Malaysian Hindus are celebrating Deepavali, the festival of lights, today. Their homes will be brightly adorned with colourful lights to denote, as the tradition goes, good overcoming the bad.

However, some 200 Hindu villagers in Kampung Sungai Getah 2, Sungai Lalang, Bedong, Kedah do not have that luxury. They have been spending more than 50 Deepavali in darkness. The former plantation land they have occupied since their forefathers' time was bought by an MIC branch chairman and former municipal councilor not long ago who has refused to allow electricity in their homes.

Three generations have passed and the former estate line has been left to the people without dispute until (by reasons not known to the villagers) this particular landowner has obtained ownership since 1989.

He has requested rental arrears backdating from 1960 to 2002 amounting to RM160,000. It is an astounding figure but the landowner has not budged an inch although the wage-earning villagers have for numerous times appealed to him for a lesser sum.

The villagers have been relying solely on candlelight, some on second-hand and faulty generators as well as kerosene-lamps. This story sounds like Narakasura has come alive and there is need to bring Lord Krishna down to save the people from darkness (literally).

The villagers have visited the Menteri Besar's office several times and have sent countless letters but nothing has been forthcoming as yet. The latest visit was on October 27, 2002 where the MB's political secretary welcomed the villagers and gave his word that the problem will be looked into.

But while the 12-year-old problem is being looked into 'again', the villagers who are drained of taking numerous efforts just to have electricity in their homes have one simple thing to ask for this Deepavali, which is a temporary electricity supply for a short period of ten days, Nov 1 to Nov 10, 2002.

They appeal to the state government, as they would appeal to Lord Krishna, to bring light to their homes and dispel this darkness for good. Is asking for electricity, a basic need, so difficult or unreasonable by the villagers?