100 Years of Television

Window Seat 

Though the history of Television (the word was coined by Constantin Perskyi in 1900), began in the late 19^th century, it was in 1926, Scottish inventor John Logie Baird demonstrated the first working television system, transmitting moving images using mechanical scanning. Thus began an extraordinary journey of a gadget that uplifted the media and entertainment industry. By the 1930s and 1940s, electronic television replaced mechanical systems, and after World War II, television sets entered homes across Europe, North America and beyond.

The 1950s marked the “golden age” of black-and-white broadcasting, bringing news, drama, and entertainment into living rooms. The 1960s introduced colour television, transforming viewing experiences and expanding advertising and global cultural exchange. Satellite technology in the 1970s enabled live international broadcasts, while cable and private networks in the 1980s diversified content.

Though India was a relatively late entrant into the TV party, it caught up soon. Television in India began in September 1959 in New Delhi as an educational, experimental service with UNESCO assistance, featuring twice-weekly, one hour broadcasts. Regular daily transmission started in 1965 under All India Radio (AIR). Doordarshan was established as the national broadcaster in 1976, introducing colour and national programming in 1982. Television in India grew fast in the 1990s and after. Following the Gulf War and the opening of the economy in the early 1990s, foreign channels like CNN and Star TV entered the market. The 2000s saw an explosion of news channels and regional networks .The industry shifted towards DTH (Direct-to-Home) services and eventually digital, high-definition (HD), and Over-the-Top (OTT) streaming platforms.

The late 20th and early 21st centuries witnessed digital television, high-definition (HD), and smart TVs integrated with the internet. Streaming platforms challenged traditional broadcasters, allowing viewers to watch content on demand. Television shifted from a fixed schedule medium to a personalized, interactive experience.

At a time when handheld devices, especially smartphones dominate media consumption, television is not disappearing—it is evolving. The large screen remains central for shared experiences such as sports, elections, and major cultural events. Television is integrating artificial intelligence for content recommendations, immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality, and deeper interactivity. Rather than competing with mobile devices, television is coexisting with them—serving as a premium, collective, and cinematic platform in an increasingly personalized media ecosystem.

Zion Church

It was Ram Kumar Dhar, a research scholar at Central University of Tamilnadu who persuaded me to visit Tranquebar (renamed Tharangambadi), about 60 kms from Thiruvayur to visit the Danish settlement and Zion Church, the oldest Protestant church in India.

Tharangambadi was established as a Danish trading post in 1620, with Fort Dansborg as its centre. Zion Church was built in 1701 by Danish missionaries under the patronage of the Danish-Halle Mission.

The church’s architecture is simple yet elegant, marked by thick walls, arched windows, and a serene interior suited to worship and reflection. It was primarily used by the Danish settlers before missionary work expanded among the local Tamil population.

Within this colonial landscape, Zion Church became a significant spiritual and cultural landmark. Today, it remains a quiet reminder of cross-cultural exchanges, missionary history, and the layered colonial past of coastal Tamil Nadu.

Rev. Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg, a German missionary sent by the King of Denmark, founded the mission and the Zion church. Ziegenbalg's work included translating the Bible into Tamil and setting up India's first modern printing press in 1712.

In 1707, Rev. Ziegenbalg helped establish the Jerusalem Church at Tranquebar for the Lutheran congregation, as the existing Zion Church was reluctant to accept native worshippers. Within a year, the Jerusalem Church was filled to capacity. Foundation for a new Church called New Jerusalem Church was laid in 1717. It was consecrated next year. 

As I stood in the three hundred year church- surrounded by the historic church paraphernalia - I felt goosebumps.

Agatha Christie

It is 50 years since Agatha Christie, the queen of intrigue, died. She was born on 15 September 1890 and died on 12 January 1976.  She wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short-story collections. The world remembers her as a writer who transformed crime fiction into an art of intellect and imagination. Known as the “Queen of Mystery,” Christie crafted intricate plots that continue to challenge and delight readers across generations. Her iconic detectives—Hercule Poirot with his meticulous logic, and Miss Marple with her quiet wisdom—have become enduring figures in global literature.

Christie’s genius lay not merely in the surprise of her endings, but in her understanding of human nature. Beneath the puzzles and red herrings were keen observations about jealousy, greed, love, and deception. With over two billion copies sold, her works remain among the most widely read in the world.

Fifty years after her passing, Agatha Christie still invites us into drawing rooms, country estates, and railway carriages—reminding us that mystery is not just about crime, but about the complexity of the human heart.