It has been 56 years since India celebrated her independence, yet basic needs like drinking water and electricity still remain a dream for millions of Indians.  Large dams that will submerge thousands of villages may be one answer to these problems but Anil and Madhu think otherwise.  These creative and visionary engineers have transformed the lives of several Indians through successfully implementing microhydel power projects at several places in India.   This environmentally benign technology is simple but the results are extraordinary. Damming local streams and water sources that are close to a

village, these young engineers from southern Indian state of Kerala, then create small reservoirs of water that are used to generate electricity using a turbine.  A recent project at Bilgaon in western Indian state of Maharashtra generated enough power for 12 hamlets (2000 people) and a school in addition to providing drinking water.  All accomplished with the use of mainly local labour and resources.  It also served as a powerful message to the government to explore other options to large dams.  And this is only the tip of the iceberg.  Anil and Madhu estimate that the potential for these projects in certain areas of India is huge. Kerala, famous for its backwaters, for example could generate 2000MW of power through microhydel projects (the present installed capacity of the entire state is 2500 MW!).   If these two men get their way, they could revolutionize power generation in small villages and save a way of life that is facing the dire threat of being lost forever.