ON THE EVE OF A LANDMARK - 3 - 781

 ON THE EVE OF A LANDMARK EVENT -3

 Continuation of my previous posts 1 and 2 

THREE QUARTERS OF A CENTURY I BELIEVE IS A LANDMARK FIGURE AND IF ONE WERE TO ASSOCIATE THIS WITH ONE'S AGE WHICH IN MY CASE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER  , IT DOES COME WITH ITS LOT OF PLEASANT MEMORIES AND SURPRISES . 

ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY : RADIO 

Radio : I would be surprised if those born in the 90s or later would even be aware that a household appliance which provided entertainment to millions with this NAME  RADIO ever existed . At best they might come across a carton or box containing the same  gathering dust in the attic of their  homes . The affluent few prefer to flaunt their well-being by displaying these Polished and Shiny Ebonite  Sets in the showcases of their Mansion or Bungalow . 

As a kid , I remember having a Marconi Brand set , which had its make  in Holland at home . It was a 5 Valve set with a Medium wave and Two Short Bands . It was  well past its prime . Even listening to Kolkata Vividh Bharathi at Kharagpur just 72 Miles away depended on the weather conditions . The Aerial was a must and your reception depended on three conditions , Its Length and Height , Corrosion Levels of its Wires and the Weather or Wind condition at the place of its erection . An Ariel was for all practical purposes a clothesline strung at a height and  beyond normal reach .

We bought our TELERAD Set with 7 valves with Medium Wave  and Band Spread on the 25 , 31 and 49 Meter Bands came as a boon as the ever popular Radio Ceylon used to Broadcast their Programmes in these frequencies . All India Radio was only for the 9 O *Clock News at Night . The voice of Surajit Sent and Melville D,Mello still ring in the ears and the Cricket Commentary or the IFA  Football Season in Calcutta .

The interesting part that comes to mind is that in the mid 60s  the cost of these Radios was around Rs 1500 , this was then a figure which was far beyond the reach of most people , One third of the amount was paid as a whole  while buying it and the rest in INSTALLMENTS. This is almost inline with the buying of Cars and Homes these days .

Transistor Radios soon made their way . It had a distinct Hybrid advantage . It could be activated by connecting it to a Power Point or by the use of Batteries . This meant that it could be carried and enjoyed wherever you chose . It came with a Telescopic Antenna and got rid of the need for an Ariel .

By this time Commercial Broadcast which was till then the Exclusive Preserve of Radio Ceylon soon lost its ground and All India Radio Started getting an edge over them . The advent of the FM Frequency set up umpteen sources to listen to .

Tape Recorders , CDs also saw brief spasms of life and disappeared within a couple of decades . 

THE VISUAL MEDIA HAD TAKEN OVER AND WE ARE LIVING WITH IT NOW , MORE ABOUT IT IN MY NEXT *