Meet Modhera’s Solar‑Powered Potters
A village that thinks the sun is a giant light bulb
When the sun rises over the ancient Sun Temple in Modhera (Gujarat), it’s not just a beacon for faith—it’s a real powering plant for the whole village. With a whopping 1,300 rooftop panels, the 6,500‑resident community runs on solar energy 24/7, making it India’s first fully sun‑powered village.
Kesa Bhai Prajapati (68) is at the heart of this new wave. Picture a man twirling clay on a potter’s wheel that doesn’t need a manual spin or a pricey monthly electricity bill. When the electricity prices shot up to ₹1,500 a month (about S$25.64), he had to keep the wheel in hand. Now that the village runs on the sun, his clay‑making gig is going double* in size—no more waiting for the power plant to crank up.
Solar power: the new dance partner for villagers
Electricity saves time: Prajapati tells us “It’s like turning up a cheat code—I get more finished jugs in a minute.”
Tailors, farmers, shoemakers get the boost: with the smaller spares of electricity, a tailor named Praveen Bhai plans a gas stove, swapping smoky wood‑fires for efficient cooking.
Children get a brighter future: the village’s school lights transform from a street lamp to a fully lit classroom, answering a housewife’s hope, “Now kids will learn inside, not all night in the dark.”
Reena Ben*, a housewife and part‑time tailor, has lapped the advantage into a new sewing machine motor that costs only ₹2,000. “Now I can stitch two extra outfits each day,” she beams.
What’s ahead?
India’s energy dash:
Goal: hit 50% renewable energy by 2030 (up from a 40% plan last year).
Funding: around US$10 M (S$14 M) for Modhera’s rooftop farm.
Deals: surplus energy is sold back to the government, giving villagers a little pocket change.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (who rules Gujarat) said, “For a self‑reliant India, we need to ramp up such projects.”
While Modhera’s Sun Temple guided faith for centuries, its solar panels have paved a new path for a cleaner, brighter tomorrow.
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SummaryModhera, Gujarat – Once power‑hungry, now sun‑powered. Pride of the village lays in eco‑friendly hands turning clay into art while solar panels beam the way to a greener life. The village’s bright theme? Solar, Sustainable, Self‑sufficient.
