Radio - a gadget loved in the past now remembered !

Radio – loved to listen in the past ! remembered now !

Radio , powered by vacuum tubes or otherwise called valves , is a 19^th century innovation. We all may know that MACRONI was the first scientist to achieve successful radio transmission in 1895. He built a wireless system capable of transmitting signals at long distance – 1.5 miles.

In 1900 , Brazilian priest Reberto Landell de Moura transmitted human voice by wireless. Radio was used to pass on orders and communications between armies  and  navies on both side in World War I.

Some more information on Radio : AM radio uses amplitude modulation , in which the sound amplitude captured by microphone, proportionately transmit the signal with a fixed frequency.  Medium Wave  (MW )  is the part of medium frequency radio band used mainly for AM radio broadcasting vary from 526.5 KHz to 1606.5 KHz in Europe and extends further in America.  Short Wave ( SW ) is the lowest frequency band in the range of 1.8 MHz and 2.0 MHz.

Let us move to the old time radio we enjoyed until the Black & White Television came to India, rather I say  , to my home.

 

  All India Radio station  is still too close to my old house where I lived for 48 years. My father was having a GE make Radio receiver set with MW & SW band It was  small and round edged cute electric radio works well with external antenna initially fixed in our terrace from end to end diagonally to the height of next door first floor terrace.  Many kites during the summer holidays get caught in the antenna and wee too found difficult for kite running. But I loved that set very much and listen many interesting programs. 

To name a few : Madras A for all music ,Radio drama , Concerts, children’s program like “ Paapa Malar “, sound track of films in the title of “ Oli Chitram “ for an hour of a full length movie  edited. Madras B station , I used to listen for western music  for two days in a week with an hour and half program. My love started towards western music is by listening in 1960s’ and ‘70s’ in AIR , Radio Ceylon , BBC ( British Broadcasting Corporation )and VOA ( Voice of America ) . The very clear transmission of VOA , Radio Ceylon and BBC made every radio listeners to fall in love with radio listening.  When Neil Armstraog landed on the moon  in July 1969 , I was fixed to the radio of VOA to listen the live commentary of the greatest moment . Some processions and live programs were also captured for running commentary.

Above all many were interested to listen running commentary of cricket , played anywhere in India.  The ball to ball comments of some famous commentators were still recalled by cricket lovers ( of course I am not a fan of cricket ). Vividhbarati is the next best station for listening Hindi songs almost many times repeated in different captions.  BBC ‘s Tamizh Oosai, Radio Ceylon ‘s Ilangai Vanoli Nilayam and VOA were broadcasting Tamil programs in a time slot and I never miss a day.

AIR ( All India Radio ) is India’s National Broadcaster and also Public Service provider in Information, Education  and  Entertainment  to the masses since its inception and now having 277 “ Akashvani “ radio stations across the country. In olden times a monthly radio program guide used to be published in many languages. In Tamil it is called “ Vaanoli “ and my  Mandavelli Thatha’s place I always look for it when I visit there. They were the subscriber for many  years.

My GE make radio is no longer with me but a PHILIPS Radio Receiver  is with me , in god condition but without a working valve. This I took it from my father-in-law on antique collection interest. It may look odd , but even last year I tried to make good of the valve from Ritchie street in vain.

I love the voice of Mrs.Saroj Narayana Swami when he clearly read Tamil news  and Mr.Sahul Ameed’s in Radio Ceylon.Mr.Koothapiran was loved by children in AIR. Mr.H.Ramakrishnan and Mr.Poornam Viswanathan were Tamil news readers in Chennai Vanoli Nilayam .

Sri.Koothapiran

Sri Poornam Viswanathan

Sri H.Ramakrishnan

I had been to All India Radio in Beach Road in 1980s’ on a technical tour visit with Indian Standards Institution . Later developments were Transistor Radio and then Tape Recorder replaced the gramophone. Compact Discs , DVDs’ also become obsolete in front of  i-pads

Today’s telecommunication technology has been advanced to many folds and the 21^st century inventions takes us to the other end of the world through a small chocolate size instrument call cell phone.

The end of Radio Receiver listening habit  is some what sad  for  oldies like me. In San Thome Beach  after getting down the long steps in the lane next to San Thome  Basilica, there was a Round Building with Cone Speakers fixed and put on in the evenings and mornings for the beach visitors . Love of listening  in the beach sands while playing around the building  was  a great experience which cannot be erased from memories.

Good Bye Radio!