THIS IS ALL INDIA RADIO!

With orders in hand I left for Pune, reported the Station Director, who asked his office superintendent to take my joining report!

I joined All India Radio, Pune office on the same day. It was 15^th January 1965. With this another new chapter opened in my life folding the previous one!

The Station Director asked me to work in music section. One Mr. Madhusudan Kanetkar, a senior Programme Executive was the in-charge of music section.

One Mr. Nandkumar Karkhanis who said was my assistant, took me around the office. He introduced me to all the office staff members. Then he showed me all the studios. He informed that there were various types of programmes like music, drama, talks, announcers and other smaller ones. According to the type of the programmes and categories, studios were constructed.

When I was being taken in each studio some programmes were being recorded. Some music programmes were being broadcast. A lady who I was told an announcer was giving details of the programme that would go on air. Although I would not understand much about the Radio terminology, but the whole atmosphere attracted me instantly.

All studios were located on the ground floor, which were fully air-conditioned. Office rooms were on the first floor. It was an old building with only one floor i.e. ground plus one. It was very congested and crammed.

All India Radio was surrounded by office building of Maharashtra Board of Secondary Education, Meteorological Department, Pune Bus Stand and Shivajinagar Railway Station. I observed the staff was highly educated, polished, cultured and cooperative.

The entire environment made me feel that this was my field and I would unlikely to be drifted to some other department or job!

Being alone I stayed in a nearby lodging and boarding guesthouse on Ferguson College Road. When I reached to the lodge in the evening I found that this one-day of All India Radio gave me full mental satisfaction and solace!

Within 2-3 days I understood the pattern of staff. There were two wings, Programming Wing and Engineering Wing. As the names indicated their respective jobs were distinct and well defined. Administrative branch was a supportive staff to look after all other office matters.

Then in Programme Wing there were two categories namely Programme Executives, having gazetted status and Producers being on contract basis but more or less permanent.

Engineering Department was headed by Superintending Engineer. Although Programming Department was headed by Station Director, he was also head of the office as well.

Our Station Director was Mr. K. D. Dixit, a connoisseur of music and a writer. There was galaxy of respected names in the Programme Wing. V. D. Madgulkar – a well-known Marathi short story writer, play writer whose books were translated in several foreign languages, Mrs. Jyotsna Deodhar – a novelist, Gajendra Gadkar – a well-known flute player, Pathak and Golwalkar – renowned music composer, Dr. Vimal Chorghade – an authority on folk music, Gopinath Talwalkar – a widely known writer for children literature, Mr. Madhusudan Kanetkar – our music section in-charge and a classical music vocalist, Mr. P. Y. Joshi – known throughout Maharashtra as drama artist. And besides these persons there were number of instrumentalists, drama voices and announcers! Their contribution to AIR, Pune was outstanding. To work in Radio I observed – was considered highly respectable and prestigious in the public. People working in All India Radio were always shrouded in mystery. But wrongly or rightly, again I found – it was totally dominated by so called high caste persons! smell of my caste was already spread in the office!

Except myself practically there was no Scheduled Caste Programme Executive (Officer) in the office. There was one more but he was on adhock basis, meant subject to reversion any time! (Who too was demoted) In those days employee belonging to scheduled caste was considered and privately called “Government’s son-in-law”!

I left Maharashtra in my 9^th standard; worked in military where lingo Franca i.e. language of conversation was Hindi. I passed all military educational examinations with Hindi medium; taught recruits in Hindi. Myself graduated in Hindi and more importantly I read extensively only Hindi literature. Afterwards I prepared for all civil services and other competitive examinations with English language. Then I was totally cut off and delinked from Marathi language, Marathi literature and Marathi environment, and AIR, Pune was basically and essentially Marathi language programme production station!

