
Phatak said: “We wanted to spread a positive message during the festival. If we switch off our lights, students in rural area will get electricity to study in the night, and farmers can use their pumps to cultivate crops. This will take time, because a lot of power will have to be saved for the rural areas to benefit, but we wanted to take a small step towards that, just to show that it’s possible.”
The families needed 600 diyas and 9 litres of oil to light up their area every day
Publication:Mumbai Mirror ; Date:Nov 12, 2007; Section:Front Page; Page Number:1