28 August 1947 — New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras
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Scene 1 — The Morning Broadcast
The August air was heavy with drizzle over Delhi, carrying with it the earthy scent of wet dust and the hum of transistor radios. The whole subcontinent was awake early that morning, every tea stall, tram stop, and market corner alive with the familiar chime of the All India Radio signature tune.
The announcer's voice broke through the static:
> "This is All India Radio.
The Government of India has, by Executive Order under the authority of the Prime Minister's Office, announced the creation of five new constitutional and administrative bodies:
The People's Prosecutor Office (PPO), National Forensic Service (NFS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), along with its subordinate Subordinate Services Commission (SSC).
These institutions will serve as independent guardians of justice, investigation, and merit in the Republic to come. Their formation signals the completion of the internal reform cycle envisioned by Prime Minister Anirban Sen and Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The nation, and indeed the world, now awaits India's next leap."
The radio fell silent, replaced only by the hiss of the airwaves — a silence that spread through drawing rooms, factories, ports, and universities before erupting into a symphony of speculation and pride.
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Scene 2 — The Voices of the Nation
In Bombay, the traders in Fort district spoke animatedly over breakfast.
> "First they made the ICICI, now this! Seems like they're building a country out of blueprints!" said one merchant, pouring his tea.
"No, no," another interjected, "they're doing what the British never did — making Indian systems that protect Indians. Look, even the CBI and ED sound like they mean business!"
At the Bombay Stock Exchange, brokers pored over the morning papers. Rumors flew that industrial oversight might finally bring structure to the chaotic banking sector. The buzzword was "integrity."
In Calcutta, professors at Presidency College debated the creation of the PPO.
> "Independent prosecutors!" exclaimed one lecturer. "That means no political interference in justice. Imagine that!"
A law student listening nearby muttered, "It's the first time I've heard the word 'independent' used alongside 'police' in my lifetime."
Down in Madras, dockworkers sat near the harbor, passing a copy of The Hindu.
> "They say this new forensic thing will make no man above the law," said a worker. "Even a rich man's crime can't be hidden anymore."
"If it's true," his friend replied, "then maybe our sons will see a fair India."
And in Delhi, tea vendors laughed in disbelief.
> "Yesterday, they built banks and health councils. Today, they built justice. Tomorrow… who knows? Maybe rockets!"
No one realized that their joke was about to come true.
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Scene 3 — The Meeting at South Block
By 9:00 AM, the morning sun had broken through the grey clouds. The courtyard of the South Block shimmered in gold and damp green. Inside, the Prime Minister's Office was already alive with activity.
Prime Minister Anirban Sen stood near the window, listening to the faint echo of the radio broadcast from the corridor. He smiled faintly — a tired but proud smile.
Moments later, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's Home Minister, entered the room, followed by Saraswati Sinha, the Minister of Education and Scientific Affairs.
> "Morning, Sardarji. Morning, Saraswati," Anirban greeted, turning from the window. "I hope you've both heard the broadcast."
> "Heard it, yes," said Patel, with a rare smile. "The whole city's talking about it. You've turned this Parliament into a factory of institutions."
> "And the assembly line," Saraswati added, adjusting her silk dupatta, "shows no sign of slowing down."
They all laughed briefly — but the laughter faded as Anirban laid out three thick folders on his desk. Each bore bold handwritten titles:
1. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
2. Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
3. Indian National Committee for Space and Aeronautical Research (INCOSPAR)
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Scene 4 — The Vision for Science and Defence
Anirban's tone shifted — calm, yet edged with urgency.
> "We've handled finance, governance, and justice. Now we begin the hardest part — science and defence. Without mastery over technology, we'll forever beg for weapons, machines, and power reactors."
He turned to Saraswati.
> "You will be appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). I'll remain as Chair. CSIR will coordinate with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which we'll establish under the Ministry of Defence. You have to gather every bright minded people in this country or Indian origin researchers or scientist under CSIR.Together, you'll work with industrial houses and those researchers to create three key things."
He raised three fingers.
> "One — Indian-made defence technology and equipment.
Two — Indian nuclear reactors for both power and research.
Three — A complete aviation ecosystem — indigenous airliners, aero-engines, and, eventually, space research."
Saraswati listened intently, her pen gliding swiftly across her notepad.
> "And the timelines?" she asked.
Anirban replied without hesitation.
> "Defence and nuclear — within three years. That means, by 1950, before the first general election concludes, these must exist. For aviation, five years — by 1952, we must have our own aeroengine and a prototype airliner. As for space… ten years. It will begin as science, and end as destiny."
Patel crossed his arms. "A tall order, Prime Minister."
> "We've already climbed taller mountains, Sardarji," Anirban said softly. "Freedom was one. Now, self-reliance is the next."
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Scene 5 — The Seeds of DAE and INCOSPAR
Saraswati flipped open the second folder.
> "DAE under CSIR?" she asked.
> "Yes," said Anirban. "At least initially. Until it becomes large enough to stand alone, DAE will operate under the CSIR structure. It will oversee all nuclear research — energy, isotopes, and military applications."
> "And INCOSPAR?"
> "A similar framework," Anirban replied. "For aviation and space. We will call it the Indian National Committee for Space and Aeronautical Research. It will report to CSIR, not Defence. Its work is to develop aeronautical science and, eventually, cosmic exploration."
Patel looked up, amused. "Space exploration? Before we even have an airline?"
Anirban smiled. "We have the minds, Sardarji. We only need faith and funding."
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Scene 6 — The Agricultural Alliance
Saraswati's mind moved fast.
> "Sir, may I suggest something? If CSIR is to coordinate national research, then agricultural and food sciences must also be included. I've already met with the Agriculture Minister. They're open to creating their own research wings, but they lack coordination."
