Shantipada Gon Chaudhuri

Crouching tiger, hidden diseases. Darkness after dusk and snuffed out futures. In the islands of the Sunderbans, it's easier spotting a tiger than a politician or a government officer.

But Shantipada Gon Chaudhuri thought differently. It was at this point that Gon Chaudhuri, director of West Bengal Renewable Energy Agency (WBREDA) of the state government, decided to step in and create magic – get electricity out of thin air. If the days have ended at sundown for years for these three lakh islanders, it was Gon Chaudhuri's use of solar energy that began lighting up homes. Now, Tarulata Kandar, an inhabitant, can sew till late to supplement the family income and her son Ashok study longer hours while her husband indulged in his pastime, tuning in to the radio.

But, it was not an easy task for Gon Chaudhuri. Electricity has been a standard promise before elections but never delivered. But, Gon Chaudhuri’s problems were different – explaining the concept to a sceptical populace. There were few who believed them. So, the WBREDA team spent days explaining the technology to the masses, in village tea-shops, haats and the jetties.


Convincing people did take time. But once Samiran Burman of Sonagaon purchased his solar home lighting system six years ago, the spell was broken. The incentive: Apart from lighting up peoples’ lives, solar energy is cost effective. “I save up to Rs 10,000 a year,” says Samiran. Jhuma and Priyabrata Mondal of Dakshin Bathtala have discovered life with electricity is fun. Last week, a portable black and white television has come into their lives. “Our only form of entertainment was the annual village fair. The television has brought a world of entertainment to our home,” says Priyabrata. If Jhuma likes the soaps, he enjoys his news programmes.

The Mondals have now risen in their neighbours’ esteem. The solar panel on the thatched roof has now become a status symbol. The islanders now are also enjoying the simple pleasures of life, like an icecream. Crime rate has come down, thanks to street-lights. And, critical drugs are now available as coming of electricity has made refrigeration possible. “Earlier, snake bites were fatal with no anti-venom medicines available,” says Debranjan Mondal of Mondal Medical. Today, 20 medical stores have refrigerators.

Then, teachers have recorded a marked improvement in students’ performance. Class VII student Sushanta Barui explains why. “I could barely study using the kerosene lamp as my eyes pained. Now, I can study for longer hours.”