Cosmos Club(777/80-81) Turns 50 My Memories From Distance Part I

The Cosmos Club of Abhayapuri is going to celebrate its 50th year of  foundation  in November this year with various programmes.I had seen the club functioning from its previous location in a hut in front of Abhayapuri College Point , by the side of a hotel (Oasis Hotel perhaps on the MG Road side) in early 1980s.And I had seen also how the club shifted to its present permanent location  near our locality (present Lachit Nagar area of the town) in mid 1980s.

The club was established in 1975.The club is bearing a registration number  777/80-81.The suffix suggests that it was registered with concerned department of Govt Of Assam in 1980-81.I heard somewhere that  initially  the club  might have been known as Sankar Sangha and within two years ,the club changed its name to Cosmos Club.I thought it might be due to the suggestion of a few club members coinciding with the visit of Cosmos Club of New York with Pele  to then Calcutta to play a friendly football match(as per their tour to Asia) at Eden Garden against Mohan Bagan in 1977.
But one of the senior most member of the club,Mr.Pradip Kumar Das clarified ,"We wanted to be big,therefore Cosmos(the Universe) was selected as it's name".
It was 50 years back memories fade..I hope there will be extensive information on  the  Cosmos Club's history , it's past and present achievements and its vision for future   in black and white in the club's souvenir/other printed materials to be published on the occasion of its 50th year celebration.
Our family has a sentimental attachment with that club.So naturally, I have developed a keen interest on its activities right from my school days .But it was the cricket team of Cosmos Club in1980s that had attracted me the most.We know well that 1983 is a historic year for the country as far as one day international cricket is concerned.And  the cricket team of Cosmos Club in 1983 too won the Goalpara Cricket League Championship at Goalpara. What A coincidence!!! Plus A Historic Milestone for Cosmos Club!!!

Courtesy:Utpal Nath & Gopal Medhi of Cosmos Club

I will certainly write a few lines about the cricket players of Cosmos Club in the second part of this series in detail.

 I could not watch them playing in big matches as I was away at Rangjuli with my parents and studying in school there in 1980s as my father was posted there as In charge  Senior Medical & Health Officer  of then Rangjuli Primary Health Centre.At Rangjuli, I enjoyed watching Rangjuli's cricket team playing with visiting teams from near by places viz Goalpara,Darangiri,Dhupdhara etc.An Interesting fact I like to mention here. A cricketer of Cosmos Club  who was then studying in Goalpara College, went to Rangjuli to play for a Goalpara cricket team against Rangjuli ( in 1980-81 season).He is none other than my uncle Mr.Dibakar Dev Sarma, now one of the senior most member of Cosmos Club. 

But whenever during winter after our annual examination, I came to Abhayapuri for a visit to our ancestral home, I used to watch Cosmos Club playing friendly practice matches amongst themselves at Abhayapuri College ground.And I could remember Late Sachin Dev Barman, Pradip Kumar Das, Golap Medhi, Rakesh Tiwari, Rajesh Tiwari, Dhajen Das, Ratan Ray(the wicket keeper), Late Pranab Das, Alok Das, Biswajit Das, Late Samir Das, Mahesh Sandak, Hironmoi Deka,Anup Kumar Das, Dhajen Das, Late Dibyendu Banerjee,Manohar Roy & others were playing.I could still remember......

With Best Wishes
VIVE LA COSMOS CLUB,ABHAYAPURI

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

From Abhayapuri With BCDX Informations

 Here is a few BCDX Monitoring information  plus  news which I like to share with you.

For all monitoring observation

Rig used for reception:Yaesu FT 891 on battery ,long random wire as antenna

Place Of Monitoring:Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)

1.SLBC Ext Hindi Off The Air on 11905kHz

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation(SLBC) External Service's lone Hindi Transmission on shortwave on 11905kHz during 0200-0230utc has been off the air from September 24th.And it might be due to fault in the transmitter.

2.Adventist World Radio(AWR) ending its leased transmissions on shortwave from winter??

There was a news circulating in DX Groups in social media in recently that AWR might end its all leased transmissions via various transmitter sites and could only continue from its own transmitter site KSDA-Agat,Guam from this winter i.e.from B24 season starting from October 27th.But I believe no official confirmation from AWR on the issue.Lets wait for AWR's B24 schedule  which will clear the picture.

3.AWR Assamese 

I like to share  another monitoring info about AWR.AWR Assamese via Tashkent (100W) on 17790kHz was received with S9 over 20dB here at Abhayapuri from 1332utc on sunday September 29th.The rig used Yaesu FT891 transreceiver with a long random wire as antenna.