 Result was for a few days I was confused, bewildered and remained aloof and alone to myself. The greatest barrier I faced and realized was speaking in Marathi language. I thought that the colleagues were neglecting me deliberately, probably because of my caste and faulty Marathi. But fortunately my strong will power, confidence and determination to achieve anything I wished Coupled with the knowledge and experience I had gained by studying various subjects for civil services and other examinations enabled me within a few days to overcome my frustration and a sort of inferiority complex that had started germinating in my mind. Contrary to my presumptions mentioned above all my colleagues really helped me in so far Marathi language was concerned. Like a crazy person I literally read out almost all Marathi writers’ creations ranging from novels, plays, poetry, dramatic features, critical analysis including history of Marathi. I could modestly explain critically on any branch of Marathi literature! So far pronunciations of words was concerned I was immensely helped by my able assistants Mr. Nandkumar Karkhanis and Miss Sunanda Patankar, the later being on casual contracts.

Habit of reading cultivated in me by my elder brother Gunaji continued which afterwards became almost my addiction in MRC, Saugar of which library and recreation room became my second work place. My friend Y. S. Ranshringare who was the library in-charge used to provide me all the books, .

So far time was concerned it was so little I could scarcely avail it!

 At Pune AIR station, my both colleagues provided all books and information that required enriching my knowledge and equipping me with such things, which were necessary to become a Radio Programme Officer!

Now I was faced with problem of self-respect and with full understanding about the people’s assessment of S/C caste employees, that if an S/C employee found to be bad or inefficient, the whole S/C community was branded as bad or inefficient. On the contrary if a high caste employee was found bad or inefficient. only that particular employee was branded bad or inefficient and not the entire high caste community.

So like a hungry man I speedily embarked on learning and gathering every bit of professional knowledge – related to Marathi Programme production!

None, except the Station Director, had any idea about my background; and as such in the eyes of staff members I was being considered as “Government’s son-in-law”, which for them meant a person favoured by the Government because of his caste as S/C without any merit and therefore a person non grata. With the backdrop this incident took place.

Through the competitive examinations I was directly selected as Programme Executive by UPSC, which was a Gazetted post. Because of my direct appointment two Programme Executives who were on Ad hock basis got reverted to the lower posts known as Transmission Executives. One of them belonged to Brahmin community. It did create a heart burning in a particular section. Within a month of my joining, I was allotted a Officer’s quarter III/3 in Government Colony known as Mukundnagar. In fact this quarter was to be allotted to other Programme Executive who belonged to so called high caste, but as he was demoted to lower post, I became senior to him and that quarter which otherwise was to be given to him, I got it! This poured fuel on the already burning feelings. When I received order of allotment, I also received a message from Bombay informing that we were blessed with our first child – a daughter.

 In All India Radio as we come to the office. morning meetings are held daily. These meetings are called Programme meetings, which are attended by all Programme Officers, Technical Staff and the Transmission Executives who functioned as Duty Offices. In the meeting programmes broadcast on previous day and night are thoroughly analyzed; faults noticed by the Programme monitoring Duty

Officer in the programme productions and transmission are discussed in detail. Programme details as provided in Cue Sheet to be broadcast the next day are also read out by the Duty Officer. The Transmission Executive or Duty Officer who monitored the production already broadcast would analyse them and would give his remarks as A, A+, B, B+ and C to each programme according to the overall quality of the production.

 The meeting is presided over and conducted generally by the Senior Programme Executive. Normally the Programme Officers whose programmes are broadcast on previous day and night must invariably attend the meeting to know the remarks given to his production and also hear the assessment and reaction of other Programme Officers, very often listeners would phone to the Duty Officer conveying his her reaction about the programme and listener’s reaction thus received not only are recorded but also taken seriously. The glory of the meeting was that those Programme Officers whose productions were rated as A or A+ the members attending the meeting would demand for a small treat like tea or sweet from the concerned Programme Officer for his good production.

Sometimes the meeting members would ask such entertainments on a few joyful occasions. And concerned programme officer was glad to give it also.

Most likely series of good events taken place one after another in my just one or two month’s service span, prompted members to demand sweets and tea from me. “Sawdekar, tea or sweet would not suffice; you have to host us a lunch or dinner”. As a new comer possessed with good news, keeping in mind the meeting’s normal tradition, I gladly agreed to offer tea and sweets. But hearing some sarcastic tone and remarks from some staff members in the meeting, I felt it insulting and offending. Keeping an eye on that person I asked, ‘”Can you tell me why should I host a dinner to you?” (I emphasized my tone on “you”).

