My Mom challenged me if you want make IT ..!

I took it as a challenge a Dream for a pocket radio where ever I went searched for how I could win a pocket radio, one fine day I was in a book stall, saw a book with a cover page having cover photograph of a radio, language was "MALAYALAM" , I could not read it as I could talk and understand that language. I asked the lady there what was the book about, later I purchased the book, with my collection of 50 Paisa / day pocket money. I was on to that book, always staring at the symbols and picture and circuit in it. I understood nothing. Since I could not read that book printed in a language that I didnot know, foutunately my younger sister had a tution teacher, who used to teach my sister "Malayalam". I thought of asking her to read the book for me. So during the last 15 minutes of the tution period she used to read a few pages for me, even though it was technical.

I wrote it in another book in English. Months past....## the book was completely read . I took time to understand what each symbol was meant for. Since ours was a small town not much of electronic components were sold at that time. I searched for components and could only get one DIODE a TRANSISTOR. it was a break again non availabilty of components. I kept on going to the shop where I got this book in search of more books, One fine day I bought a SCIENCE TODAY Magazine, after reading it and going through the advertisement I found an ad. of a new publisher "The BPB Publication" who had radio circuits book. I had to wait for my pocket money to build up !!. I send a letter / order for the book " Make Your Own Transistor Radio" via "Value Payable Post". The book arrived earlier than I expected, of course it was in "English "this time. Had no sleep that day read the book twice or thrice, The next day I had to plan for the FUNDS. which I always found ....! There were some CASHEW NUT tree in the backyard of my House, I thought of Funding the project using those little NUTs !!. which came in handy. The season was on daily morning and evening I go out Climb the trees plucking the ripe ones, I used to climb six trees a session !, just for a pocket radio. There was a SMALL percentage I got for the week end NUT SALE. I was quite happy with what I got, above all the encouragement and support I got from my Parents for my Dream !. Months passed I had over 50 rupees, which I could not have ever dreamt those days... When I had an opportunity to go towards the city I did, I also went shopping for the components. One fine Evening after returning from the city, I found that no more components were required , the project could be integrated. In about three to four days the soldering was over the connection were checked. I finally powered the Radio "What a surprise HISSING sound.......!" I thought it was a Radio Staion. I sat the whole day in front of my table top "POCKET RADIO" as I should say. To see this wonder box I had many people in and arround, but that kept me encougarging, especially my MOM. After a couple of days I met a person dealing with repair of Radio sets I told him that I had made one but it gives a loud hiss but never responds to a station. That gentleman asked me to bring my WONDER BOX to his SHACK. the very Evening I packed the whole thing and ventured out in my bicycle. He had a look at the Connections and the circuit , he made a remark that the connections are fine, all components as said has been put in the rigth place. He switched on and the loud HISS !! He the went inside the store and brought a small Black ROD and inserted inside the COIL, Suddenly the LOCAL Radio Station CAME IN loud and clear, I was over JOYED, I immediately PACKED the THING and back HOME in minutes. YUReyKA !! I switched it on, I could not belive my EARS, that I has made it SOUND. It was an holiday when the system worked , I had to wait for a couple of days before I could take my DESKTOP "Pocket Radio" to my School. My Radio required an external Aerial , so I unwound a transformer and took the very fine wiren inside it and then made a loop in the window pane of the classroom. I had three earphone sockets connected to the Radio, by the time I took it to my classroom. It was a really thrilling experience for me that I could make a Radio of My own when most of my collegues bought from the market. I was caught inside for bringing a RADIO to the Classroom , the matter reached our principal "PUBLIC SCHOOL PATTANAKAD , Cherthala, KERALA "that time "Rev Fr. Joseph Chaliyil ". Who instead of scoulding , encouraged me for what I had done. The appreciation came from our Physics Sir that time "Mr. Venugopal", They even planned / arranged one hour after school hours for experiment purpose". After that incident my school hours extended by ONE HOUR ! Really I am greatful to our then principal and the physics Teacher for extending great support . As the radio was made, I could not take it quite often to my Class because it was quite bulky POCKET RADIO. Then my intension was how to make my sound come out of the radio. the the Quest of TRANSMITTER was on ! . Then wanted for the next adventure.. . The same book stall where I picked up a copy of "Electronics For You" magazine. It had mentioned about HAM RADIO and some information . I just came to know about Amateur Radio. Once in a while there were some info regarding Amateur Radio. Then came a AMATEUR RADIO special Issue with continuation written by OM. Jagdeeshwar rao from Hyderabad "VU2JH" . with all these bits of article, I could not find a HAM in the locality. In one of the articles it was written tha I still remember that a good short wave listener can become a good ham. Then though of following it. But there is another story getting into picture because the Radio in my house was "BUSH Valve Radio" 1973 Model , by the time it was given access to me it's sensitivity and selectivity had gone. My parents Bought a VALVE DESKTOP Radio fearing ME. !! They didn't buy the portable transistorised version because they knew that I will HArM Radio. Then I tried to listen to 7 MHz , but no luck with the old valve junk. Then again My CASHEW NUT strategy came into Play again. This time it was a good Reciever to get HAM station , This time not VALVE version . In about three months time I could gather some money and there was some festival so the funds came in handy for my PHILIPS AL150 2 band transistor Radio. I put a very long wire from the aerial and tuned to get Some HAM RADIO Station. I was overjoyed that my reciever could pickup HAM stations. I listened to them daily Only a few were active then. One fine day 2 Hams were exchanging the address I too copied it and send one letter requesting for more Info. It kept my interest going deep & deep into my viens. A new issue of Electronics for You magazine contained the Address of some association in Madras / Chennai which had the HAM Directory. I wrote to them requesting one. I got it, found an address which was nearby 22 Km .!! Then I found that the way is wide open now, then started visiting Hams here and there, where ever I could. Got Books related to Amateur Radio. the self Study , One OM JOHN VU2JON send me a Morse Code Cassette by post. I learnt CW / Morse Code in a DAY " Belive it or Not", I could identify all characters then by constant practice I was much confident at the time of my ASOC Examination I could send and recieve at about 20 words / Minute. Every NUT counts.........!