Glimpse into Madras's Radio Past

 

A Forgotten Relic in Mylapore

Tucked away in the serene environs of Mylapore's Nageswara Rao Park, a quaint, vintage building stands as a silent testament to Madras's rich radio history. This unassuming structure once housed the Corporation's radio receiver, a device that captivated the city's residents in the early decades of the 20th century.

In the 1930s, before the advent of television and the widespread proliferation of personal radios, this building served as a community gathering point. As the sun dipped below the horizon, locals would converge on the park, drawn by the allure of All India Radio programs. The soft hum of the radio, amplified through loudspeakers, would fill the air, transporting listeners to distant lands and immersing them in tales, music, and news.

The Madras Corporation's foray into broadcasting began in 1924, initiated by the Madras Presidency Radio Club. A modest 40-watt transmitter with a 5-mile range marked the humble beginnings of this pioneering venture. The club's financial constraints led to its dissolution in 1927, but its legacy lived on. The Corporation acquired the transmitter and launched a regular broadcasting service in 1930.

Daily evening programs, music lessons, stories for children, and Sunday morning gramophone sessions became a cherished part of the city's cultural landscape. To reach a wider audience, the Corporation installed loudspeakers in public parks and schools, allowing even those without personal radios to partake in the radio revolution.

However, the Corporation's broadcasting era was short-lived. In 1938, the inauguration of All India Radio's new medium and shortwave stations in Madras marked the end of the Corporation's broadcasting services.

Today, the building in Nageswara Rao Park stands as a poignant reminder of a bygone era. While it may no longer broadcast the soothing melodies of the past, it continues to evoke nostalgia and intrigue. It is a testament to the enduring power of radio and its ability to connect people across generations.

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Report on the progress of broadcasting in India (up to the 31 March 1939) written by Lionel Fielden, published by Government of India Press, Simla (1940), Rs. 3.00.

Madras Corporation Broadcasting Station. 

The Madras Broadcasting Service was initiated on the 31st July 1924 in the city of Madras by the Madras Presidency Radio Club. The trans mitter was of 40 watts power with a reliable range of about 5 miles. The club carried on its work till October 1927 when it was wound up owing to financial difficulties and the transmitter was presented to the Corporation of Madras. 

The Corporation obtained a licence for broadcasting and a regular service was started on the 1st April 1930. Musical Programmes were broadcast in the evenings from 5-30 to 7-30 P.M. and music lessons and stories were broadcast on school days from 4-00 to 4-30 P.M. In addition to the daily programme in the evenings, gramophone music was broadcast in the mornings from 10 to 11 A.M. on Sundays and public holidays. Euro- pean Music was broadcast on one Monday each month from 5-30 to 7-30 P.M. 

Six radio loud speaking equipments were installed at the Marina, Robinson Park, Spur Tank, Panagal Park, Peoples Park and High Court Beach, and were in operation in the evenings. Fourteen Corporation schools were also equipped with small indoor sets for the benefit of children. The Corporation ceased to broadcast programmes with effect from the 16th  June 1938 on which day new medium and short wave stations in Madras were inaugurated by All India Radio.