One of them commented if food were served to the Brahmins the host would go to heaven. Probably it might have sounded in a lighter vein.But prevailing attitude of the high castes towards S/C employees and my childhood background, I being the S/C category officer I took the explanation hurting and instantly I retorted that if dinner was served to the Brahmins, I would go to hell and certainly I would not let it happen to me!

 My remarks provoked a bitter exchange of words between me and the other members in the meeting. It made me excited and forced me to say that it was the Brahmin community who denied us the education, kept us illiterate, imposed poverty on us and forced us to do dirty jobs making us their social slaves; and therefore Brahmins were solely responsible for our today’s deplorable conditions!

The atmosphere in the meeting heated up so much that the presiding officer angrily threw the files on the floor and walked out of the hall. Pin drop silence cast in the hall and all other members got up one by one and left the meeting! As if woken up from a dream I noticed empty hall and files scattered on the ground. I too went up in my room. Needless to say except myself, all members in the meeting were Brahmins!

 I knew that news must have reached to the Station Director, Mr. K. D. Dixit, himself a Pune Brahmin. I was eagerly and restlessly waiting for a call from his chamber. But the day passed off. Next day also nothing happened in the morning meeting but I could feel tense atmosphere as nobody spoke to me about anything. Every member behaved as if nothing abnormal took place but sending mute anti reservation feelings.

I thought a warning memo must be under process seeking my explanation.

 Gradually high tide of my anxiety receded. After three days it suddenly rose when Mr. Gaikwad, the Station Director’s peon stepped in my room saying that Station Director wanted me to see him! The warning bell rang. Programme Officers’ rooms were adjoining to each other in a row with only one small passage to go. MR. Gaikwad’s approaching to my room created apprehensive reactions visible on the faces of other officers who too were anxiously expecting for some strong action against me. “Station Director is our man and he would not leave Sawdekar without any punishment”, sometimes I heard murmuring.

Anyway, I had already entered in Brahmin tiger’s den and stood before the Station Director looking at him who was signing some papers. Mr. Dixit raised his head from the files and holding one paper in hand calmly said, “I came to know in detail about other day’s morning programme meeting. You may be right, but could have avoided it. Situations like this one will occur in your life, but do not loose your temper'. Then he stretched his hand indicating to take the paper from his hand and then said, “Now you may go”. I was stunned! For a moment I forgot that I was asked to go! No harsh words; no verbal warning! Automatically I took the paper and moved off his room! Mr. Dixit burried his head in the files. I slammed in my chair and did not open the pager for some time. When cooled down I thought the paper must be a memo! When I opened it I found it was the complaint about me! Mr. Dixit had put remark on it “Seen – File it”. – No action!

With the passage of time, I found Mr. Dixit a well-read, well-mannered, good writer and connoisseur of fine arts especially of music. Surprisingly my colleagues also forgot the incident and behaved with me as if nothing unpleasant had happened!

With committed determination I got acquainted with and tried to achieve as much knowledge about Marathi language and felt really satisfied that I had attained required status for Pune Radio Programming in particular and Radio in general. I received immense help from my colleagues like Karkhanis, Sunanda and my close friends and Senior Producer Mr. P. Y. Joshi,  

In February 1965, I shifted in III/3 CDWD quarter allotted to me. Nirmala too joined me with our daughter. Immediately in March – April I called Ramesh – my elder brother – Gunaji’s son and Shrirang – son of my sister, Bhagirathi whom we had promised to look after her sons at the time of her death. We could not save her infant in our old days due to our poverty. I admitted Ramesh and Srirang in the school and now I felt reasonably settled.