Here is the link to the audio file recorded around 1333utc:

https://app.box.com/s/waql2nakrkpi5w8pbkrapcbhi30rm8gq

The lastest AWR Assamese schedule upto October 26th of 2024

On Sundays & Wednessdays 

on 17790kHz via Tashkent,Uzbekistan(100kW)

4.Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu on 729kHz

Two additional  regional news bulletin in Assamese of 5 minutes from Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu has been heard by me.The first one  was noted in the morning from 0755 ist (0225utc) and the second one was noted from 1205ist (0635utc).The morning bulletin is being relayed by Akashvani Dibrugarh too.The commencement of the noon regional news bulletion was announced during the 0900ist(0330utc) Regional News Bulletin.

Here is the recording link of Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu around 0224utc just before the 5 minutes  news bulletin in Assamese on October 3rd.

https://app.box.com/s/x6lax8tgu8w35u9j62a2nx3q0c9rpmec

5.Bangladesh Betar on Medium Wave etc

Two Bangladesh Betar Stations on medium wave 693kHz from Dhaka and 846kHz from Rajshahi,have been received with good signal here at Abhayapuri in the morning.I think Bangladesh Betar's External Service broadcast on 4750kHz is now off the air.I have not heard any signal there during my random check around 1230utc onwards several days.

Here is the audio recording of Bangladesh Betar Dhaka on 693kHz around 0054utc on October 3rd:

https://app.box.com/s/dgx0qcdow3gq21zraq3g2e0c392mdtfu

6: A Few Radio Logs/General Reception Information

Akashvani Guwahati Pragjyotishpur on  1035kHz was heard with good signal intensity here at my place on October 3rd from 0322utc onwards.

Here is the audio recording which I recorded around 0329utc.

https://app.box.com/s/cdkoopjwwbds6z73p2rin0m5t0woe268

BBC World Service English on 9895kHz via Tashkent,Uzbekistan(100kW) during 0000-0200utc has been giving good reception here during my several monitoring spells from 0040-0120utc approximately for several days.
Here is the link to the audio file recorded around 0059utc on Octiber 3rd:
https://app.box.com/s/iaygqln2jlq3koi1ao3xe18s6ujtc3ia

Station KNLS Alaska English via  Madagasar World Voice(MWV) is on 13760kHz for both 0200-0258utc & 0300-0358utc.But 0200-0258utc reception is far far better here on yesterday i.e.October 2nd.

Here is the link for the audio clip recorded around 0246utc:

https://app.box.com/s/s2iwshksvohgfmofnz1l3gtbd0eo77nz

And here is the link for the recording around 0307utc:

https://app.box.com/s/oxlid7kovl0sp4l6xzysgyz3heztyrku

Akashvani Shillong on 864kHz is another Akashvani Regional Medium Wave Station, I can hear here at my place loud though not clear as now,but still a reliable reception giving station.Nowadays, there is slight noise often comes with the audio.But sometimes, the audio remains clear.

Here is the  the audio clip recorded around 0217utc on October 2nd of Akashvani Shillong :

https://app.box.com/s/j96n2p5oboym98wgbvt5mcde7o149u93

On the Mahalaya Day, I could hear many regional Akashvani stations from early morning hours.And my choice like previous years , this is year too Akashvani Kolkata Geetanjali on 657kHz.But this year I could listen the transmission some portions only and the end part due to some other unavoidable circumstances.

Here is the link to the recording of the audio clip around 2321utc:

https://app.box.com/s/wr512i3npq7r39as5wsb0kzcbl9tif5l

Radio Goalpara on 89.6MHz APUNAR NIJOR RADIO

The Community Radio Station of  Goalpara College ,Goalpara was formally inaugurated by the Education Minister of Assam, Dr.Ranoj Pegu on September 14th.It is the first ever community Radio Station by a college in Assam.It is known as Radio Goalpara and its broadcasting frequency is 89.6MHz in FM mode.As per the station's facebook page, its schedule is from 1200 to 2PM and from 4 to 8PM.I hope I will one day visit Goalpara town and listen to this station and record a few audio clips for my historic radio collection.Due to its low power,I do not think I will be able to listen to it at my location which is 22-25km away aerially or even less from Goalpara.But I can listen to loud and clear often Akashvani Goalpara (mostly relay Akashvani Guwahati Mahabahu transmission) on 102.6MHz (1kW-transmitter power).

