Radio Cavalcade: Indian Broadcasting …A Look Back

I had the opportunity to work with the author, Vinod Kapoor, at both Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR). His writings always carried clarity of opinion. The book is not a history of broadcasting but gently touches the contours of that chequered march of broadcasting though in an interesting manner. The author has written with flowing interest, subjects like the controversy about language, the way dramas gained prominence, the scene at the AIR during the Mahatma Gandhi assassination and also when the nation attained freedom. There are references to how AIR helped Hindi cinema grow and provide a stream of artists it nurtured. He recapitulates the contributions of some known broadcasters with anecdotal references that shaped the medium. He has strongly expressed his displeasure on denying functional freedom to the professionals, which Prasar Bharati Act had promised. He has not minced expressions in excoriating the non-professionals take charge, which, in reality, brought the downfall of Public Broadcasting. There are points where he could not restrain his anguish but that went with reason and mood. Broadcasting is a very vast subject and one cannot cover every aspect of it. Yet, the author has made a valiant attempt. The author has flair for writing and done some of the chapters with extra zest like his essays titled Zest for Music, Voices That Ring or The Mentors. This reminded me of his research on certain individuals, which showcases the enormity of broadcasting. There is amplified mention of veteran actors Jahanara Kajjan, Achla Sachdev, Om Prakash and film composers, Roshan and Ravi, who represented the entire gamut of artists who scored big later. LD MandloiFormer Director GeneralDoordarshan and AIR