At a time when 24 hours water supply and maids weren’t available, the lady of the house would wake up to the sound of water gushing through the tap and so did my mother. In the next 90 minutes, she would complete the household chores and rush to work.
Interestingly one of her task included switching on the radio. The vacuum tube valves would take few minutes to glow and will be followed with faint hissing and loud static. With some fine tuning, the static disappeared and the soothing A.I.R.’s immortal signature tune, composed by Walter Kaufmann, trebled through the house awakening everybody and perhaps the entire nation. It was 5: 30 a.m. time for Dad to rush to the milk center.
The signature tune ends, Vande Mataram resonates from various radio sets and the lights in few homes across the colony become brighter. Soon an energetic voice greets listeners, “Su-prabhat” on Mumbai (Bombay) ‘B’ 558 htz i.e. 537.6 meter. On another frequency, an equally vibrant voice blurts, “Su – Prabhat, Medium wave, ek hazaar chawalis hertz par yanni do sau satyaassi dashmalam teen meter per yeh Vividh Bharti ki vigyapan prasaran sewa ka Mumbai Kendra hain…” Mumbai ‘A’ 1044 htz 287.3 Meter.
The announcement stops, Bhatki Sangeet (Devotional songs) follows and purifies the house. At 06:00 a.m. and few beeps later, an authorative voice intrudes, “This is All India Radio, the News ready by …..” This was the alarm for mom to catch the Virar local. At 7:00 a.m. ‘Bhoole Bisre Geet’ began and we slowly commenced our long walk to school. Around 7: 50 a.m. ‘Jharoka’ informed listeners with the day’s schedule. At 8 a.m., 'Sangeet Sarita' played songs based on classical raga and by now Dad would be on his way to office. In the evenings, ‘Hawa Mahal’ brought the entire family together.
The younger generation cannot comprehend our romance with radio and more so with Vividh Bharti. It governed our lives and played in the back ground in homes, salons, shops, gardens, buses, trains and even on streets and yet you could easily proceed with the daily chores without being disturbed.
The afternoons reverberated with soulful ‘Lok Sangeet’ (folk music). On Saturday late evenings, tune into A.I.R. 1017 kHz i.e. 294.9 meter to hear ABBA, Bob Dylan and latest western music. Throughout the day, Vivid Bharti played amazing programmes like ‘Aap Ki Farmaish’, ‘Ek Phankaar’ and ‘Manchahe Geet’. These programmes were unique, brought people closer from various parts of the country and introduced us to some unheard places - Majnu Ka Tila, Kala Peepal Mandi, and the famous Jhumri Talaiyya.
If the smart phones represents generation Y, then pocket transistors symbolised generations X. The pocket transistor allowed our ears to replace our eyes and increase our imagination. It became our devout companion in school where along with friends we would intently hear Jasdev Singh’s commentary, describing the artistic hockey and deft maneuvers of Surjit Singh and Zafar Iqbal. On other days Dicky Rutnagar, Suresh Saraiya, Anant Setalvad made everyone worship cricket. Even today, power-cuts provides an opportunity for sports aficionados to catch live commentary on their trusted radio. A sports journalist rightly said, “Cricket, Lata Mangeshkar and the transistor made India one nation.” Add Sachin Tendulkar and definitely Indians across the globe and several generations would unite.
Wednesday evening’s meant adjusting the spiral antenna to catch Radio Ceylon where the inimitable Ameen Sayani echoed through the static, “Aur Pehele Paidan pe yeh gaana” on ‘Binaca (later Cibaca) Geet Mala’. On Sunday afternoons, he quizzed the entire nation on Vividh Bharti through ‘Bournvita Quiz Contest’. This was followed by ‘Cricket with Vijay Merchant’. On weekdays, ‘Khel Samachar’ and A.F.S. (Bobby) Talyarkhan in ‘Take it from me’ would review various sporting events.
