Dabba Radio Feed

The Underground Sound

info@dabbaradio.org — Fri, 13 May 2011 21:01:33 +0530

Dabba Radio’s philosophy is telling the untold stories and it seems that the alternative genres of music in India all fit that description. Sucharita Tyagi takes us on a journey away from the FM stations and puts our hand to the pulse of the Indian music scene.

We plan to make The Underground Sound the platform for showcasing the happening music subculture of the subcontinent.

We kick off with a jam session with Delhi group, Advaita, followed by a panel discussion on India’s music prospects beyond our borders with the Marketing Head of Rolling Stone India, a co-founder of The Bombay Elektrik Project, and the man behind the Hindi Rock Circuit. We also talk to Naresh Fernandes about Bombay’s music heritage and feature the debut episode of his section on archival music, The Underground Vault.

This pilot episode is the first step on a long journey. Send your comments or requests to undergroundsound@dabbaradio.org.

See you Underground!

Underground Vault: Episode 1

info@dabbaradio.org — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:47:03 +0530

Naresh Fernandes, consulting editor of Time Out: India, long time music buff, and frequenter of Chor Bazaar vinyl dealers, will be taking us into the archive of Indian music. Each segment will pick a theme and then bring you tracks that explore that theme. This episode’s theme is Indian marching band music.

Track One: Colwad by Ralph D’Mello, 1965

Track Two: Mustt Mustt by Brooklyn Qawwali Party, 2007

The Sound of Money: Episode 2

info@dabbaradio.org — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:19:35 +0530

Changes announced in the budget now allow for foreigners to invest directly in Indian equity mutual funds. Santosh chats with Jayant Pai, Vice President at Parag Parikh Financial Advisors and Himanshu Vyapak, Executive Vice President of Reliance Capital Asset Management about what this means for India and its markets.

Every episode, Santosh poses a question for listeners to answer. This fortnight’s question: How will Warren Buffet's trip to India influence the country's poor track record on philanthropy?

Email santosh@dabbaradio.org with the answer. If you are the first person to get it right, we will read a question from you on the next show.

Do you have a comment or question? We want to hear it! Email us at santosh@dabbaradio.org.

Farmer's Market

info@dabbaradio.org — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:59:21 +0530

Consuming organic produce is a worldwide phenomenon that is starting to trickle into the Indian mindset. The success of organics is based on the proclaimed health and environmental benefits that arise when humans consume fresh produce that is devoid of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, etc. and is not genetically modified.

However, organic production is not without controversy. Norman Borlaug, Nobel laureate and “father of the Green Revolution,” questioned the ability of organic farming to produce sufficient quantities of food without having drastic negative effects on the environment.

Nevertheless, organic farming has steadily gained momentum globally over the past decade. According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements and Organic Monitor, since 1999 the amount of land under organic cultivation has tripled from 11 million hectares to over 37 million hectares in 2009 – almost 1% of all global farmland – making it a US$55 billion market. Organics got a big push forward in 2006 when retailer giant Wal Mart decided to increase the volume of organic foods on the shelves of its grocery chains. However, the organics trend is relatively new to India so the future remains uncertain, although it appears to be gathering momentum.

Binny Paul reports from Mumbai’s first organic farmer’s market, held at Mahalaxmi racecourse. She speaks with the market’s founder, Kavitha Mukhi, as well as a representative from Dhoop. For more information on the organic farmer’s market visit: http://farmersmarket.co.in

Bridging the Gap: Child Labor

info@dabbaradio.org — Tue, 5 Apr 2011 11:57:30 +0530

Child labour is a major human rights issue facing Indian society. The numbers vary, however a general estimate would place the number of children labouring in India between 20-50 million; even the lower estimate is significant. Children all over India are syphoned into various forms of labour, including forced labour and bonded-labour (in which children are contracted to repay the loan or debt that a parent or relative has been unable to repay). The production levels of multiple industries are bolstered by the work undertaken by children, whilst these children simultaneously miss out on their childhoods and schooling - thereby creating a vicious cycle in which the illiterate remain poor and often repeat the mistakes of their predecessors.

As with any social issue, it's important that all levels of society are aware of their existence. Today, we hear the perspective of one child living in Mumbai: 13 year old Aishwarya Agnihotri speaks out against child labour in India.