The supply to the imposing white structure was snapped exactly at 1.30 pm and at 6 in the evening for an hour each. During the outage in the afternoon, Gandhi, it is learnt, had his lunch. The fan did not swirl over his head. In the evening, the darkness was more stark. The Governor spent that hour in his bedroom, refusing to meet anyone.

The man on the streets, peeping though the Raj Bhavan’s main gate, was laudatory of the Governor’s gesture. The men in power, sitting at Writers’ Buildings, were guarded, but virulently critical. Gandhi was silent for most part of the day (see page 3 for his comments), but the sun was positively harsh. The mercury touched 36.5 degrees on Wednesday afternoon — a degree above normal. The maximum humidity was 86 per cent and there was no rain.

The Governor’s press secretary Dhruba Ghosh said the five main electric supply points to the Raj Bhavan remained switched off in those two hours. The Raj Bhavan has a power requirement of 2 mega watts every day. It also explores other sources of non-conventional, renewable energy within the campus. But the produce is not much to bridge the gap.

Outside Raj Bhavan’s north gate — the main entrance and exit to the place — curious onlookers had gathered in the evening to check if Gandhi would really switch off the lights. Many appreciated his gesture to share the discomfort suffered by thousands. “It should shame the government,” said one, while returning from his office close to the Raj Bhavan.

But ruling party leaders sharpened their tongues throughout the day. CPM Politburo member Biman Bose said, “If Gandhi is so magnanimous, he should provide shelter in his palace to the thousands who are homeless.”

Party leader Shyamal Chakrabarty said the Governor should also follow Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s simple lifestyle. Bhattacharjee lives in a cramped flat. Chakrabarty said the Governor should as well donate at least 75 per cent of his salary. “He has a small family and doesn’t need so much money,” Chakrabarty said, tongue firmly in cheek. The partyman added, “He could also give up the government transport and walk to programme venues.”

Sports minister Subhas Chakrabarty said he welcomed such ‘noble intentions of penance’. “But why now?” he said. “The power situation was very bad when the Madhyamik exams were on. I don’t think the Governor has timed his penance well,” he added.