Luminous hope

Though many a well-meaning Mumbai resident had tried to make the recent Sydney-type 8216;Mumbai Unplug8217; a success...

Though many a well-meaning Mumbai resident had tried to make the recent Sydney-type 8216;Mumbai Unplug8217; a success, public response bordered on indifference. That evening, as I set out on a walk, my wife advised me to be home before the blackout. 8220;Else, you8217;ll have to grope your way through dark.8221; 8220;Blackout?8221; I asked incredulously.

8220;What is the use of taking three newspapers if you don8217;t read them?8221; she mocked me. When I still looked lost, she enlightened me on the 8216;Mumbai Unplug8217;, 8220;It8217;s an initiative to spread awareness about global warming among people. By switching off power for an hour, we can cut power consumption. Our city can thus contribute its mite to the anti-global warming efforts.8221;

As I walked back home, I heard children near my building talking animatedly. The prospect of spending playfully an hour thrilled them. It promised a hour8217;s respite from homework. But they had already plugged into the spirit of the Unplug.

A boy suggested they go to the terrace for a bird8217;s eye view of the colony as it plunged into darkness. 8220;But the watchman won8217;t give us the key without Sorabji Uncle8217;s society secretary nod,8221; said a girl. Another held out hope. 8220;Uncle knows me well. I carried our homemade Diwali sweets to him this time. He ate them with relish. He will oblige me.8221;

As the hour neared, we geared ourselves for the Unplug. I heard children screaming their way up to the terrace. So the Diwali sweets worked! The hour passed in a jiffy. I opened my front door to greet the children as they trooped down from the terrace. 8220;So, how was the Unplug?8221; I asked them. Disappointment was writ large on their faces. 8220;Uncle, most of the colony remained plugged in, despite our yelling to people to switch off the lights. Next time we will work harder for a complete blackout,8221; they cried in unison. I admired their optimism. Their disenchantment was only momentary.