The residents of a village in Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu have been making do with flashlights and mobile phones to see in dark while walking through the streets.
For a month now this village called Pothakudi, has been in the dark without streetlights and it is not the usual power woes. The reason is rather sweet and will bring a smile to your face.
The whole idea of switching off the streetlights is the brainchild of a 20-year old college student named Karuppu Raja.
He noticed an Indian Robin building a nest in the village switchboard which powered all the streetlights. The guy looked into it and saw three small greenish-blue eggs with spots.
On a common Whatsapp group, he shared the story about the bird and all the 35 members of the group readily agreed to hatch a plan to save the mama bird and the hatchlings.
They went to each family and requested that the streetlights be turned off until the eggs hatched. The group admitted that convincing each family was a herculean task.
Some readily agreed. Others called it stupid to switch off the lights for a small bird. But the group managed to convince everyone and the entire village has gone without streetlight for 35 days. The Panchayat head also accompanied the group and went door to door advising the residents to stay vigilant in the dark.
Once the main wire leading the switchboard was cut, it was covered with tape to save the bird from electric shock.
Now there are three healthy chicks with the mama bird, safe and healthy.
The villagers are waiting for the winged visitors to leave peacefully so that they could clean the box and restore the streetlights.
Thank you, Pothakudi, for restoring our faith in humanity.
