When I look back on my career and the affection and popularity I enjoyed as a teacher, a large part of the credit should go to BBC Radio.
It was April 1965. After my SSLC examination, I went to my uncle’s place for my vacation. M M Devaiah, my uncle, was the manager at Gangegiri Estate, part of the Sangameswar Group of Estates in the Chikkamagaluru district. It was there that I heard the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for the first time. My uncle had a quaint old HMV radio set.
He soon introduced me to the BBC World Service, and I gladly subscribed to London Calling, the station’s free monthly programme guide. Thus began a relationship with the BBC that lasted nearly a quarter of a century. It contributed immensely to my knowledge of English, brought about a sea change in my personality, and expanded my awareness of the world around.
Since I was on holiday, I had all the time in the world, much of which I spent walking around the estate, enjoying the spectacular views of the mountain ranges. The rest of the time, I was fiddling with the radio, but it was the BBC that captured my imagination. What began as a pastime soon turned into a hobby, and later into an addiction. A whole new world opened to my ears and eyes.
Gradually, my English vocabulary became, to say the least, very impressive. The real bonus was my understanding of standard English pronunciation. I could sense a remarkable change in my spoken English. Constant exposure to the BBC brought about this transformation. The BBC, in effect, turned out to be my English tutor.
I have been a general knowledge enthusiast since boyhood. I was an avid listener to World News and World Today. I was thrilled to hear my name on the BBC not once, but twice, in the late 1960s. The first time was when Hugh Tattersall mentioned my name on Letter Box after I pointed out an error in the assassination date of Mahatma Gandhi.
The second time was when my request for Tom Jones’s Love Me Tonight was played on Listener’s Choice. And, of course, Brain of Britain and Just A Minute were among my favourite programmes. The result was that, from the mid-1980s, I went on to serve as a quizmaster and JAM master in Mysuru for over two decades.
Thanks to a Shastri Fellowship and a British Council Visitorship, I spent three weeks in London in March-April 1989. My long-cherished desire to visit the BBC studios was finally fulfilled. Standing inside the building in Strand, London, I was overwhelmed by innumerable memories and nostalgia.
At the souvenir shop, I bought The Story of English for 10 pounds and a brass keychain embossed with the BBC emblem for a pound. Incidentally, after 37 long years, I have now attached that keychain to my car key.
Though I graduated with a BSc degree, I eventually became an English teacher at the University of Mysore, where I taught for more than three-and-a-half decades. When I look back on my career and the affection and popularity I enjoyed as a teacher, a large part of the credit should go to BBC Radio.
This article was first published in Deccan Herald on July 6, 2026. It is republished here with the author’s permission.
Excellent article. Can relate to the sentiments expressed wholeheartedly – the improvement of our language, pronunciation and appropriate usage always improved by “reading” and “listening”. Even our own All India Radio with Melville de Mellow, the legendary radio broadcaster is remembered for his high-quality reports and commentary on various events, the most notable of which was a seven-hour broadcast of Mahatma Gandhi’s funeral in Delhi. The conferral of the Padma Shri in recognition of his services to broadcasting was so appropriate.
I agree with Mr. Kuttappa. There were certain standards with news broad casting on AIR and even the quality of movies and reporting in the media (journalism) in all languages. There has been an all round shocking deterioration of standards that desperately needs to be reversed. Young Turks or others want to become overnight stars in every field – academics, lawyers, professionals, entrepreneurs, healthcare – the penchant for hard work is absent. That just doesn’t work in the long run.
What a beautifully nostalgic and inspiring article. It reminds us of a time when a single radio connected people to the world. The author’s journey with BBC world service is a testament to how good listening can shape language, broaden knowledge and transform one’s personality. For many of us, BBC radio was more a news service. It was a teacher, a companion and a window to the world. Thank you for bringing back such cherished memories and highlighting the lasting impact of quality journalism and broadcasting. A truly heartwarming read.
A beautifully nostalgic piece. It brought back memories of my own childhood.
Until I was about ten years old, I often woke before dawn to the sound of the BBC World Service. My father—a judge—would tune in unfailingly around 5:00 or 5:30 every morning. Long before I understood geopolitics, those calm, measured voices from London had become part of the soundtrack of our home.
Looking back, I realize that the BBC did far more than report the news. It quietly shaped generations of listeners, enriching our English, broadening our worldview, and connecting us to events far beyond our shores.
Your essay captures that influence with grace and authenticity. Thank you for bringing back a cherished memory.
BBC might use the article for its own promotion!
For those who don’t know Belliappa was also a Prof in the Univ of Mysore and the VC of a North Eastern University when he was not listening to the BBC!
I read your article in the Deccan Herald and delighted that it is published in our very own Coffeeland News! This is such an elegant, stylish and yet stands out for its simplicity. We look forward to more such features being shared for the loyal CLN reading fraternity.
Listening to the BBC broadcasts was a treat. In later years their TV presentations and also depiction of classic movies/documentaries were an absolute delight to watch – and yes improve one’s language, diction and proficiency in the English language.
True blue writing – thoroughly enjoyable read. Would love to see more such really high quality writing to elevate what gets reported or passed off as journalism in today’s world. Thanks to Coffeeland news and to Mr Belliappa for making this available for the rapidly growing readership of CLN – especially the active Online edition.