Aftab Yusuf - Session 01

AR-020-20-1

(00:00:00 – 00:00: 48) Introduction to the project

(00: 00: 49 - 00: 00: 4:09) Discusses his background: he graduated in Electrical Engineering (low current/electronics) from Aligarh. He briefly worked for a fridge company in Faridabad but left due to the commute and a refusal to sign a long-term contract, before learning of a need for engineers at MCRC.

(00:04:10 – 00:07:02)He recounts leaving his resume (bio-data) at Jamia, which led to a telegram invitation for an interview. He started during the 1984/85 setup period by the Canadian team (including Ken McCurry), who installed the analogue gear, such as pneumatic editing systems and the portable 4800 tape recorder with a DC 6000 tube camera. (00:07:03 – 00:16:00)Yusuf details the difficulty of maintenance due to "local engineers" creating a knowledge monopoly. He trained himself by spending hours late at night watching the tape mechanisms of the machines. He mentions the pressure on the young Indian engineers after the Canadian team left, especially given their low pay and "junior" status, forcing complete reliance on self-taught maintenance skills.

(00:16:01 – 00:22:20) He discusses the challenging maintenance of the large 1-inch C-format video tape recorder (VPR-20). Rawal describes a specific instance of a motor belt issue where he determined the belt had stretched and was slipping. Since waiting for parts from the US was impossible, he improvised a special, thicker replacement (like a rubber band) to restore functionality, highlighting the need for self-reliance in that era.

(00:22:21 – 00:26:50) Yusuf contrasts the role of an operator, who focuses on a single piece of equipment, with that of the maintenance engineer. The engineer must ensure the entire network and all signals are working perfectly, requiring comprehensive, system-level thinking. He emphasizes that the maintenance engineer needs to know every single connection and signal path.

(00:26:51 – 00:33:00) He discusses the first color cameras used by MCRC (Philips LDK 14s). The main challenge was maintaining the three separate color signals (Red, Green, Blue) and protecting the sensitive and extremely expensive camera tubes. Balancing these signals and managing the camera tubes was a constant, technically demanding task.

(00:33:01 – 00:38:00) The interviewer asks about the psychological toll of the job. Yusuf responds by stressing the importance of documentation (making charts of connections) and the continuous, informal technical support provided by the Canadian team after they departed. He states that although the job was stressful, it ultimately gave him "full command" over the entire MCRC system.

(00:38:01 – 00:44:00) He discusses his experience working with the team on the Times TV science show Turning Point in the early 1990s. He highlights the non-stop, high-pressure production environment, which was a stark contrast to the calmer, academic setting of MCRC. He mentions working with people like Kiran Segal and found the constant corporate pressure difficult to manage.

(00:44:01 – 00:48:47) Yusuf reflects on returning to MCRC and the influence of colleagues like Rebecca. He emphasizes the importance of multiculturalism and his enduring, positive relationship with the initial Canadian technical team. This relationship led to introductions to other professional networks, such as NICEST, confirming the long-term benefit of those early connections (00:00:00 – 00:04:09) Yusuf expresses his deep emotional connection to MCRC, stating he would have never left if not for certain changes, as it was the start of his life. He asserts that he was involved in setting up everything at the center, from the soundproofing and studio construction to the installation of all the new equipment.

(00:04:10 – 00:09:00) He describes the meticulous process of planning the MCRC studios. He recounts traveling to Japan where the technical team measured every corner of the existing facility to ensure the new equipment and setup would fit perfectly. He explains that the entire studio infrastructure was designed with precise measurements taken directly from their physical location.

(00:09:01 – 00:13:00) Yusuf details the complexities of soundproofing the studios, emphasizing the high standards required to achieve acoustic clarity. They needed perfect sound treatment to avoid any external noise interfering with the audio recordings, which involved specialized materials and installation techniques.

(00:13:01 – 00:19:00) The discussion shifts to the transition from analogue to digital technology. He mentions the difficulties and instability that arose during this shift, particularly with the introduction of new NLE (Non-Linear Editing) systems. He notes that the change often caused friction with staff who preferred the familiar analogue workflow.

(00:19:00 – 00:24:00) He reiterates the critical need for comprehensive documentation during the transition, stressing that technical drawings and maintenance records were essential for managing the installation of digital audio equipment and the accompanying wiring, much like he documented the analogue systems.

(00:24:01 – 00:29:00) After the equipment was installed and running, Yusuf's role evolved into long-term maintenance and dealing with institutional auditing. He discusses the pressure of ensuring the expensive, often temperamental analogue equipment stayed functional years after it was installed.

(00:29:01 – 00:35:00) His responsibilities gradually expanded far beyond his core expertise in electronics. He became involved in managing all campus infrastructure, including general maintenance and dealing with the electricity supply. He mentions installing an inverter system and managing power output, moving into areas outside of his original engineering training.

(00:35:01 – 00:43:22) Yusuf shares the unexpected challenges from financial audits. He recalls receiving reports asking why the electricity bill was high and why he hadn't installed a capacitor bank to reduce the power factor . He initially resisted, arguing he was an electronics expert, but realized he had to solve the problem and eventually oversaw the installation to improve power efficiency.

(00:43:23 -00:43:48) Concluding talks

29 July 2025

Oral histories of technical personnel in Broadcast and Community Video

Aftab Yusuf