The Evolution of Domestic Energy and Transportation in Rural India

Ahan Datta interviews Tuhin Datta, portraying energy consumption and transportation dynamics in India from his youth in the 1980s. Growing up in a village without electricity or gas, Tuhin's family relied on wood, coal, and cow dung cakes for cooking, using a traditional chulo, or cooking area. Gas became accessible through offshore drilling and households transitioned to gas cylinders, a shift that marked a significant change in domestic energy use. For transportation, Tuhin went from walking and biking to using a gas-powered moped and later, battery-powered scooters. His experiences abroad highlight the contrast between public transportation systems in countries like Australia, with reliable buses, and the U.S., where personal vehicles dominate. Tuhin also reflects on the societal impact of media evolution, noting how television and smartphones shifted entertainment from communal to individual experiences, while climate change has increased the demand for air conditioning in India.