Several such programmes have remained etched in our memories. Diamond Comics sponsored programme and S Kumars Filmi Muqadamma added to the zing.‘Santogen Ki Mehfil’ featured interviews with various celebrities. ‘Vishesh Jaimala’ was graciously hosted by celebrities bringing ordinary civilians closer to hundreds of our brave Lance Nayaks.
Saroj Narayan and Barun Houlda through the daily 9:00 p.m. - NEWS brought the world into our homes. When Dad permitted us to stay up and enjoy ‘Chhaya Geet’, it indicated our arrival into adolescence. Chhaya Geet featured songs based on various themes, cleverly researched by the announcers, who narrated in measured tone. ‘Bela Ke Phool’ at 11:00 p.m. reminded of romantic encounters during the day and helped stay awake to complete our college term work. Sometimes after 11: 30 p.m., we desperately searched for short waves, cigarettes, tea and study material in that order. But at 00:10 a.m. we would be religiously back on Vividh Bharti, groggy eyed, listening to ‘Chitrapat Sangeet’ till 1:30 a.m.
Interestingly one of her task included switching on the radio. The vacuum tube valves would take few minutes to glow and will be followed with faint hissing and loud static. With some fine tuning, the static disappeared and the soothing A.I.R.’s immortal signature tune, composed by Walter Kaufmann, trebled through the house awakening everybody and perhaps the entire nation. It was 5: 30 a.m. time for Dad to rush to the milk center.
The signature tune ends, Vande Mataram resonates from various radio sets and the lights in few homes across the colony become brighter. Soon an energetic voice greets listeners, “Su-prabhat” on Mumbai (Bombay) ‘B’ 558 htz i.e. 537.6 meter. On another frequency, an equally vibrant voice blurts, “Su – Prabhat, Medium wave, ek hazaar chawalis hertz par yanni do sau satyaassi dashmalam teen meter per yeh Vividh Bharti ki vigyapan prasaran sewa ka Mumbai Kendra hain…” Mumbai ‘A’ 1044 htz 287.3 Meter.
The announcement stops, Bhatki Sangeet (Devotional songs) follows and purifies the house. At 06:00 a.m. and few beeps later, an authorative voice intrudes, “This is All India Radio, the News ready by …..” This was the alarm for mom to catch the Virar local. At 7:00 a.m. ‘Bhoole Bisre Geet’ began and we slowly commenced our long walk to school. Around 7: 50 a.m. ‘Jharoka’ informed listeners with the day’s schedule. At 8 a.m., 'Sangeet Sarita' played songs based on classical raga and by now Dad would be on his way to office. In the evenings, ‘Hawa Mahal’ brought the entire family together.
The younger generation cannot comprehend our romance with radio and more so with Vividh Bharti. It governed our lives and played in the back ground in homes, salons, shops, gardens, buses, trains and even on streets and yet you could easily proceed with the daily chores without being disturbed.
The afternoons reverberated with soulful ‘Lok Sangeet’ (folk music). On Saturday late evenings, tune into A.I.R. 1017 kHz i.e. 294.9 meter to hear ABBA, Bob Dylan and latest western music. Throughout the day, Vivid Bharti played amazing programmes like ‘Aap Ki Farmaish’, ‘Ek Phankaar’ and ‘Manchahe Geet’. These programmes were unique, brought people closer from various parts of the country and introduced us to some unheard places - Majnu Ka Tila, Kala Peepal Mandi, and the famous Jhumri Talaiyya.
If the smart phones represents generation Y, then pocket transistors symbolised generations X. The pocket transistor allowed our ears to replace our eyes and increase our imagination. It became our devout companion in school where along with friends we would intently hear Jasdev Singh’s commentary, describing the artistic hockey and deft maneuvers of Surjit Singh and Zafar Iqbal. On other days Dicky Rutnagar, Suresh Saraiya, Anant Setalvad made everyone worship cricket. Even today, power-cuts provides an opportunity for sports aficionados to catch live commentary on their trusted radio. A sports journalist rightly said, “Cricket, Lata Mangeshkar and the transistor made India one nation.” Add Sachin Tendulkar and definitely Indians across the globe and several generations would unite.
