Fleeting Thoughts

By Prof. K.C. Belliappa

It was April 1965. After my SSLC examination, I went to my uncle’s place for my vacation. He was M.M. Devaiah, working as Manager at Gangegiri Estate, part of Sangameswar Group of Estates in Chikamagalur District. It is here that I heard of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for the first time. My uncle had a quaint old HMV Radio set.  He soon put me onto BBC World Service Radio and I gladly subscribed to London Calling, the monthly free programme guide of the Radio Station.

Therein began a nearly quarter century relationship with the Radio Station that contributed greatly to my knowledge of English and brought about a sea change in my personality. My awareness about the world around me increased by leaps and bounds.  

Since I was on a holiday, I had all the time in the world, most of which was spent in walking around the garden enjoying the spectacular view of the mountain ranges. The rest of the time, I was fiddling with the radio, but it was BBC Radio that captured my imagination. What began as a pastime, soon turned into a hobby and later into an addiction! A whole new world opened to my ears and eyes!

Gradually, my English vocabulary, to say the least, turned out to be very impressive. The real bonus was my understanding of Standard English pronunciation. I could sense deep within me how there was a remarkable change in my spoken English. Constant and continuous exposure to BBC brought out this transformation in me. BBC, in effect, turned out to be my English Tutor.

This is only one side of the story of my tryst. I was a GK freak since my boyhood. My father had me hooked on to The Hindu at the very young age of ten. We possessed a cute Philips radio set with a green magic eye. My knowledge of current affairs increased phenomenally. I was an avid listener of World News and World Today. I was terribly thrilled to hear my name on BBC Radio, not once but twice in the late 60s!

First time was when Hugh Tattersal mentioned my name in “Letter Box” when I had pointed out their error in getting the assassination date of Mahatma Gandhi wrong. Second time was when my request for Tom Jones’ song, ‘Love Me Tonight’ was played on “Listener’s Choice.” And, of course, “Brain of Britain” and “Just A Minute” were the other favourite programmes of mine. The result was that I ended up as a Quiz Master and JAM Master for over two decades after the mid-80s in the city of Mysore.

Another interesting fact is that I began my teaching career as a Lecturer in English in JSS College at Chamarajanagar in June 1972 with a princely salary of Rs.446 per month. After working for three months, my first prized possession was a Philips Transistor Radio set. It cost me a whopping 280 rupees. But this was absolutely essential to renew my contact with BBC Radio. It was my constant companion throughout the day and night as well. In the nights, the set rested beside my head next to the wall. Many a night, I have gone to sleep with the radio set on. This habit went on for the next fifteen years or so.

Thanks to a Shastri Fellowship and British Council Visitorship, I spent three weeks in London in March-April, 1989. My most cherished desire of visiting BBC Studios happened and I was filled with innumerable memories and nostalgic moments as I stood inside the building in Strand, London. In the souvenir shop, I bought the book,The Story of English for 10 pounds. I also picked up a brass keychain with the BBC emblem embossed on it for 1 pound.

Incidentally, after 37 long years, I have now linked it to my car key. A BSc, I ended up as an English teacher in the University of Mysore for over three-and-a-half decades. When I look back on my career and the popularity I enjoyed as a teacher, a large part of the credit, I now realise with deep gratitude, should go to BBC Radio.

Prof. K.C. Belliappa, former  Vice-Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh  & former Professor of English, University of Mysore, is the Founder-President of Mysore Literary Association that promotes English studies and hosts Lit festivals.