Broadcasting in India

Abstract

IN Electrotechnics, the journal of the Electrical Engineering Society of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, of April, we learn that the Government of India is making progress with the construction of broadcasting stations. In December 1937, the 5-kw. medium-wave transmitter at Lahore and the 10-kw. short-wave station at Delhi commenced operation. The short-wave station at Bombay-also of 10 kw.-started to radiate early in February, and Lucknow early in April. The 0-25-kw. medium-wave and the 10-kw. short-wave transmitters at Madras were put into regular service from the middle of June. The Trichinopoly 5-kw. medium-wave station is expected to commence operation at an early date. Several Provincial Governments have already distributed a small number of receivers for group listening in villages. The broadcasting authorities of the Central Government have under way a programme for installing 120 receivers in as many villages in the Delhi Province. At the present moment, the broadcasting service touches but a fringe of the population and the programmes are of limited appeal. The element of novelty and wonder is still the dominating factor in reception amongst all classes of listeners. Listening for pure entertainment and enjoyment, oblivious to the mechanism, is as yet virtually non-existent in India. Until the present uncritical listening gives place to the habit of turning to radio for enjoyment, such questions as the acoustical requirements of studios and the special requirements demanded by Indian music and its technique can receive no adequate and satisfactory answer. In this journal, Mr. K. Sreenivasan's thoughtful address on the design of studios for broadcasting is published.