Life in Darkness - A Photo Essay by Bikash Malakar

Electricity Crisis in Nepal

The electricity crisis in Nepal has been worsened by 10 years of war, which ended in 2006 and produced an inhibiting effect on any new investment; corruption including electricity theft and a steep rise in demand. The resulting cuts affect almost everyone - schools, private hospitals (government ones have special electricity provision), and businesses.

Serious attention to ending this crisis is needed to save Nepal from entering a vicious circle of unemployment, unrest and instability.

The Life in Darkness collection documents the winter of 2009 of the people in the Kathmandu Valley, when they had no electricity for as long as 16 hours a day.

10 years old girl (3rd grade student) studying at candle light from an 8th grade book in front of her father's bookstore. Photo: Bikash Malakar 

Art student painting at candle light to complete her assignment. Due to the lack of electricity, many artists use to sketch at night and paint during daytime. Photo: Bikash Malakar

Boy selling kerosene lamps on the street. He says the electricity crisis had doubled his sales. Photo: Bikash Malakar

A car mechanic repairing generators and batteries. He says the electricity crisis had changed his profession. 'I am a car mechanic, but now I repair only generators and batteries.' Many offices started using generators and large batteries for electricity. Photo: Bikash Malakar

Candle street vendor counting his daily income. Selling candles is the same profitable as the kerosene lamp business. Photo: Bikash Malakar

Cloth shopkeeper lighting his kerosene lamp. Using kerosene lamps in the cloth industry is extremely risky. Photo: Bikash Malakar

People walking on the streets in the dark. Photo: Bikash Malakar

Most of the time people have candle light dinner at home. Photo: Bikash Malakar