(Amitabh Pandey)
"How will you stop me from being remembered,
I am a voice, I will reach your ears."
Some poet has said this very well in praise of radio.
 Truly the sound of radio reaches into our hearts.
The melodious tune coming from the radio makes people crazy.
Everyone sings and hums the songs playing on the radio.
Music broadcast on radio, important information, education - health - environmental information is always useful for everyone – women, children, youth and elderly.
The objective of radio is to provide correct information, useful education and entertainment to every section of the society through its programs.
It is noteworthy that World Radio Day is celebrated every year on 13 February across the world.
 The theme of World Radio Day for the year 2024 is "Radio: A century of informing, entertaining and educating".
This theme, given by the United Nations, throws broad light on radio's remarkable past, relevant present and the promise of a dynamic future.
Radio was invented by Italian scientist Marconi. He created the first complete telegraphy system in the year 1894 which was named radio.
In those days it was used in the army and navy.
Efforts to establish radio started in the year 1921.
 In the month of August this year, some people started radio broadcasting in Mumbai, Kolkata, Madras and Lahore.These efforts were not very successful.
After this, in the year 1924, Madras Presidency Club started broadcasting radio.
It closed in 1927.
 In the same year, broadcasting was started by private companies from Mumbai and Kolkata.
The day 1 January 1936 is very important in the history of radio in India.
 On this date, broadcasting started from the Delhi center of the Indian State Broadcasting Service. The first news bulletin was broadcast on radio on 19th January this year.
After this, on 8 June 1936, the name of Indian State Broadcasting Service was changed to All India Radio.
 Radio has not only closely observed India's freedom movement but has also contributed to it.
Lord Mountbatten, Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah addressed the people of the country through radio.
It was the intervening night of 14-15 August 1947, when the ceremony of granting independence to India was broadcast live on radio from the Central Hall of Parliament.
Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi also addressed the people of the country on 12 November 1947 from the Prasarshan Bhawan of New Delhi.
 He considered radio as an effective medium to convey his message to the common man.
In the year 1957, on 3 October, the name of All India Radio was changed to Akashvani.
 In accordance with the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, Akashvani is successfully doing the work of providing useful information related to public interest to the common man. Radio has played an important role in social change from the independence movement till today.Radio has completed the task of conveying civilisation, culture, contemporary events of the country, state and abroad as well as useful information to the general public with seriousness and responsibility.
Radio is continuously doing the work of taking public welfare schemes to every section of the society successfully.
All India Radio has made Bahujan Hitaya Bahujan Sukhaay its motto.
Its meaning is that one who benefits everyone, who gives happiness to everyone. Truly radio is beneficial for everyone.The work of providing useful information to everyone is being done continuously, without stopping and without getting tired.
 Various informative cultural programs broadcast on radio are continuously being done to provide happiness to everyone.
It is also true that for almost 6 decades after the independence movement, radio was considered synonymous with All India Radio.
 After this, when television came to India in 1970, the radio's influence on the hearts of the people got shaken a bit and faltered.Even after this, people's love for radio did not diminish. Even today, people listening to radio are present everywhere, from houses and shops to village squares and intersections.
Even in remote and inaccessible areas, in dense forests, where television networks do not work from sea to sky, radio waves along with the air keep their listeners connected with the country and the world.
Radio broadcasts can be easily heard everywhere, in water, forest, land and sky.
It is true that the communication revolution that took place in the beginning of the twentieth century has brought about a lot of changes in the mass media of India.
 People's access to information has now become easier through television, mobile and internet.
Many inventions of new technology including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram are very popular these days for exchange of ideas, discussion and reflection.
 Even after this the magic of radio remains intact.People are crazy about radio.It is the result of people's love for radio that despite the existence of television or other means of exchanging information across the world, the number of people who believe in radio has increased and is increasing.
There has been a huge increase in the number of radio stations around the world.
In India, in the year 1947, there were only 6 radio stations of All India Radio, whose number has increased to more than 470 today.
These stations of All India Radio are broadcasting programs of public interest in 23 languages ​​and dialects.People in India and abroad like these programs very much.
Today, more than 607 news bulletins in different languages ​​are being broadcast daily from All India Radio.
It is also important to mention here that radio covers more than 99% of the population in India.
All India Radio's listeners listen to it with great interest across national and state borders and even abroad.
Likes radio programmes.They also give their feedback on the programs broadcast by All India Radio. From time to time, All India Radio changes its programs keeping in mind the preferences of the listeners and presents them in new forms.
All these programs prove useful for the listeners.
 Through this the listeners are improving their knowledge.
 Radio is no longer solely representative of government controlled institutions.Many private companies are successfully operating FM stations in the country and abroad.
More than 500 private FM radio stations are being successfully operated in various cities of India.
Community radio is also a form of radio through which various social organizations are broadcasting public useful information to different sections of the society.
Useful information, entertainment and educational programs are being broadcast on radio for everyone - children, youth, men, women and elderly.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has increased the respect of India across the world, has further increased the fame of radio through his popular program Mann Ki Baat.
 Keeping in mind the seriousness of the common public's connection with radio, he started the Mann Ki Baat program from 3 October 2014.
The wonderful initiative taken by Prime Minister Shri Modi on radio through Mann Ki Baat to communicate with the people of the country has created new records of popularity in the country and abroad.Mann Ki Baat has deeply penetrated the minds of people through radio.
Till now, more than 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat have been telecast. Along with our dear countrymen, Indians living abroad also eagerly wait for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat. In Shri Modi's Mann Ki Baat on radio, such exemplary examples and ideal personalities are discussed which inspire us to do better work for the country and society.In Shri Modi's Mann Ki Baat on radio, such exemplary examples and ideal personalities are discussed which inspire us to do better work for the country and society.
It is important to mention here that now radio is also present on different platforms of social media like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter.
 It is known as Radio Plus.It gives the freedom to listen to the radio anytime, anywhere and that too without a radio set. You can easily listen to radio on your mobile phone.
 Along with social changes, radio has also changed itself with time.
 According to the choice and needs of the listeners, new programs are being created and broadcast on radio.
Radio is contributing for the betterment and progress of every section of our society.
It should be believed that the public's relationship with radio will always remain.Pay attention to what a poet has said:
"My guess is not very good,
Maybe my words will reach your heart."

 

Source : The author is casual news editor at Akashvani Bhopal. Contact: 9424466269