Power To The People (Please)

An expedition to electrify a remote village in Ladakh with solar energyis complicated business

- Avirook Sen

From the air, through the slightly hazy filter of the aircraft’s windows, Ladakh looked like endless watercolors that refused to be framed by the horizon. On the ground, at 11,500ft above Mumbai, the painting was clearer but had acquired gentle waves, the mountains swaying slightly. Or it might have just been me feeling light-headed.

Altitude does its mischief without delay. It takes about a day and a half to get used to.

Our hotel was a short ride from the airport, and Jaideep Bansal, Chief Operating Officer of the Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE), was waiting at the lobby with a bottle of water with my name on it. “Drink,” he said before I could say, “Thank you, nice touch.” I drank. And craving a hot thukpa, I asked what was for lunch. Jaideep said the local food was unsuitable for visitors the moment they landed; it was “very heavy”.

Lunch was paneer butter masala.

Next followed briefings about the mission. The primary reason why 11 people from six countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the US state of Texas, which has its own flag) had decided to walk, work and pay for this mission was the idea that they would trek to a village that has never seen a lit light bulb, that cannot be accessed except on foot, and “bring the villagers from darkness to light”.

Our village was deep in the Zanskar Valley. Without argument, one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

The idea that one can do that much good while on what would otherwise be called a holiday is tremendously attractive. Even at a price of US$3,200 ( ₹2,27,000) a person. Hence the 11 subscribers.

Somehow, authors Rudyard Kipling and Mark Twain both came to mind simultaneously as we headed west two days after landing.