Do the words Jaimala, Chaayageet, Fauji Bhaiyon Kay Liyay, Aap ki Farmaish ring a bell? Where have we heard these names? More clues: Forces Request, A Date With You, and Yesterday Once More?
These are the popular musical programs aired for more than 2 decades on All India Radio.
Mera pyaar bhi tu hai yeah bahar bhi tu hai tu he nazron may jaanay tamanna nazaaron may is the first song I heard on my newly acquired PHILIPS 3 Band Portable Radio. I bought it last weekend from eZone where I had gone to buy a printer. Not finding the model I was looking for, I checked out the different audio/video products on display, and found this.
Flash Back: Pappu was our helper who used to clean the utensils and do sundry work for everyone back home. His three interests: tuning in to AIR and listen to any damn song that played at any hour of the day, and in full volume. Observing girls anywhere he could see one, and driving his two legged auto!
Music: he had a PHILIPS radio which he carried with himself everywhere he went. He used to carry it like a baby is carried on the left arm, the radio closer to his heart. He never needed a bell to announce his arrival; we also didn’t have one at home. Lata, Asha, Kishore, Alka and the likes were enough for us to know he was around. He would keep the radio next to him when he used to clean the utensils or sweep the house. Midway his chores, he would attend to any disturbance in the radio, change frequencies, hear Haryanvi songs and curse the AIR attendant who aired those songs. He also used to sing along, and I think his favorite song was ‘O saathi ray, tere bina kiya jeena.’
I am sure he spent more money on buying batteries and paan.
Girls: he was young, not smart, but dressed well as per his standards, and poured a good helping of whichever oil on his head. He would ogle at girls, raise the volume of his radio set, or sing depending on his gut feel of which of these options would get the girl’s attention. They laughed and his objective was achieved. No one dropped him a line I am sure. Everyone knew he had a loose screw. He once told my aunt that while he was watching a girl near the ramlila maidan during dushera mela, hanuman came and hit him with a gadgada [mace]!
The two-legged auto: his brother or someone in the family had an auto and though he must had tried learning it, no one would have given him an opportunity to come anywhere near an auto. He created his own auto!
He used to run around the streets with the radio in his left hand and the right hand stretched forward, imitating as if he was holding the handle of an auto. He used to maneuver his right hand, wrist downwards, as if changing gears and increasing or decreasing the speed. For him, the gears and the accelerator were on the right hand side. He would stop at crossings, observe the traffic and accordingly proceed further. He added sound effects while driving – huuu, darrr darrr, and lup lup for left or right indicators. I don’t remember if he used to honk – I don’t think so, his blaring radio was enough.
He is old now, and I am not sure if he still carries the radio, or is still looking for a girl, and if he still drives his two legged auto.