Wednesday evening’s meant adjusting the spiral antenna to catch Radio Ceylon where the inimitable Ameen Sayani echoed through the static, “Aur Pehele Paidan pe yeh gaana” on ‘Binaca (later Cibaca) Geet Mala’. On Sunday afternoons, he quizzed the entire nation on Vividh Bharti through ‘Bournvita Quiz Contest’. This was followed by ‘Cricket with Vijay Merchant’. On weekdays, ‘Khel Samachar’ and A.F.S. (Bobby) Talyarkhan in ‘Take it from me’ would review various sporting events.
Several such programmes have remained etched in our memories. Diamond Comics sponsored programme and S Kumars Filmi Muqadamma added to the zing.‘Santogen Ki Mehfil’ featured interviews with various celebrities. ‘Vishesh Jaimala’ was graciously hosted by celebrities bringing ordinary civilians closer to hundreds of our brave Lance Nayaks.
Saroj Narayan and Barun Houlda through the daily 9:00 p.m. - NEWS brought the world into our homes. When Dad permitted us to stay up and enjoy ‘Chhaya Geet’, it indicated our arrival into adolescence. Chhaya Geet featured songs based on various themes, cleverly researched by the announcers, who narrated in measured tone. ‘Bela Ke Phool’ at 11:00 p.m. reminded of romantic encounters during the day and helped stay awake to complete our college term work. Sometimes after 11: 30 p.m., we desperately searched for short waves, cigarettes, tea and study material in that order. But at 00:10 a.m. we would be religiously back on Vividh Bharti, groggy eyed, listening to ‘Chitrapat Sangeet’ till 1:30 a.m.
Mom has retired but not the radio. Vividh Bharti is still active and with it are several FM channels. These new channels are heard but unfortunately flicked every three minutes. This would never be the case with Vividh Bharti.
The success of Vividh Bharti did not merely lie in radio’s ability to be a medium of mass communication and education, but in its simplicity, its assorted programmes, and the amazing announcers who focused on good music instead of boring listeners with nonsensical chatter, announcing too many contests and advertisements. Let’s hope our FM channels take a leaf from Vividh Bharti and attempt to resurrect the magic of the old radio….
Until then let’s keep singing ‘Raised on Radio’…!
Until then let’s keep singing ‘Raised on Radio’…!
Radio, Radio
Were all raised on Radio, Radio
I love my Radio
Radio, Radio,Radio, Radio
……. sung by Journey
You took me back on time. There are few missing references like - Yuva vani (program for younger generation), Gammat Jammat (on sunday mornings - for kids) etc. There is yet another radio commentator who needs to be mentioned - Sushil Doshi. His narration on a good outswinger missing the bat is immortal - bhagyashali rahe ke gaind ne unke balle ka bahaari kinaara nahi liya, anyatha chaar slip aur do gully tayya thee..... what say nishant?
ReplyDeleteNishant,
ReplyDeleteTypically in the afternoon, when one reached home from school (around 1:30 pm) there would be Bhakti Sangeet from 1:30 to 2:00 pm. This was the only free time I had as I had to start doing homework sharp at 2:00 pm. Since this was the only thing I could hear - I followed it almost everyday while having lunch. Got introduced to a lot of singers there including a certain Mr. Jalota - whom I liked the best. He ofcourse is the father of Mr. Anup Jalota.
Lots of memories ....
Nishant,
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to what you say up there. It did bring back a lot of old memories which were lost somewhere. As I read through it, all those characters and programs became brighter and brighter.
I did enjoy reading it……………………. Thanks.
Paul Cherayath.
awesome sir! its the most wonderful blog i found among the onez iv read.........yes since times immemorial radio had been wid ours parents n now wid us........n will forever be.....
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the title song of the Programme - Cricket with Vijay Merchant
ReplyDelete