Radio Friends of Assam

Radio Friends of Assam
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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Radio World's Tribute to Bhupen Da..

As he did during his entire life, after his death also musical mayestro from Assam Bhupen Hazarika still creating bridge between different cultures and communities by his immortal creations and golden voice. Bhupen Hazarika, the son of Assam and creator of many 'people's Song" has left us on 5th November but still people remembering him and his great works in different ways. And radio world, the medium with which Bhupen Hazarika started his musical journey, is also  not legging behind in paying tribute to the maestro in its own style on the waves. 




On 27th November 2011, the Bengali service of NHK World Radio Japan and its listeners from around the world paid their tribute to the legendary Indian singer and musical maestro Bhupen da by playing his immortal creation in Assamese "Manuhe Manuhor Babe" followed by playing the Bengali version of this song "Manush Manusher Jonnye". It is the first occation when this fifty years old and historic radio service transmitted far away from Tokyo, Japan has played an Assamese song in their program. Interestingly one of the host of that program, Mrs. Ajanta Gupta, is originated from Duliajan, Assam and she remembered her memories of Bhupen Hazarika with great respect. The Bengali version of the song was requested by one listener in Bangladesh who equally loves Bhupen as we. This symbolizes how great was Bhupen da and how deep his reach among the world community.  Here is a recorded file of that special program broadcast by NHK World Radio Japan from Tokyo this evening. (As the reception quality on Shortwave bands are not so satisfactory these days, so you may find the voice quality poor)



On the same day the All India Radio's General Overseas Service, which produce and broadcast programs for foreign listeners, broadcast a 25 munites long program on our beloved Bhupen Hazarika, India's cultural ambassador to abroad. The program was titled "The Bard of the Brahmaputra - Bhupen Hazarika" was scripted by Rezley Sabu and presented by Dominic Thomas. This program include a brief biography of Bhupen da and his works accompanied with immortal creations of the Bard. So it will be a great opportunity for all who want to know more about Dr. Bhupen Hazarika who always sung the song of the people and for the people by his golden and immortal voice.


I have recorded the entire program from Short Wave radio and as a DXer want to pay my heartfelt tribute to the musical maestro by circulating this program among friends who I believe also have immense love for Bhupen da in their heart too.



If you want to read more about this great soul of Assam then please visit the following website dedicated to the maestro.




Bhupen Da you'll remain in our hearts and in the hearts of millions in the time immemorial. You may not be alive in body but you voice will keep infusing spirit in all those million souls who find culture more important than life. As we mourn the passing of the Bard of the Brahmaputra, in your songs.. we'll keep you alive.

Prithwiraj

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Country QSLd Till November 2011

List of international radio stations I have successfully contacted and got reply from (QSLd). Some of them have regular correspondence with me! This art of listening to international radio stations and establishing relations with them is known as DXing.

Station Name Country Origin
Voice of Mongolia Mongolia
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Iran
WYFR (Family Radio) USA
Deutsche Welle Germany
Radio Netherlands Worldwide Netherlands
Radio Pakistan (PBC) Pakistan
Radio Santec Germany
Advebtist World Radio (AWR) Guam
Radio Canada International Canada
Radio Prague Czech Republic
NHK Radio Japan Japan
China Radio International (CRI) China
Radio Free Asia (RFA) USA
Radio Taiwan International (RTI) ROC Taiwan
Voice of Turkey Turkey
Radio Romania International Romania
HCJB Global Radio Australia
Polskie Radio Poland
KBS World Radio South Korea
Voice of Korea North Korea
Voice of Malaysia Malaysia
FEBC Phillippines
All India Radio India
Bangladesh Betar Bangladesh
Voice of Russia Russia
American Forces Network USA
Radio Cairo Egype
Voice of America USA
Voice of Vietnam Vietnam
Radio Damascus Syria
Radio Tirana International Albania
Radio Austria International Austria
Radio Thailand Thailand
Vatican Radio Vatican City
Radio Veritas Asia Phillippines
RDP International Portugal
PAB American Broadcasting (MB) Germany
Radio Bulgaria Bulgaria
RTE International Ireland
FRS-Holland Holland
ABC Radio Australia Australia
Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) New Zealand
Voice of Nigeria Nigeria
Bible Voice Broadcasting Co. Canada
Voice of Greece Greece
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Sri Lanka
Phillipinas DX (via AWR) Phillippines
Japan Shortwave Club (JSWC) via AWR Japan

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

DXing at Karimganj

Few days back I visited our ancestral house at the Sadarashi village in Karimganj District of Assam. Karimganj District is located in the Southern tip of Assam - a state in the North-eastern corner of India. Together with two other neighbouring districts - Cachar and Hailakandi - it constitutes the Barak Valley zone in Southern Assam. The geographical location of Karimganj district is between longitudes 92°15' and 92°35' east and latitudes 24°15' and 25°55' North. Located strategically, the district shares 92 Kms. of International Border with the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. 41 Kms of this is demarcated by the river Kushiara while 51 Kms is land border.




