History of Indian Radio

Introduction

Radio has always been an integral part of India’s history and its peoples’ stories. The mostly scattered Indian subcontinent started accommodating into a single place after the inauguration of radio transmission. The All India Radio (AIR) has played the most important role in the development of this third world country (of 19th century). The significant history of Indian radio broadcasting has faced both different advantages and several drawbacks from - its early days till today. The history of Indian radio cannot be defined as an area of interest or a topic - rather it is a real depiction of the social, economic, cultural, political and humanitarian evolution of the nation. 

From where the radio started its journey?

Interestingly, the radio clubs of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay introduced the radio culture or the use of radio as a communicating device or medium. The first radio broadcasting was performed from the roof of The Times of India building in August, 1920. In 1920s the nation had got its radio sets and the use of radio as a news broadcasting media was started from that era, which is still keeping its own identity with a supreme legacy. The first news broadcasting was planned in June 1923 during the colonial period and the programs were organized by the Bombay presidency Radio Club and radio club of Calcutta.

The beginning of radio broadcasting:

The two radio stations in Bombay and Calcutta was set up for the most unique purpose of communicating to the mass at given time, in the era of 1920s. The private organization named Indi Broadcasting Company Ltd. (IBC) was authorized to operate the two stations of Bombay and Calcutta from 23rd July, 1923 and 26th August, 1923 respectively.  At that time there was only 3000 licensed radio owners were present in India. After 7 years the IBC has went into liquidation on 1st March, 1930.  The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has begun news broadcasting in India in 1930s, when the tariffs on radio was increased and radio was considered as the “Rich Man’s Toy”. 

Radios role in the pre-independence era:

After the creation of radio stations in India, the revolutionaries started thinking of utilizing the radio wave and setting up own communication networks for the freedom movement and its gradual growth. The revolutionary newspapers of the indigenous groups was already seized and banned by the British government for controlling the freedom movement and people’s agitation, and in this kind of time the radio has appeared as a golden opportunity for the freedom fighter Leaders for rebuilt the communication. This was an appropriate chance for the groups to rejuvenate the freedom movement and raise commoners’ voice against the British rulers. When the radio sets number 100000 crossed in the nation there was numerous underground radio frequency present. Most of them were found and revoked, the communication links were lost and the axis powers were destabilized; but the radio has continued to play its role in the crisis period of pre-independence. When the World War 2 has started BBC started to neglect the Indian news. The Azad Hind Radio has begun its journey from that time as an initiative of Subhash Chandra Bose, to serve the people of India. 

Government and Radio:

In April, 1930 the government took over the radio services and broadcasting networks, and formed Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS). After two years the British Broadcasting Company started radio news broadcasting in India. In 1932, the Indian Tariffs (Wireless Broadcasting) Act was amended to supplement the earnings of the ISBS. At that time the possessions of radio set without having a license was treated as an offence. The radio and its broadcasting was not easily available for most of the common people, it was only showcased as an legacy of the rich mansions of the city and o impact over the rural areas of the nation. Communal radios has started appearing gradually and different kind of radio shows started which might present an aspect of liberalism in the social context of India. In March, 1935 an Office of Controller of Broadcasting was created under the surveillance of the Department of Industries and Labour of Indian government. In the year of 1936, the Delhi radio station was set up and opened in the month of January and the ISBS was renamed as All India Radio (AIR) on 8th June. In 1937, AIR was transferred to the Department of Communications. In 1938 Rabindranath Tagore composed a poem entitled as “Akashvani” on the occasion of inauguration of Calcutta short-wave transmission. By 1939, short-wave transmitters were installed in Delhi, Bombay and Madras. News bulletin of all languages was centralized in the Delhi station. New medium-wave transmission stations were formed at Tiruchirapalli and Lucknow.  In the year of 1941, All India Radio was finally transferred to the Department of Information and Broadcasting which has become a separate ministry after the independence of 1947. 

Independence era:

In 1947, there was only nine radio stations present in the nation, which were – Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Lucknow, Tiruchirapalli, Peshawar, Lahore and Dhaka. The total number of radio sets present at that time was around 275,000. Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the first Minister of the Information and Broadcasting ministry of independent India. The tagline of All India Radio has created which has attracted the Indian to know the role and presence of  radio in life, it was “Bahujana Hitaya Bahujana Sukhaya”.  The radio broadcasting has become more generalized and common after the price of radio sets was lessened when AIR started to emphasize the educational and cultural improvement in radio broadcasting part from news dissemination. 

Introducing Vividh Bharti:

In 195, AIR was officially known as AKASHVANI. In 3rd October,1957, Vividh Bharti service was launched not only to reach the most people of the nation but also to compete a Sri Lanka based radio station Radio Ceylon – which was known as the first ever radio station in Asia. In the same year, Rural Radio Forums were started to form in the remote areas of India.  After some time Vividh Bharti was extended to medium-wave transmission which was meant for more listenership. The arrival of transistors at a low cost and the formation of radio in mobile as a portable device have increased the reach of AIR historically. 

Commercializing the Indian radio:

After 1964, when Indira Gandhi has become the minister of Information and Broadcasting, the Chanda Committee was formed headed by A.K.Chanda (former Comptroller and Auditor General of India). This committee was formed to convert AIR into a corporation which would run by a Board of Directors, to separate the existence of Radio from Television and to commercialize Vividh Bharti for earning revenue. Finally in 1967, Vividh Bharti was commercialized.

Prasar Bharati formation:

In 1990, the Prasar Bharati Bill was passed by the Parliament, but the subsequent governments did not approve it. So the act was finally implemented after 7 years, in September of 1997 and separated the two distinct bodies of Broadcasting Corporation of India – Akashvani and Doordarshan. These two bodies were started functioning as a corporate with a board of directors led by a Chairman. Members of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting were the part of the Board of Directors.

After these various initiatives the educational programs for students, distance learning by radio collaborating with IGNOU has started, various anti-superstitious programs, musical programs, agricultural programs , dramas and other entertainment programs has started. 

Conclusion

The history of radio from its formation, its evolution, its commercialization to the new wave FM frequencies of present days – all are glorious in their own characteristics. The history of radio cannot be limited by dividing the initiatives step-by-step. It is a large area of understanding which will tirelessly present new information about Indian radio one after another. This astonishing part of India is being investigated and recreated till now. As an Indian we all should know the historical part of Indian radio which is still carrying its legacy and enjoying its journey with its own pace. 

                              

                                  - Shruti Nag