The Business of Broadcasting

India was at the heart of two of the great revolutions in communications. It was a focal point in the British Empire's telegraph and cable system. In the nineteenth century pioneering developments in underwater cable technology were initiated in the Hugli River at Calcutta. Cables connecting Britain to its imperial possessions further East, all passed through India or the then Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. In the twentieth century, India was also at the centre of the start of the revolution in communications brought about by air travel. In 1929, the first imperial air mail service linked London to Karachi, then in India, and the next year the service was extended to Delhi. However, later in the twentieth century, India lagged behind in the broadcasting communication revolution, although it had everything that was necessary to be in the forefront of that revolution too. The free press had spawned talented journalists. The film industry had produced actors, musicians, singers and composers, directors, camera crews and technologists. Indian writers were making an international impact.