Prasar Bharti to air 'Bharatiyan' series on Indian history

Prasar Bharti Chairman M V Kamat today announced that the broadcasting body has planned to air by the year 2007 a 520-episode mega project 'Bharatiyan' on the history of the country from 1857, in commemoration of the birth of the country's public broadcast system 'Akashvani'.

Addressing a press conference after chairing the two-day board meeting of Prasar Bharti here, he said the mega project would be brought out in three parts, five days a week. The first part would cover the country's history from 1857 to 1897 with special reference to Swami Vivekananda's address in Chicago and the starting of Sri Ramakrishna Mission. The second part (1898-1947) would wax eloquently about the freedom struggle against colonial rule. The final part would highlight the growth the country had achieved in all fields after independence.

Stating that the main objective of the project was to make the younger generation aware of the nation's rich and glorious history, Mr Kamat said most of the episodes would be primarily in-house productions and be both in documentary and dramatised versions. In cases where documents were available, it would be used and in others it would be made in dramatised form.

Replying to a query, he said the cost of production would be less wherever documents were available. Each episode would cost from Rs eight lakh to Rs ten lakh based on the format.

Prasar Bharti Chief Executive Officer K S Sharma said the project was the brainchild of Mr Kamat and primarily the episodes would be in Hindi. All India Radio Director General Brijeshwar Singh would be the overall in-charge of the project.