> "Exactly," said Anirban, leaning forward. "You'll act as the bridge. Coordinate with them. Fund agricultural and nutritional research through CSIR grants. Tie these labs into one ecosystem — not scattered fiefdoms."
> "Understood," Saraswati replied. "We'll build research networks in every province — from crop genetics to livestock, from fertilizers to food preservation."
Anirban replied." Yes and to do this successfully we will need young people to act as assistant to those researchers. For this reason UGC will become the coordinator between universities and you."
Patel smiled faintly. "You're turning scientists into soldiers."
> "No, Sardarji," she replied gently. "We're turning them into builders of Bharat."
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Scene 7 — The Question of Communication
The meeting was about to conclude when Saraswati paused, tapping her pen on the desk.
> "Sir," she began, "in defence, there's one domain we've not discussed — secure communication."
Patel looked up. "Isn't that part of defence research?"
> "Not quite," she said, her eyes gleaming with insight. "I mean civilian and defence communications both — telegraphs, telephones, long-distance communication lines. You see, Sardarji, during the Second World War, the United States realized that its entire communication infrastructure was in private hands — mostly AT&T. The government had to nationalize it temporarily to control wartime information."
Patel frowned, thinking. "Yes, I've heard of that. AT&T is an empire in telephony."
> "Exactly," Saraswati continued. "And AT&T maintained that monopoly by building a powerful research division — Bell Laboratories. Every year, they invested millions of dollars into that lab. That lab, Sardarji, created radar amplifiers, sound transmission, and — very recently, in 1947 — something that changed the world forever: the transistor."
Anirban's hand froze mid-air. The word transistor hit him like lightning.
He had read about it — in another life, another time. He remembered how the transistor became the foundation of the information age, birthing the silicon valley, computers, and the digital world.
The room seemed to go silent.
> "You're saying," Patel murmured, "that a communication company can birth a scientific revolution?"
> "Yes, sir," Saraswati replied. "If we corporatize our own communication infrastructure — create a public corporation to own the telephone, telegraph, and infrastructure — and fund a dedicated research arm under it, India can stand technologically equal to the West within a decade."
Patel looked uncertain. " But to Corporatize our communications? Wouldn't that mean nationalizing the entire network?"
> "Eventually, yes," Saraswati said. "But not as bureaucracy — as enterprise. A corporation that earns profit, and invests that profit into its research lab. That lab will serve defence, civilian, and industrial technology alike."
The Prime Minister remained silent for several seconds, deep in thought.
Then, with the softest whisper:
> "Bell Labs, transistor,shockley,Traitorous 8, Fairchild, Fairchildren,MANGO."
He looked up sharply. His voice gained its old firmness.
> "Then we'll do the same. India will have its own communication giant — a state-owned corporation under the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)."
He stood up, walked to the map of India behind his desk, and drew a line across it from Delhi to Madras.
> "Every wire, every signal, every telephone line in this country will be unified under one name — Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited."
Patel raised an eyebrow. "BSNL?"
> "Yes," said Anirban. "A company of the people, for the people. It will build, own, and operate India's telecommunication Infrastructure. And under it, a research arm — Bharat Labs — will be created, dedicated to innovation in communication, and will built new technology for upcoming century."
Saraswati smiled in triumph.
> "And funded by its own profits?"
> "Exactly," Anirban replied. "BSNL will feed Bharat Labs, and Bharat Labs will feed India's future."
Patel chuckled. "You're turning wires into weapons."
> "No," said Anirban quietly. "Into freedom."
He reached for his fountain pen and signed the Executive Order No. 112/47, authorizing the creation of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited under NIIF, with Bharat Labs as its research subsidiary.
As the ink dried, history took another breath.
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Scene 8 — Evening Announcement
By dusk, All India Radio once again carried a new message — this time, with barely contained excitement in the announcer's voice:
> "This is All India Radio.
The Government of India has officially announced the creation of a new state-owned corporation under the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund. The entity, named Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), will manage and expand India's telecommunication infrastructure nationwide.
Alongside BSNL, the government has sanctioned a national research arm — Bharat Laboratories — dedicated to advanced studies in communication, electronics, and applied physics.
Bharat Labs will work closely with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and other Premier Educational and Research institute to strengthen India's industrial and scientific foundations."
The world, once again, was stunned.
In New York, The Wall Street Journal called it "India's boldest leap toward industrial self-reliance."
In London, the Financial Times headline read:
> "India builds its own Bell System — the Empire's pupil wants to become innovator."
And in Tokyo, engineers at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Company took note:
> "A new Asian communication power is rising."
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Scene 9 — Night at the PMO
It was late night when Anirban returned to his office. The city outside had quieted to a distant hum — only the rhythmic ticking of the clock and the faint crackle of the radio filled the air.
On his desk lay the day's stack of executive orders:
CSIR — DRDO — DAE — INCOSPAR — BSNL — Bharat Labs.
Each was more than ink and paper — they were pillars of a future only he could see.
Saraswati entered one last time, her expression soft but resolute.
> "Sir, today you planted the seeds of a scientific Empire."
Anirban looked at her, eyes weary but alight.
> "Empires fade, Saraswati. But knowledge endures. That's what we're building — a civilization that thinks for itself."
She smiled. "Then Bharat Labs will be its heart."
He nodded slowly. "Yes. And someday, maybe, a transistor or other things made here will change the world again — but this time, under our sun."
As she left, the Prime Minister turned back to the window. The city lights blinked below like scattered stars — each one, a promise of what India could become.
He whispered to the night,
> "We have lit the first circuit of a nation."