For half a century, a radio show has been teaching Indians about the intricacies of classical music

There was a time when All India Radio timed your weekday routines to the minute – into the bathroom by Vicco Vajradanti ad, out by Devaki Nandan Pandey’s gravelly-voiced 8 am news; the Munim Dhaage sada aage gave you 5 minutes to the chartered bus, the Hawa Mahal skit usually meant dinner and Chhayageet sang you to sleep.

Vividh Bharati’s Sangeet Sarita was one such radio ritual. It dropped every morning of the week, into the 7.30 am-7.45 am slot, ushered in by broadcaster Kabban Mirza’s baritone announcing “S-a-n-g-e-e-t S-a-r-i-t-a-h!” and a sparkling downpour of Raga Gaud Malhar’s notes excerpted from the song Garjat Barsat Sawan (Barsat ki Raat). The imaginatively programmed and hugely successful 15-minute capsule on Hindustani classical music, which has been now running for nearly half a century, initiated listeners into the delights of ragdari with a light touch – easy banter with artistes, clean commentary and accessible filmi parallels, all encouraging you to take a deeper dive into this treasure trove.

Between the school-bus dash and dabba pangs, you heard Shiv Kumar Sharma draw fascinating links between the classical santoor, its Central Asian counterparts, its place in Kashmir’s Sufi music and how beautifully it framed raga Pahadi in Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sawaro (Aakhri Khat). You found…

Read more