My first “tune into” was with the the big piece (which everyone at that time used to refer to as the “tranzeestor”) on top of the dark wooden book shelf in the house that my mother wed out of ….(Baaper Bari in Bengali).It was dusty yellow in color and came with two big knobs and a dial which would get you connected to all these little corners of the world.For many years I used to think, there are little people inside it (hence the humongous dimensions) who work diligently towards producing these unbelievable programs.The love never faded even though now it is a reminder of the age that I have grown out of.
Then came the Philips® radio (from the army “subsidized rate” store in Sonamura, Tripura). This was not quite as big. It had a stainless steel exterior and boasted of a sleek physique. For the next few years this was going to be my best friend and the inception of a love for music that I have managed to entertain with ever increasing passion even to this day.Though at the time of the purchase – the sole cause was to try and listen to the live broadcast of the Mahalaya by late Birendra Kishore Bhadra from within the protected boundaries of the mosquito net as the streaks of dawn waitied to take over the darkness.This was way before the luxury of walking into Music World® and picking up the CD to listen to anytime of the year.That, by the way is not the way to be…so tell the Mashima(s) and the Didima(s).”It is just not right..you cannot welcome Durga (to her Baaper Bari) anytime of the year !!” But that is a different story …..
For me it was the world !! I was hungry and would take anything that was offered. Sainik Bhaiyyon Ka Karyakram, Binaca(Cibaca) Geetmala,BBC® news….and then the Sunday afternoon Bangla Sruti Naatok (audio play) over the smell of Keo Karpin® and Mysore Sandal® was suddenly a much “sought after” experience and that stayed that way for a long time.This was my personal gateway to escape from the ambiance of mundane existence (read : social studies,milk, …you get the idea) I would drift away into the imagination of these talented artists, performing in harmony with musicians behind sound proof walls. Eclectic sound effects given life using every day entities of triviality. The feeling, that I was part of that world was thrilling.So many years later, today I define that part as being the listener. Listener of the radio …. as I knew it several years ago.
And then things moved very fast.I left home, the one I had known for years (school bus,day scholar etc,…) and the country (you know ….) , … to be swept away by the electronics’ storm. Sirius® and XM® were the new glamorous experiences of desire.You could also access any one of the many options over the vastness of the world wide web.It was early on a summer morning (during one of my visits to India) when we drove down E.M.Bypass with “dhoom macha de” on Radio Mirchi® as the expert fingers of the cab driver tapped on the dead beat car stereo to evade the static.And I realized how the radio has changed from the days when my father used cardboard and rubber band to build his first piece …..to me sleeping with the pocket version glued to my ears during our train journeys to Kolkata ….to what my son will probably never have any liking towards…..
That is the story of a habit, that I grew up with. Today, when I spend endless hours listening to the public radio , I cannot but wonder about how and why this never fizzled out, unlike so many other likes/dislikes.Life now is all about …”on demand”. Unknown is not acceptable.Suspense is a spoil sport and “more the merrier” is hot.But even today,that tune from Vividh Bharati means one of the so many nostaligc picks – the bylanes of Jorasanko, Thamma’s (Bengali for grandma) room, hing kachauri (Indian snack) from Russell Street, soldiers at the Siachen and most of all the innocence of waiting for it to begin (the show) !!
We have been spoilt and no one told us about it !!
This is one of those “never too old ” songs for me …..Dance to the Radio ….by Engelbert ..!!
Image Courtesy: here
LEB- warm recollections of the golden days. can relate so much to it, coz our household ‘boasted’ of both the cardboard and the phillips version.’ cannot but wonder about how and why this never fizzled out, unlike so many other likes/dislikes’- may be coz of the old world charm that it oozes.reading this brought a smile to my face,and set me off on my own lil trip down memory lane.. thanks..
Thanks for your comments Aparna.
Binaca Sangeet Mala and Ameen Sayani was superb…and there used to be old hindi movie song program on AIR that used to come daily at 9:30 PM. My love affair with old hindi songs started with that program which I used to listen in Hostel during school days.I guess everybody (born before 80) has beautiful memories related to radio.
I would still be listening to Vividh Bharathi if I was in India…and I rem our cardboard n phillips players…really I never thought I’ll own an MP4 one day that plays FM…nice write-up
Thanks Rads.
** sorry LEb, using this space for a comment not pertaining to this post.. this is to tag u on ‘around the world in 80 clicks’**