Living in The Presence

All India Radio (Pondicherry)

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    AIR Pondicherry was originally situated next to the old lighthouse where the present Promenade hotel stands. It was enclosed within a white iron railing and had AIR, Pondicherry written on top of the entrance. There was a reception area at the entrance and then the recording section. Over the first door of entry was inscribed the Mother's message. Each time I would go to AIR, my eyes inevitably fell on the Mother's words. I don't know if this message has been preserved at the new premises of the radio station in Indiranagar near JIPMER.

    AIR wished for two kinds of programmes from the Ashram: first, talks on a variety of topics. They would send a letter to the school in this regard. Whenever a student was ready to take up the request, the Registrar would designate him. If the talk was on the Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's life and on their yoga and sadhana, AIR would contact the concerned sadhak directly: Nolinikanto Gupta, Madhav Pandit, Arabinda Basu, Nirodbaran, Manoj Das, Kireet Joshi among others. The second kind of programme they requested from us was music-based. For this their letter came to me, stating in detail the theme, the date and time of the broadcast, the duration of the programme, the date and time of recording and the honorarium offered for this work. I would always take the Mother's permission before starting the recording and worked either with students or with Ashram artistes. Let me give you an example of one such programme:

    Theme: Rabindra-sangeet; Voices: Manoj Dasgupta, Arup Tagore, Malay Bhattacharya, Smriti Ghosh, Sujata Mahatma, Shobha Mitra. Accompaniment: Romen Palit - sitar, Debi- prasad - sarod, Tublu - flute, Ramesh Rawal - tabla. Date and time of broadcast - 8.5.1970 at 8.00 pm. Honorarium - 40 rupees.

    While the Mother was in Her body, all the money we re-

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    After the Mother left Her body, I did only a few more programmes for AIR. Sometime in the 1980's the AIR shifted to its newly constructed premises in Indiranagar, near JIPMER. Probably in the later part of I970s I received a letter from them. They wanted to nominate me on their 3-member audition board. I replied to them that as I had no knowledge of Carnatic music, it would be improper for me to be on the board. In spite of this, they kept insisting on nominating me. In the end, fully respectful of the Mother's wishes, I accepted their request and remained on their audition board for a few years.

    For the centenary celebrations of Sri Aurobindo in 1972, on Anjani Dayanand's request, a long-playing record titled "Loving Homage" was brought out by Sri Aurobindo Society_containing two of my compositions: Sri Aurobindo's Durga-stotra and Invocation to Mother India. We were faced with a problem after we were ready with these two compositions: where were we to record them? There was no recording studio then either in the Ashram or in the town. The only solution was to go to Madras for the recording. But then, how would it be possible to take such a large number of participants? The Mother was informed but She did not respond. In the meantime the month of August was approaching. There was a lot of work still pending. I had got to know the chief technician of AIR and his wife very well, as well as the entire team of workers in the recording section. And my house being very close to the AIR station, I would meet them quite often and occasionally they too dropped in at the Red House. One evening, the chief technician and his wife came home to meet me (I just cannot recollect their names now!). We had a very fine rapport but their coming that evening was totally unexpected. We were chatting all together in the verandah when I mentioned our problem of recording for the LP record. I also told them that there being no studio in Pondicherry, it would be impossible to do the recording in the town. Also, as our group was rather large, we

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    Two days passed. This chief technician of AIR turned up at home to talk to me. He said at once, "Shobha-di, there's been a miracle! AIR normally never allows any external recording to be done in its studios, but they have agreed to do so for you! That day after listening to you about your recording-problem, I spoke to our director and requested him to allow the Ashram to record some compositions for bringing out a long-playing record on the occasion of Sri Aurobindo's birth centenary. The station director agreed instantly! He has given me the charge of the entire recording! The director stated that Whatever AIR could do to help the Ashram should be done. Shobha-di, the AIR recording is standard recording. You needn't worry about anything." I was flabbergasted.

    A day was fixed. After AIR had finished all their regular work, our large group of participants would arrive at the station studio at night. The entire recording would be done that night. The Mother was informed about the precious help rendered by the director and chief technician of AIR. She was pleased and sent both of them Her blessings. And so, thanks to the sincere efforts and goodwill of a disciple of the Mother (the chief technician), Loving Homage was recorded at the AIR studio after working hours. That night. we returned home only at 1.30 after completing the work.

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