DXing is my love and life to and how could I miss the opportunity to hear radio with out much electricity noise disturbance in that slow village set-up, which is extreme in our city areas. So I took that great opportunity and did some experiments with with my Degen 1103 digital receiver accompanied with the Kestral W31MS loop antenna. Some station logs are mentioned in the later part of this article. But the great experience I had during that visit to our native village was that my cousin brothers got attracted to this hobby of DXing and they were curious about that digital type of receiver which they never seen before. One of my cousin even requested me to help him get a such receiver soon. I also tried to tell them about Shortwave radio listening and how we DXers all over the world doing things these days.







But the most memorable moment came to me during that trip on 30th October when I was listening to my first DX report on AWR Wavescan sitting along with my in-laws at their home at Karimganj town. My father-in-law was so much impressed and happy with my success that he immediately offered his old Philips receiver to me which I at last denied to bring with me as I believe that he loves that receives from his heart. But I said that one day I shall definitely bring it to my radio museum (!). By the way my father-in-law, who is also a good radio lover, later arranged a vintage Philips receiver from his neighbour which I did brought back to Jorhat.

My Father-in-law's receivers...


The vintage receivers collected and gifted to me by my fater-in-law..




Here are some station I logged during my stay at Karimganj.

On 26th October (Location: Karimganj Town)

Radio Romania International in English from 0345 UTC on 15340 kHz with SINPO 34333
Video Link : http://youtu.be/uC2ff312gBQ


Radio Deutsche Welle in English from 0350 UTC on 12005 kHz with SINPO 45344

On 28th October (Location: Karimganj Town)

Voice of Korea in English from 0220 UTC on 15100 kHz with SINPO 45333
Video Link: http://youtu.be/N6YyO2Z8ofM

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation broadcasting in Hindi from 0225 UTC on 11905 kHz

Video Link: http://youtu.be/88szFFxy11Y

Radio Thailand in English signing off at 0229 UTC on 15275 kHz with SINPO 32333
Video: http://youtu.be/zlNneNaW_Io

Radio Phillipinas in English from 0231 UTC on 17700 kHz with SINPO 45444

IRIB in Hindi from 0237 UTC on 13750 kHz with SINPO 45444
Video: http://youtu.be/tqwYmY7Xbq8

On 28th October (Location: Sadarashi Village, Karimganj)

Vatican Radio in English from 0305 UTC on 15460 kHz with excillent SINPO 55444
Video Link: http://youtu.be/6LP7U82d9NA

Radio Taiwan International in English from 0310 UTC on 15320 kHz with SINPO 33333
Video Link: http://youtu.be/owiOVYhgoJ0

Adventist World Radio in Bengali from 1240 UTC on 17535 kHz with SINPO 34333
Radio Cairo in English from 1255 UTC on 17870 kHz with SINPO 22222
Bangladesh Betar in Bengali from 1300 UTC on 4750 kHz with SINPO 55455
NHK Radio Japan in Bengali from 1314 UTC on 11685 kHz with SINPO 45344
IRIB Bengali from 1525 UTC on 12085 kHz with SINPO 45334
Sudan Radio Service in unid language on 17745 kHz from 1527 kHz with SINPO 25222
Radio Canada International from 1530 UTC on 11675 kHz with SINPO 55444

On 29th October (Location: Sadarashi Village, Karimganj)

CVC India from 0120 UTC on 9975 kHz with SINPO 45444
VOA in Urdu from 0125 UTC on 11975 kHz with SINPO 55545
NHK Radio Japan in Hindi from 0150 UTC on 11740 kHz with SINPO 45444
BBC Oman relay from 0200 UTC on 15310 kHz with SINPO 55555

You can listen to some of the recorded files of some stations during this DXing by clicking on the link below:

http://www.box.net/shared/mjioyib3md5yhd5fg2d0


During my stay in that district which is attached with the Bangladesh border I tried the MW frequencies of Bangladesh Betar and found that on 963 kHz Syleth, 693 kHz (Dhaka A) and 630 kHz (Dhaka B) kHz the Bangladesh Betar was crystal clear. And on FM bands I heard two Bangladeshi private stations very claerly audible in Karimganj and they are FM 89.6 Radio Today and FM 88.0 Radio Foorti. The Bengali majority town of Karimganj is really blessed with these two Bangladeshi FM stations and they already made them a part of their daily life.