Within a short period I identified myself with Radio. I found and discovered my life and destination there. There existed every facet of life. Eminent persons came for recording their thoughts on various subjects. Talk studio was always occupied by such personalities. I heard freedom fighters like D. N. Shikhare, Rao Saheb Patwardhan, T. R. Deogirikar, N. G. Gore, S. M. Joshi, Acharya S. G. Bhagwat, men of literature like Shrinivas Joshi, P. L. Deshpande, G. N. Dandekar. I had witnessed the recording of Tabla maestro like Samata Prasad, Ahmed Jan Thirkwa, folk lawani of famous Sulochana Chavan. Poet Laurate of famous Geet Ramayan G. D. Madgudkar, vocalists Jagannath Buwa Patwardhan, Sarswati Rane, musician Ram Kadam, Golwalkar, Marathi Drama songs by Jyotsna Bhole, master Krishna Rao, many balad singers, Pirajirao Sarnaik and number of prominent artists. To listen to recording of sonnets, devotional songs and light music was like getting in trance.

I always put on my radio set in the morning and listened serene signature tune of All India Radio followed by National Anthem and then Shahnai recital by maestro Bismilla Khan! And then devotional music, which prepared listener’s mind for day’s work with dedicated devotion and sublimity!

Scheduling of Raga was a very ticklish and responsible job. Only classical musician was right person to place it in the programme schedule for broadcasting. If by mistake a morning Raga went on the air in the evening or night or vice versa, it attracted hell of criticism in the morning programme meeting from the Programme Officers, besides to provide explanation to extract from the Transmission Report about broadcast of a wrong 'Raga!' Even a minor blank between broadcasting of two programmes was taken seriously. Therefore the concerned announcer always kept standby tapes containing musical pieces with him or her in the announcer’s booth!

Schedule of each programme like talks, drama, music, rural, agricultural, women, children, youth etc. were prepared on quarterly basis and after thorough scrutiny and approval by the Station Director, copies for information were forwarded to the AIR Directorate at Delhi. Schedule must contain all details such as names of participants, artists, fees, duration, time of broadcasting etc. Deviation from the schedule, without intimation and Station Director’s approval was not permitted. Payment to the artists was to be made promptly after broadcast in the Duty Room itself. In short, whole working and process was smooth, straight and transparent! Therefore besides professional satisfaction and emotional fulfilment, we in Radio enjoyed peaceful and clean life and respect from public at large.

The Station Director assigned me “programme for Youth” which was introduced on Radio by Mr. I. K. Gujral, the then Information and Broadcasting Minister. I entitled it in Marathi as “Asha Udyachya” meant “Hopes of Tomorrow”. The new programme received tremendous response from the youth community in general and the students’ community in particular. “My Ideas”, “If I were a Prime Minister”, “Why I liked this song” – programmes like these attracted immense response and my room became a place for new ideas and was always crowded with young boys and girls.

In order to reach the newly found talents I arranged a grand live audience programme in a newly constructed auditorium  “Bal Gandharva Ranga Mandir”named after the legendary famous woman’s role player and pioneer of  Marathi  musical drama songs singer “Bal Gandharva”.

First programme was on "reciprocal understandings and misunderstandings of boys about girls and vice versa." The second programme was on "generation gap" – old and new. And third programme was a “Light Music”! I selected – needless to say with the help of my two able assistants – Karkhanis and Sunanda, all the participants. for programmes.

In 'Generation Gap' debate   participants were eminent personalities like Mr. A.G. Pawar, Vice Chancellor of Kolhapur University, Acharya S. G. Bhagwat – well known freedom fighter and scholar, Mrs. Shakuntala Paranjape – the top most leading advocate of “Birth Control” – unheard, unacceptable concept of those days who was also the daughter of reputed Wrangler Paranjape and Maha Moh Padhyay Datto Waman Poddar – a well known historian and known for his scholarship but also eccentric and ascetic living.I selected youth who were found talented against these stalwarts.

He was living alone as a bachelor in a big old house. I went to request him to participate in the debate. Right from the main road just up to the very door of his big house arrow marking was painted indicating “M. M. D. W. Poddar” here. He was busy writing something on the wooden plank. All rooms were packed with books. I saluted and explained him the programme.  

