The article Waiting for Light provides an enthralling look into how solar powered lamps is transforming the lives of those bereft of electricity in rural India. It’s introductory paragraph about the “mango skin” sky and the enchanting pattern of scattered lanterns give the article a degree of charm. In fact, almost everything about this article is captivating, and as a result, it does a great job in convincing the reader that solar powered lanterns are the future of India’s lighting.
However, as a result of this, the article spends almost no time in addressing the issues of the lanterns. For someone who might be interested in this project, especially for someone who wants to help improve the project, this proves to be troublesome.
I, for one, am rather interested in finding out the financial cost of these lanterns. The article states that they can be leased for $2.50 a month. While this text does a great job in providing insight into other aspects of the lives of these families, it fails to inform us how much $2.50 might mean to them. By no means do I mean to be condescending. The cost of living in India is among one of the lowest for developed countries, and for rural communities, it’s likely lower. Without knowing how much a family has to give up in order to obtain light, it’s hard for outsiders like us to gage whether these lanterns are perfect solutions for people seeking light.
The reliability and longevity of the technology are also issues that should be addressed. How well does the lantern function if there was a limited amount of sunlight? How can the technology be improved? By focusing so much on the human narrative related to the technology, perhaps the article omits too much relevant information.
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