“samprati vArtaha SRUyantAm
pravAcakAha baladEvAnamda sagaraha/vijayaSrI”
These were the words I woke up to
every morning for several years. (In fact, my biological alarm is even now set
at 7.00 a.m.)
My Dad used to switch on the radio
at around 5.30 every morning (he does it even now). He loves to start his day listening to
Nadaswaram (shehnai) followed by devotional music and then news broadcast from
All India Radio, Delhi at 7.00 a.m.
As a child, I would laze around on
the bed till the Sanskrit News followed by Telugu News got over and then start
my day. I loved Sanskrit sounds very
much and was very curious to learn the language. Every
time I heard Vijayashree reading the news, I substituted my name with the same
modulation and fantasized being a newsreader.
I told myself, “even if I don’t become a Sanskrit newsreader when I grow
up, I should at least become a Telugu newsreader”.
Years passed and I had forgotten
about my childhood dream. When I
graduated and got through a Staff Selection exam and got an offer from a
Central Government Ministry, which I eventually could not take up, I suddenly
remembered about my childhood dream and felt bad that, I would not be able to
take up News reading at Delhi. It was a
fleeting thought and I had not made any efforts to take up a similar assignment
elsewhere as well.
My Dad, a staunch fatalist,
believes that everything in this world is pre-determined and whatever one
deserves, one gets. I being a
rationalist, never agree to this. But,
for a change, an opportunity knocked at my door.
In 2002 August, when I switched on the
radio to listen to a guest lecture delivered by my brother being broadcast, I
happened to listen to the announcement made by All India Radio, (AIR) Chennai,
calling for applications from aspiring part time Telugu announcers. As my attributes matched with their selection
criteria, I decided to give it a try and after seeking permission from my
employer, sent an application. My brother knew the programme executives at AIR
well, but as a matter of principle, we decided not to take any shortcuts. I was shortlisted for an aptitude test, which
was followed by a written exam, an audition and a personal interview. I got through every stage successfully and I
was given an invitation for a technical training. I got through the technical training too and
I joined the panel of freelance announcers (casual announcers in AIR parlance)
of All India Radio, Chennai.
Today, 16th June 2013,
happens to be the 75th anniversary of All India Radio, Chennai. I had the privilege of anchoring today’s
programme and I am on cloud nine.
When the whole world relaxes on a
Sunday, I wake up early with great enthusiasm and reach the radio station to
anchor a variety programme for children in which I had participated as a
child.
My programme is always preceded by
Hindi News Bulletin broadcast from Delhi and thinking of my childhood fantasy,
I start my programme with a smile. It is
probably the only fantasy that has come true.
Today’s programme happens to be my
301st programme.
Most of the programmes are live and I am sharing the links of my rare recorded programmes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0ihl2GABJk&feature=youtu.be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHLgv-ux9RM&feature=youtu.be
The journey has been so wonderful. Apart from writing, anchoring and
broadcasting, I have also learnt recording and editing.
I should thank my colleagues at AIR
for letting me do the programmes only on weekends and being supportive. My employers, past and present for permitting
me to take up these assignments. My
family, particularly my parents, who are so supportive. They not only help me get ready to reach on
time, but also help me with the contents.
They are my best critics too.
They listen to every programme carefully and discuss minute details like
a long pause or a wrong pause. The listeners and last but not least, my friends
and friends I made at AIR, who make my feel so special. A special thanks to my
friend Mr.P.R.Govind for uploading my recordings on youtube.
