Moon Light

Sailen Mukherjee (India, 04/06/06)

 

A few days back I suddenly woke up at midnight and as usual went down to oversee the activities of the night guards of our complex. Stepping down stairs near the lawn, I was really spellbound with the soothing light of the moon spread around the complex. The tube-lights in the staircases appeared to be subdued and dull. The entire area was beaming as if it is covered with a vast umbrella radiating light from the centre. While wanting to give a wake up call to the sleeping residents to share my joy of enthralling the natural beauty I resisted myself on the reasoning that most of them might not like to be disturbed in the midst of slumber just for the sake of enjoying moon light.

Days of my adolescent period spent in village appeared in my mind. That time moonlight was very precious for us, as there was no electricity in the village. The nights were so dark, it was difficult to locate your next man from the nearest point. At night we used the kerosene lamp with poor visibility for domestic work and study. Some times my grandfather used to call me at night to accompany him for taking a round to the surrounding area of our courtyard including the cow-shed to see whether all things were intact. It was horrified for me to move in the dark nights which lasted nearly 20days in a month. As soon as the crescent moon started appearing in the sky my heart used to be filled with joy. I was elated with the thought of enjoying a few moon-lit nights.

Moving to Calcutta (now renamed as Kolkata) in the year 1954 I first came across the streetlights. In those days all street lamps were used to be lit by gas. Every evening a man used to come to light up the burner and the same man used to visit again at the start of dawn to switch it off. But during the lunar period at least 4-5 days prior to full moon, he was not visible. I was then a new comer to Calcutta. My childish query to my Dad was to ascertain the reasons for absence of the light man leading to nonfunctioning of the lamp. I was told that during the lunar period the Corporation used to withdraw the street light for 4-5 days to save the gas. This also gave the opportunity to the public to enjoy the ethereal light of the moon. I further learnt that this system was first introduced by British who knew how to exploit the natural resources. British had left but the legacy left by them continued till then.

As soon as my childhood reminiscence was over an idea struck me. The old system of fully utilising the moon light at least for a period of four to five days prior to full moon and one or two days just after the full moon by switching off the street lights or lights around the residential complex will save the precious electricity. Further people will also be able to derive joy from the natural light of the moon.