Ubiquitous source of light

Either in sonatas and symphonies or in the pages of aesthetically uplifting novels and poetry, the mellow lantern is present in its ever-glowing avatar

Himanshu Guru

In philosophical terms, darkness is regarded as a symbol of negativity while light is accepted as the most positive element of life and hence human celebration. The history of Homo sapiens is a long series of efforts to light up life on earth and ward off the forces of darkness. The series began with the invention of fire and soon it was arranged to burn continuously through a gear. In the early days, it was a ‘mashal’, a natural torch, but took different shapes and sizes with the passing of time to fit the needs of different ages. Today we have sophisticated, delicate, fashionable and decorative electric lanterns. However, among the torches, lantern has unique features. It is not just a man-made item of light but has found its way into literature, films and festivals. On Diwali day, Sunday POST traces the story of the lantern.

Light from the past

The lantern is first mentioned in the documents of Empedocles of Agrigentum and the poems of Theopompus, a renowned poet of ancient Greece. There is evidence that other civilisations like Egypt and China too used the lantern. The ubiquitous kerosene lantern is the most popular among all the different varieties. It was widely in use even not too long back.

Mellow light

Asked to dwell on his memories of the kerosene lantern Govind Agrawal from Sambalpur said: “In my childhood I studied while a kerosene lantern burned. Back then lanterns were used to light the streets. An employee of the municipality was assigned with the duty to fill the lanterns with kerosene every evening. When I was a matriculation student I came to know of the electric bulb. I have sustained several cuts and bruises while washing the lantern glass.”

“People may not believe but it is true that the main source of lighting our house was the lantern even when I was in college. We got an electric connection only in the 1990s. Till then we only had streetlights in the village,” said Pabitra Adabaria of Sargad village in Bolangir district.

“Not only for studies, not very long ago kerosene lanterns were used widely by villagers. It was used at marriage processions, staging of plays, in the kitchen and during feasts. I still remember carrying a lantern to the corn field at night. During the harvest season one or two male members of every family stay in a hut near the field to keep a vigil on the ripe paddy,” he added.

“I have never used a lantern but I have seen people using it and I am very fond of it. I have seen how people carefully wash the glass cover and fill kerosene in it. I have some fashionable electric lanterns – basically showpieces – in my living room,” said Sarmistha Das who lives in Bhubaneswar.

Reel lights

In old Oriya films we see a lantern hanging from a bullock cart. Many of the old films were shot in villages where the scene of a bullock cart lumbering down the village road was very common. Be it Prashanta Nanda’s ‘Balidan’ (1975), the award-winning film ‘Hakim Babu’ or Fakir Mohan Senapati’s ‘Chhamana Athaguntha’ the lantern can be seen shining bright.
Asked about his experience of using the lantern as a prop in his films, the famous Oriya director Sabyasachi Mohapatra observed: “The lantern is closely associated with Oriya society and culture. It is an integral part of rural Orissa and this aspect has been reflected in several Oriya films. I have it as a source of light in many of the sequences of my films. Like in ‘Bhukha’ we witness a lantern in every indoor scene inside the house of the protagonist played by Sadhu Meher. Since the character hails from a poor family of folk artistes, the protagonist can only afford a lantern to illuminate his household. Also in ‘Adim Bichar’ a lantern is shown burning in the household of Kandh budha, the protagonist.”

Literary glimpses

“I have written short stories about the dadan issue where I have mentioned the lantern in different contexts,” said litterateur and vice-president of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Gayatri Saraf. “Not as lantern, but I have used it as ‘lanthin’. The source of light is exactly pronounced in that way in the vernacular. Labourers who are forced to migrate to other states for a livelihood are unarguably poor. They don’t have the means to buy electric bulbs or foot the monthly electric bill. That is why they prefer ‘lanthins’ to light up their indoors as I have mentioned in my works,” said the writer.

“The lantern finds mention in a lot many Oriya literary creations. Noted writer Ramakanta Rath penned the famous poem ‘Lanthan’ where he compares the lantern to life in general. In my short stories ‘Chaudara sei rati’, ‘Bharatabarsha’ and ‘Itabhatira silpi’ I have mentioned the lantern. Besides, writer Indira Das has referred to the traditional source of light in her works including ‘Adha naxa ghara’, ‘Gumsum jhia’ and ‘Premika’. Poet Narendra Sahu dwells on the lantern in his short stories ‘Ei dhanua nai’, ‘Asanglagna’ and in his poem ‘Andhar’,” added Saraf.