THE LAMP

The Lamp is a short story about a poor family in Malaysia's seaside fishing town. It tells the story of the protagonist, Salim. Salim is the first child, with younger brothers. This narrative depicts Salim's family living a terrible life and struggling to meet their basic requirements. Salim's father is a fisherman, and his mother is a full-time housewife. Because they were poor, they could only afford 5 cents of light oil. The family can only rely on the lamp. Salim's mother uses the lamp exclusively for cooking, eating, and other more vital purposes. Salim's younger sibling prefers to sleep with the lamp as well. Therefore, Salim has neither the right nor the opportunity to use the lamp, which prevented him from reviewing his lessons and from receiving frequent reprimands from his teacher for not completing his homework—in fact, his mother would frequently reprimand him whenever he asked to use the lamp. Despite his high level of motivation and potential to become an exceptional student, Salim was not given the opportunity to try to change the family's situation through education. 

Salim's family exemplifies multidimensional poverty, a situation where people lack not just income but also basic necessities and resources for a decent life.

The family's limited financial resources force them to prioritize immediate survival over long-term development. Buying only 5 cents worth of oil for the lamp reflects their inability to afford even minimal essentials for education and comfort. Salim's father’s job as a fisherman, a low-income, vulnerable occupation—reflects the unstable livelihoods often experienced by poor communities in coastal areas. His mother's role as a full-time housewife further limits their economic opportunities, as she cannot supplement the household income.

The story portrays how poverty traps future generations. Salim, despite having the potential to excel, cannot access the resources required to break the cycle of poverty through education. The family's poverty affects their children’s ability to dream of a better future, reinforcing the cycle of disadvantage across generations. 

Salim’s story illustrates how poverty limits access to quality education, thereby preventing children from reaching their full potential and contributing to society’s development.

Lack of access to adequate lighting is a simple but critical obstacle. Salim cannot study at night because the lamp is needed for other family priorities. This shows how children in poor communities face logistical barriers such as inadequate infrastructure and resources that hinder their education. Without completing homework, Salim is reprimanded by his teacher, reflecting the disconnect between educational expectations and the harsh realities that impoverished children face.

Despite Salim’s motivation and potential, he is denied the chance to improve his circumstances through education. This highlights the importance of creating inclusive learning environments where all children, regardless of their socio-economic status, have equal opportunities to learn and grow.