(Arranged in co-operation with the India Society, London)
It is the intention of this programme to give listeners, in a necessarily brief space, an impression of the life, music and literature of India. The programme will be introduced by the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Ronaldshay, G.C.S.I., with a talk on India. Lord Ronaldshay will also introduce each subsequent item. Indian music will be represented by a group of folk songs - A Tamil Song (Tarasa Saukum ), a Sinhalese Song (Mata Badagini) and a Nepali Song (Ranee Banai Ma) - sung by Devar Suriya-Sean, assisted by his wife Suriya-Sena Devi (piano) and a tabla (drum) accompaniment. He has arranged these songs himself and will accompany himself, first on the violin, then on the sarangi, one of India's oldest instruments, the grandfather of the violin. The sarangi has a sweeter, slightly deeper tone than the violin; this is the first occasion on which it has been broadcast. The folk songs will be followed by selections from the Poems of Rabindranath Tagore, read in English. Next, Mr. Edward Thompson, author of An Indian Day, etc., will give a brief talk on the People of India. The programme will conclude with a further selection of native music.