Maafi Marconi

There are two reasons why I am disappointed at the desi radio at Houston.
Being an engineer, I will list the technical problem first. The point of invention of the radio by our beloved Marconi (you may start a debate in the comments section please), was the transmission of voice over electro-magnetic waves to distant regions. Maybe he should have added "successful" to the transmission, because the success of transmission is somewhat lost on the local desi radio channel maaliks. One radio channel that boasts on loudly colored and similarly resounding commercials during hindi movies at the local cinema, that it is the best radio channel of houston and has the city's best behind it.

Now, when I drive around this 20 mile radius city of houston, I never, repeat never recieve clear broadcast of any of their programs, maybe my radio is wiser than me. My antenna is over 4 feet long, I boast you not. But then, at least I deserve to be disappointed once in a while. I've heard of this miraculous oasis in the southwestern part of town where they recieve a screech or two out of the desi DJ once in a while, but I find it difficult to make myself travel 40 miles from a diagonally opposite end of town to hear two silly old men squabbling in urdu, or some punkish desi trying to sound yuppie but failing miserably between pauses. Now then unfolds the second reason.

So today on 1180AM, I heard real bad grammer, some paki guy sucking upto some white guy (not a racist, desis do that too). I've this concept which I will delineate some other time, that there are two type of desis in the USA, one who tries to speak with the white man, and one who speaks to the white man.

So amidst real lousy usage of english and may I add lousy urdu as well (i'm not so good at understanding urdu, but know enough to distinguish bad from worse, being brought up in a pathani mohallah as a kid). After a relatively refreshing attempt of a singer at "pani ka bulbula", who was either bangladeshi or paki, the two anchors start hum-hawing again. This time our main anchor reveals to us with great enthusiasm the location of a gas station at Houston that has the city's lowest price for gas. Having found the ultimate treasure of sierra madre, he urges listeners to call in at the station's number if they find a cheaper price! $2.59 WTF. The sad channel has nothing entertaining to offer! Terrible disappointment in the face of desi radio (OK when I say desi, I club hindustani, paki, bangladeshi radio representation in houston air). The radio in this city has excellent spanish music, classical music and rock channels. I patronize The Arrow (93.7 FM) with devout enthusiasm, the morning anchors Dean and Rog chow down on politicians and dumb people
in general for cereal.

When the desi population, thumps their chest at being the majority among the minority races at houston, boasts of bringing cultural diversity and an elegant cuisine to the city (someday I will write why houston cannot cook desi food well), why can a few good desis not start a decently entertaining radio channel?

Terrible disappointment the desi radio is.