He gladly accepted my request. It was a known fact that he did not entertain visitors and least the government officials. But I won him and felt extremely glad. While rising from the floor, I just – out of curiosity – touched a book and suddenly heard a roaring voice from behind. It was Mr. Poddar. “Why the hell you touched my book? How could you dare to disturb my book? Did you ask my permission? Now just get lost. I do not want to see your face a second. I say get out at once”. My pleading, apology all fell on his deaf ears! Frightened I left with my colleague! Terribly upset, knowing not what to do? Problem was not to get a participant but to get a participant of equal stature, status and learning as compared with the other participants!

Next day after meeting I went to my room where I saw a person waiting for me. My assistants were mischievously smiling. “Sir, he has come from Podar Saheb”, Sunanda informed! “Now what is the matter?” I murmured. The man said, “I have come from Poddar sir. He has asked me to convey his consent to participate in the programme and told you to see him today any time convenient to you as he wanted to know more in detail!” and he left! I was relieved! And now I understood the reason of Sunanda’s mischievous smile!

While preparing young participants for debate against the stalwarts, my experience of debate competitions of military helped me immensely. I had to presume what the senior and learned veterans would argue and accordingly I had to make young participants to counter argue effectively.

 The Bal Gandharv Rang Mandir was over flooded with audience. First time probably in AIR Pune, I invited parents of all young participants and also got the list of persons from participants they wished to invite. My intention was to cater all strata of the invitees. I thought the subject of the debate being age old would stir minds of younger and old generation like the other issues between opposite genders would cater their assumptions, presumptions about each other and the light music would entertain the majority!

And I succeeded beyond expectation. Intermittent roaring applause from audience convinced me that it went very well.

Surprisingly there were some young student followers of RSS who once wanted to beat me for my critical comments about Hindu religion, the same students paid me and my wife – Nirmala – respect by touching our feet in the presence of other invitees .saying that they mistook in understanding me|

The programme was inaugurated by Mr. B. B. Bhosale, then Station Director, Pune AIR. He believed in astrology. While delivering the inaugural speech in a lighter vein he made some references to Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. It was so casual and certainly not amounting to belittling in any way.

 After 10–15 days, Station Director received a big complaint from I&B Ministry made by a local Muslim Association saying that Mr. Bhosle made caricature of our beloved world over known Prime Minister in his opening talk! Mr. Bhosle quite perturbed showed me the complaint. It being my programme I asked the Station Director whether he would like me to prepare a reply. Mr. Bhosle always kept me at a distance, as I openly doubted his astrology, although otherwise he was nice to me.

Coincidently I had a book entitled something like this “Islam in transition in India”. As my hobby I had several books on various subjects in my store! This book contained several passages after passages citing examples as to how certain group of Muslims had criticized Nehru. As my purpose was only to defend Mr. Bhosle from such silly and biased complaint I based my detail reply on the material. Mr. Bhosle half-heartedly satisfied sent it to Ministry. Gladly enough months after months passed and there was no rejoinder from the Ministry. Mr. Bhosle seemed relieved and I felt happy that an innocent man’s innocent comments were viewed judiciously.

My another programme “Learning Hindi” in lighter vein of which lessons were prepared by well known Hindi writers and whose writing was aptly contributed by me to some extent – myself being a Hindi language knowing person – had become extremely popular! These lessons were broadcast in dialogues and humorously! Mr. Hari Narayan Vyas .a reputed Hindi poet and my AIR colleague produced the programme.

  

I must mention that it was my colleague Mr. W. R. Saraf and I. who first time introduced live commentary for “Kho-Kho” and “Kabbadi” – the popular Indian sports. Our first commentator was Mr. S. G. Nadkarni – Professor of Wadiya College, Pune. It instantly caught the minds of sports lovers and public! Earlier till then commentary was inserted in studio while editing and dubbing.

 So far office work was concerned, I was satisfied in the sense that fear as to how I would be able to cope up with Marathi programme productions and whether I would be able to acquire required knowledge about Marathi literature and Marathi environment in its totality – these complexes were over in short period but my inborn tendency to do something for the society was not allowing me to sit idle! It was making me mentally restless. So simultaneously I was on look out to find out avenues and like-minded people from our communities so that I could start some social activities to get involved in.