[cr-india] In awe of the radio

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

In awe of the radio 

There have been days when he kept listening throughout
the night and forgot to sleep, says Srikanth  

Visually challenged Srikant, who has made radio a
constant companion, tells Meera Srinivasan about
several proud moments he experienced while
participating in shows featuring an array of global
personalities such as Hilary Clinton, Benazir Butto
and Mark Knopfler. 

But for the radio, I wouldn't be speaking in English,"
says K. Srikanth. 

Srikanth, who works for the Food Corporation of India
as telephone operator, has grown up listening to BBC,
Voice of America and National Public Radio. 

He stopped going to school after his seventh grade.
"After my eye surgery, I was advised rest for two
months. That was when I started fiddling with my
father's Murphy radio," says Srikanth. 

Voice of America was covering the fall of Skylab, a US
space station, extensively. Being an astronomy buff,
Srikanth was totally fascinated by this coverage. He
slowly started listening to other stations and
eventually found himself in total awe of the medium.
"I would get so excited when I heard BBC's signature
tune (Lilli Bolero)," he says, with the excitement of
a 10-year-old speaking about his favourite toy. 

Srikanth who wasn't well versed in English then,
started listening to BBC's broadcast in Tamil. This
way, he could find out what most of the English words
meant. "When I got comfortable with English, the haze
began to disappear slowly. I was fascinated by Robert
Robinson's language, he casts a magical spell you
know," says Srikanth, who gradually moved on to
magazine shows, sports shows and shows on music. 

`Off The Shelf' is one of the shows he enjoyed the
most. In 15-minute reading sessions everyday, a book
would be completed in 20 shows. "I was really moved
when I read Mandela's `Long Walk To Freedom' on this
show," he says. He recalls with pride his
participation in several radio shows, when he got to
speak to people like Hilary Clinton, Benazir Butto and
Mark Knopfler over the phone. 

Srikanth speaks of his favourite presenters Pete Myers
or Robert Greene with great affection and admiration.
"I believe whatever Pete says. Such is the conviction
I have in him; such is the conviction he has in
himself, rather," he says. "Oh Pete Myers knows how to
make you laugh and cry," he adds. He also enjoys
Tenkachi Swaminathan's talks and Ajay's (Radio Mirchi)
`Madras Tamil'. 

"The greatest joy for me is to listen to a story,
however long," says Srikanth, who says, that there
were days when he kept listening throughout the night
and forgot to sleep. 

Though Srikanth initially looked at the radio as a
medium that would educate him and equip him, now, it's
his tool to achieve his goal. "I have a vision," he
says. And this vision is to create a hunger-free
world. "My idea of a super power is a blissful world,"
he notes, adding "we should be ashamed of having two
square meals a day when thousands are dying of
starvation everyday." 

"I want to become famous. This world takes you
seriously only if you are someone famous," he says.
"Yes, the radio has made me a combination of a
romantic and a cynical person," he smiles.

[Earlier posted on the DX-India list.-FN]
-- 

 _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
 _/
 _/ Frederick Noronha | Independent Journalist | Ph 832.2409490
 _/ 784 Saligao 403511 Goa India | fred at bytesforall.org
 _/
 _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

EDUCATION INDIA: Relevant discussions from the world of education
http://puggy.symonds.net/pipermail/education-india/ (See archives)