ALL INDIA RADIO Review

Akashvani, is another name for All India Radio (AIR). From a very humble beginning in 1923 as an Amateur Radio Club in Calcutta, it has spread its wings to the entire length and breadth of India through

Medium Wave (MW), Short Wave (SW), and Frequency Modulation (FM) transmissions made possible by High Power and Low Power Transmitters. Its genesis dates back to the colonial days when the Controller of Broadcasting Lionel Fielden, over a discussion with Viceroy Lord Linlithgow, came to a conclusion to call the Indian State Broadcasting Service, the All India Radio. The Viceroy was made to feel that it was his discovery, and was very proud of it. Fielden also had designed the Monogram, which today has both the names -All India Radio and Akashvani - in a Blue Colour Logo, which looks beautiful. We adopted the name Akashvani from the princely State of Mysore’s broadcasting set-up. AIR’s Signature Tune is very soothing to listen. Doordarshan commenced its 24-hour programme only from April last year, but it has been with AIR from its very inception. At 5.30 in the morning, if you tune in the MW, our Rashtriya Prasharan Seva is there to greet you with Bhakti Sangeets in different languages, followed by Vande Mataram from other MW Stations, which radiate Sehnai recitals and information for farmers and weather bulletins. When the Cuttack Station of All India Radio was inaugurated in 1948, I was a student. Prior to this, we were getting Oriya programmes from AIR, Calcutta, for two hours everyday. AIR’s news bulletin at 9 at night followed by Spotlight are my favourite ones. Many of the News Readers like Rini and Neelam were my students at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. AIR, Cuttack, had some famous personalities like Poet-Writer-Linguist Syed Muztaba Ali, U. L. Baruah and P. V. Krishnamoorthy as its Station Directors. PVK, as he is affectionately called, became the Director-General of Doordarshan. Syed Mama left for Dhaka after independence. I used to broadcast over AIR, Cuttack, regularly, but, after my retirement the people there thought that perhaps with my retirement my broadcasting skills have also vanished. Well, Akashvani, your motto is ’Bahujana Hitaya, Bahujana Sukhaya’ ( Welfare for All and Happiness for All) and with your crimson coloured sky with clouds of different hues, you will go on, I am sure. Long Live Akashvani.