Mumbai, Maharashtra -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/12/2012 -- 'Bajanaam?', the book containing the history of Indian Gramophone Records was released recently at an event held at Akashvani Bhavan. Padma Bhushan winners Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra along with Padmashri Ameen Sayani, a popular radio announcer were the chief guests for the occasion.

Mr. A N Sharma, a civil servant and a music lover who has authored the book, dedicated over two decades in conducting the research. The 368 page book ‘Bajanaam?’ contains 507 photographs along with the detailed history of Vinyl recordings in India.

While talking about book, popular radio announcer on Binaca Geetmala, Ameen Sayani said, “The professional singers and theatre artists who were stars in their own right and thus the first to be recorded by recording companies got their dues today, through the book. This book is worth its weight in gold.”

'Bajanaam?' is an honest effort to document the social and political landscape of the Indian sub-continent after the first Great War for freedom from British rule and just before the Delhi Durbar in 1911. At another level, the volume tries to contextualize the history of Hindustani music at a very crucial juncture – the bowing out of the individual patron and the plebianization of the kotha through the easily available records.

“I remember it well, this is over two decades ago, I came across a compilation of Indian recordings published by the ‘Gramophone Company’. The book instigated me to do an updated compilation of recordings which were not readily available for reference. So after extensive research and visits to every possible place including Chor Bazaars, Flee Markets, Road Markets and Companies across the country in order to collect records, I have released the book. It is an evidence of the prestigious history of recordings in India. Bajanaam?' is a visual and aural treat for students and teachers of music, music lovers and the plain book lovers,” said Mr. A N Sharma, the author of the book.