Doordarshan is a state owned public broadcaster in India. It started daily transmission in 1965 as part of All India Radio with a five – minute news bulletin and Krishi Darshan in 1967 (Indian television’s longest running programme).
This was started in Bombay and Amritsar in 1972. By 1975, it was extended to seven Indian cities with Doordarshan being the only provider of programmes.
It separated from AIR in 1976 and officially transitioned into a national broadcaster in 1982 with national telecasts being introduced. Colour television was introduced in India on 15th August 1982. The then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi delivered her Independence Day speech which was telecast live on TV. Then, followed a major push for TV into remote corners in India in time for the Asian Games held in Delhi in 1982.
It was during this time that many households acquired the television. Though there was a full day coverage for the Asian games, normally, timings of TV programmes were restricted.
Alongwith the TV, which was a big box like structure, was the TV antenna which was placed on top of the terrace of a house or building.
This became part of the skyline in India at that time. Officially called the Yagi-Uda antenna (Yagi), it was an intricate arrangement of aluminium rods designed to capture Very High Frequency (VHF) terrestrial radio waves broadcast by Doordarshan.
The antenna itself looked like a metallic fishbone mounted horizontally on a vertical mast. the mast was a galvanised iron pipe though sturdy bamboo poles were also used as a substitute.
There were three main parts attached to the central horizontal beam:
- Reflector: long single rod at the back of the antenna. This was used to block out unwanted signals and noise coming from the opposite direction of the transmission tower
- Driven Element(Dipole): This was placed in front of the reflector. This looked like a folded, elongated loop, and was the key for capturing actual television signal. There was a long wire attached to it, to carry the signal down to the TV set.
- Directors:a series of shorter straight rods stretching to the front. These acted as lenses, focusing and funneling the radio waves into the dipole. This helped to increase the signal strength.
Due to the fact that this antenna was direction-based, it had to be pointed perfectly towards the nearest Doordarshan transmission tower. If it was slightly off, the screen inside the house would be filled with static snow or double images.
Two people were required to maintain the antenna – one near the antenna on the rooftop and one observing the TV shouting instructions through the window. The person at the top would rotate the mast slowly while the person in the house would check and specify adjustments – little left, no no – little right or stay right there.
These antennas remained a fixture in Indian homes until the early 1990s. At this time, due to the entry of private players, the aluminium antennas were replaced by a parabolic dish with cables running across buildings.
In 2003, Doordarshan started 24 hour news coverage.
Why look back?
Knowing the history and living through the events of the past 60-70 years helps us in several ways. We relive the joy of getting the first television in the house. Typically, it was a black and white television. Neighbours and friends would crowd around the set to view programmes scheduled for a limited period of time everyday.
We can also recall the Asian Games held in 1982 where a majority would be watching the games on television from morning to night. Also the shift to colour television. Reliving some of the serials including the mythological ones also has a joy attached.
Today, as we comfortably watch television (even on a mobile), it is a great feeling to recall the progression and the present situation. It is a pleasure to look forward to the new things that come up in the future.
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