Panchlight (Passages for explanation with reference to the context)

 

1.      1  “No one had thought of it so far. No one had thought of it before buying the Panchlight and no one did after it was bought. The offerings for the puja were ready, the singers were waiting with their drums, cymbals, and bells, while the Panchlight stood in the middle of it all. The villagers had never bought anything like this before. There is a saying in the village: ‘Shall we buy a cow? Yes, but who will milk it? … And so it was with this contraption of nuts and bolts…. ‘Who will light it?’”

 
The reference and the context:
These lines have been taken from Phanishwar NathRenu’s story “Panchlight.” The panchayat of Mahto Toli has bought a petromax. Everything was now ready and people were eagerly waiting for the pride moment of the lighting of the panchlight. The musicians were ready and the atmosphere was charged with the chant: ‘Panchlight! Panchlight!’ At that very moment a ‘but’ raised its ugly head. The question was: ‘Who would light the Panchlight?’
 
Explanation:
 
Nobody in the Mahto Toli realized, neither before nor after buying the petromax, that they would face the problem of lighting it. They had made all preparations for puja and singing to the accompaniment of music. The troupe of singers along with their instruments was already there. The panchlight stood between them and their celebrations. The people of the Mahto Toli were ignorant in this matter as they had never bought a contraption of nuts and bolts earlier. The great question that they all faced was ‘Who will light it?’
 
 
    2 . Another spanner in the works! Everyone began to harbour serious doubts about the intelligence of the chief, the secretary, and the orderly—they had set out to do things without any idea of how they were to be done! Despair gripped the crowd once again. But Godhan was a clever young man. He would light the Panchlight without spirit. . . . ‘Will someone please get a little coconut oil? Munri ran to do his bidding. Godhan began to pump the Panchlight.
 
The reference and the context:
These lines have been taken from Phanishwar NathRenu’s story “Panchlight.” In these lines is narrated the last problem in the lighting of the petromax. At the same time, the simplicity and ignorance of the panchayat members in these matters are also revealed. They had no idea what other things were also required to light it just as they had conveniently forgotten to take some training in lighting petromax before buying one. The panchayat members had dealt with Godhan’s problem very intelligently and cleverly a few moments ago. But people now started having serious doubts about their wisdom and felt sad.
 
Explanation:
Another problem arises when Godhan is all set to light the petromax. It is found that the Chief and others forgot to bring the spirit. People have serious doubts about their wisdom. The whole of the Toli is in complete despair. But it is Godhan again whose cleverness saves their pride and honour of the Toli. He asks for some coconut oil. Munri runs to bring some, Godhan starts pumping the panchlight and the villagers’ spirits start rising again.