Angshu Das - Session 01

AR-020-16-1

(00:00:17 – 00:01:26) Interview introduction (00:01:34 – 00:04:00) Early interest in audio from school days; exposure to radios made by family; first encounter with television at IIT Kanpur in 1970, when campus had large American cable TVs that often malfunctioned. Students learned to adjust them manually, marking their first practical experience with television technology. (00:04:15 – 00:07:11) Entry into computer maintenance after graduation but continued focus on audiovisual equipment. First exposure to videotape recorders at CENDIT in 1975–76, encountering both working Umatic three-quarter-inch recorders and problematic half-inch spool recorders. Learned extensively from detailed service manuals provided by companies like Sony, which offered full circuit diagrams and mechanical drawings. (00:07:17 – 00:10:47) Explanation of simple yet effective design of early portable recorders and the importance of engineering elegance. Technical discussion of video tape recorder mechanics, including rotating heads, servo synchronization, and bandwidth requirements for video versus audio recording. Described difficulties caused by power line frequency fluctuations in India and innovative fixes such as adjusting pulley diameters with cello tape. (00:10:58 – 00:14:13) Emphasis on problem-solving mindset in engineering, reliance on first principles, and improvisation when spares or imports were unavailable. Early editing equipment had to be designed in-house. Recounted project to design a color television set in 1982 during import restrictions, starting from scratch with minimal components and reference materials, eventually achieving India’s first working color TV model. (00:14:18 – 00:18:27) Challenges of designing the TV included limited access to ICs and reliance on international datasheets. First successful test of color broadcast left a strong impression due to complexity of PAL transmission system. Later, team designed high-resolution monochrome monitors considered benchmarks at the time. The 1982 Asian Games and Doordarshan’s expansion marked a turning point in Indian television broadcasting. (00:19:00 – 00:20:09) Mentoring of young engineers ensured strong grounding in fundamentals, enabling them to adapt to changing technologies. Transitioned from Umatic to Betacam, then to digital formats, cameras, and switching equipment, working closely with Sony in these developments. (00:20:18 – 00:21:55) Moved to the UK in 1983, working with a company manufacturing computer components and audio-related equipment. Returned to India in 1986 and joined NBL, Sony’s dealer, heading marketing and maintenance operations and training a large pool of engineers who later became industry leaders. (00:22:16 – 00:24:59) Later career at Snell & Wilcox (1995–2014), introducing high-end broadcast hardware to India. Gave feedback to engineers in the UK to adapt products to Indian power conditions. Facilitated local repairs despite company policies favoring card replacements, often improvising with imported components to meet client needs. (00:25:05 – 00:27:20) Extensive work in training, including consultancy with the UN in Egypt and Sri Lanka around 1982/83, and close collaboration with Doordarshan engineers during transitions such as standard definition to HDTV. Emphasized need for engineers to understand production challenges, not just hardware. (00:27:27 – 00:28:48) Early editing practices using stopwatches before dedicated editing controllers were available. Innovations included building custom remote connectors and timers for Umatic recorders to enable synchronized edits despite lack of official equipment. (00:28:55 – 00:31:39) Talks about family background in tinkering and how it shaped his interest in engineering and problem-solving. Currently in the design department at III where everything focuses on innovation and design. Mentions learning on outdated machines at IIT Kanpur that Japan had already phased out, but they were useful for understanding mechanical systems despite lack of new equipment. (00:31:40 – 00:42:38) Explains how old service manuals and circuit diagrams were detailed and essential, unlike current ones that have minimal information. Manufacturers stopped sharing data fearing copying of technology. Notes that design should include maintenance and accessibility. Says instruments are now made by MBAs, not engineers, making them impractical. Believes technology benefits manufacturers more than users. (00:42:39 – 00:46:36) Discusses gatekeeping of technology by manufacturers and avoidance of universal standards. Increase in number of formats makes work harder for technicians. Notes decline of technician’s role due to black-box systems where parts like motherboards are replaced instead of repaired. Mentions environmental damage and lack of recycling. (00:46:37 – 00:49:19) Says manufacturers adopt ideas from technicians without credit. Innovation should come from a loop between service and design, but this link is missing. Describes it as political technological bullying where industries control the system. (00:49:20 – 00:58:46) Talks about Indian market and lack of innovation from technician perspectives. Gives an example of 3D TV failure as predicted due to inconvenience. Notes dependency on internet-based systems. Says the digital era made troubleshooting difficult and reduced redundancy. Ease of use increased but reliability fell. (00:58:47 – 01:07:28) Emphasizes need for redundancy in design for reliability. Mentions switch from SD to HD and differences across markets. Concludes that service feedback is essential but often ignored, leading to limited improvement in technology.

9 July 2025

Oral histories of technical personnel in Broadcast and Community Video

Angshu Das