First radio transmitter of south India displayed

The first radio transmitter of South India is the Exhibit of Fortnight at the Government Museum, Egmore. Photo: R. Ragu

The first radio transmitter of South India is the Exhibit of Fortnight at the Government Museum, Egmore.

It is a 200-watt transmitter. The Madras Presidency Radio Club (MPRC), formed on May 16, 1924 by a group of dedicated amateurs led by C.V. Krishnaswamy Chetty and housed at Holloway’s Garden, Egmore, began to broadcast daily programmes from July 31, 1924, using a 40-watt transmitter with the call sign 2GR. This was later replaced with this 200 watt transmitter, they said.

With the MPRC closing down in October 1927 due to financial stringencies, this transmitter was presented to the Madras Corporation, which launched a regular service on April 1, 1930. Later, the transmitter had to be put out of commission due to the establishment of Madras Station of All India Radio, which started its operations on June 16, 1938, from Marshall’s Road, Egmore.

In its meeting conducted on July 4, 1939, the Council of Corporation of Madras sanctioned the presentation of this first radio broadcasting transmitter of South India to the Government Museum, Chennai, to perpetuate the memory of pioneer radio broadcasting in India.

The transmitter will be kept on public display till December 2.

For details, call 044 - 2819 3238.