More observations/monitoring reports etc from time to time.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

From VU3WTI At Abhayapuri With New Horizon

New Horizon Amateur Radio Bulletin Board (Special Edition)

(WTI/NH/ARBB/SP/A24/01/03-10-24)

 And it is after long break of several months,I am going to post something.

Let's start with some monitoring observations.
I heard a few amateur stations on 7145kHz lsb recently.
Rig used for reception:Yaesu FT 891 on battery ,long random wire as antenna

Place Of Monitoring:Abhayapuri(Assam)(India) NL56hi

7145kHz lsb

Date:29/09/2024

0737-0741I ist

S21HA S7-S8 9N1CA S6-S7

0741-0749ist

9N1CA VU2OWB.

 Good copy of both stations

0801-0807ist

VU2OWB S7-S9 VU2PQS S3

NOISE LEVEL S3-S4 diffulty in copying VU2PQS

Date: 01/10/2024

0743-0746ist

VU3LGT S4-S7 S21HA S7

Date: 02/10/2024

0839-0841ist

VU2OWB S5 S6 VU3LGT S4 S3

Noise Level S3

 In the morning on 7050kHz lsb during from 0600ist onwards(on The Belgaum Net Warm Up Session) I can here VU2RZA from Chennai S9 to S7 and others regulars like VU2JF I can copy weak.I even heard on a few occasions Amateur Station from Bangladesh S21RW breaking call S7 here.But I guessed VU2RZA could not copy him.

Besides these, in the evening 20meter is nowadays full of activity i.e. with QSOs.And even I could even hear our Guwahati based OM VU2DBM S8 S7,with aerial distance of about 107km approximately towards South East from my location.
Monitor's Note:
A strange noise I have observed on 7145kHz lsb nowadays from time to time.Here is a recording on that around on  September 30th around 0913ist.
The audio link:
https://app.box.com/s/wbiehpp4ad5fxp72c9jnoez0oaldri2l

Some amateur radio related items which I like to share with you all.

A Radio Listener Cum BCDXER,SWL..CB Radio Operator is now a Ham:

After several initial setbacks,my senior radio friend Respected  Dr.Abhijit Rabha( a Retired Indian Forest ServiceOfficier) from Guwahati, finally has become an amateur radio operator.His callsign is VU3DUK.And he has already in action on voice mood in HF and VHF and making QSOs all around.He has developed strong interest on BC band monitoring and listening to radio right from his school days.Many may be surprised to know once he was an active Citizen Band Operator in Guwahati and he took a leading role to form a Citizen Band Net  called Uronia Mau with several participants from Guwahati.Still, he is trying to revive Citizen Band Radio communication  in and around Guwahati.His interest in Radio Broadcasting once brought him to then All India Radio,Guwahati Studio at Chandmari during his college days at Cotton College.He used to present Science Programme & Yugbani there time to time.More about Dr.Rabha's radio activities will be posted  later on this blog. One of the problem Old Man VU3DUK is facing  now from his Victor,his pet.When he gives a CQ call , like CQ CQ CQ this is Victor ..........and Victor jumps upon VU3DUK..HI HI!!!Beware Of Victors!!!

News Flash  for September 09,2024 :Reactivation Of VU2HO on HF

VU2HO (Delhi) ,a ham friend of mine(from Delhi),has reactived his station on HF Band again today morning.He gave test transmission this morning on J3E mood(voice) with his homebrewed Multliband  40 to 10 Meter Band End Fed Half Wave( EFHW) antenna in inverted V position on 7065kHz LSB with his home assembled BITX 40 on QRP.He had a short QSO with VU3SLJ(around 0745ist onwards Approx.) and VU2HW .He gave 59  report to both and he was given 57 report. Both the stations are from NCR.Glad to know about reactivation of VU2HO station after a long break .

News of The Nearest Active Amateur Station: 

VU3OIP from Barpeta Active With Cobweb

Recently VU3OIP installed his latest antenna bulit by VU3FWG from Balasore (Odisha).Its a Cobweb  Multiband Antenna(20 to 10mb).Initially, he had slight difficulty in adjusting the driven elements. But later with help of VU3FWG on mobile phone ,VU3OIP finally tuned the antenna by adjusting the drivel elements.He installed it finally on his MQTH's roof.He had made many contacts all around by using this cobweb antenna.

He recently shared a few pictures of his latest antenna.

VU3OIP is the nearest active amateur radio station from mine with aerial distance of just 33 km approximately.

More News related to amateur radio,monitoring information coming up..

73 For the time being..

VU3WTI(Gautam Kumar Sharma)(GK) , 

Abhayapuri(Assam)(India)