As background information for a discussion of India's communication system and its potential for social change, this paper briefly describes the country's physical characteristics, some of its cultural heritage and demographics, and the development of its education and railways. After a discussion of the folk media (traditional changes) of communication, the paper focuses on the cinema, radio, and television to provide a holistic approach to the mosaic nature of India's communication facilities. Two cases are used to illustrate the experimental nature of India's communications efforts: (1) the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), which was the precursor to later satellite communication efforts and which served as a pilot project mainly for educational purposes; and (2) Kerala State, which demonstrates the fusing of native ingenuity with communications technology. Use of video as a communication tool is explored, and the Open University and the country's media policy are analyzed. A plea is made for India's media to be run professionally and with social responsibility. (CGD)