ISBS to AIR :82 years on...

“Splendid!” I said, “And what beautiful initials!” The Viceroy concluded that he had invented it. And there was no more trouble.

          Thus All India Radio was born.”

Organized broadcasting in India began in Bombay when the first station of the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) was inaugurated by the British Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin on July 23^rd 1927. Calcutta soon got its own station on August 26, 1927. These stations operated on medium wave of 1.5 kw of power. Radio Broadcasts by the end of the year reached about 3500 license holders.

However in a tragic turn of events, the IBC went bankrupt owing to under-capitalisation and high price of receiving sets. The liquidation of the company led to many representations to the government for the continuance of the service.  The government decided to take over the stations at Bombay and Calcutta at the depreciated value of its assets and staff at the existing terms of the company.  Thus from April 1, 1930 broadcasting in India came under the direct control of the government.  It was placed in the Department of Industries and Labour under the designation ‘Indian Broadcasting Service’. Faced with financial stringency, the government reduced IBC’s monthly expenditure to Rs. 2400 and then further to Rs. 2200.  Faced with ‘recession’, the government eventually decided to close down the broadcasting service. 

The decision naturally caused widespread resentment and certain amount of agitation especially in Bengal.  The Government of India therefore decided to continue its broadcasting service by increasing duty on the Receiving Sets from the existing 25% to 50 %.

By the end of 1932 when the BBC started its Empire Service, the number of people opting for receivers steadily increased from 8000 to 11000 approximately. The number jumped to 16000 by the end of 1934, when the government embarked on a policy of development of broadcasting by sanctioning Rs. 2.50 lakhs for the establishment of a radio station in Delhi.

In September 1935, broadcasting began in the princely state of Mysore with the name AKASHVANI (the voice from the sky).  Dr. Gopalaswamy, Professor of Psychology at the Mysore University had set up a 30 watt transmitter at his house.  A 250 watt transmitter was later imported.  It continued with support from the public and the Mysore Municipality till it was taken over by the Mysore State in 1941. 

The Delhi station of the Indian State Broadcasting Service went on the air on January 1, 1936, from the temporary studios in 18 Alipur Road.  The 20 kw mw transmitter was located at Mall Road.  By now Controller Lionel Fielden, was able to persuade the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow to adopt the name ALL INDIA RADIO despite opposition from the Secretariat.  The new name was adopted from June 8, 1936.

(*-Extract from an interview with Sir Lionel Fielden, the first Controller General of AIR on the name All India Radio, his creation.)

Of Guns and Roses…and Radio Stations

On 31st July 2016, All India Radio, Aizawl celebrated Golden Jubilee. The station has a vibrant  rhythmic history. Basudha Banerji, Programme Executive, Central English Features Unit, DG:AIR, Delhi, shares glorious legacy & raison d'être of the station...Read on to find how All India Radio has always been one up in community service.

Surely, this is the stuff of legend – the setting up of a government-run radio station amidst a full-blown militant movement in the North-east that declared war on the Indian Union!

On 31 July this year, the legend turned golden, and while All India Radio’s Aizawl station celebrated its half-century with a befitting two-day cultural extravaganza, it is also appropriate, to rewind to fifty years ago.

In 1966, what we know as Mizoram today was the Lushai Hills District of Undivided Assam. In
March that year, what we call the Mizo insurgency spread like wildfire through the length and breadth of these hills. The times were bloody and disturbing, the shadow of the gun loomed large and the threat to all government-run institutions was only too real.

It was in such trying times that AIR was called upon to start its Aizawl station with a low power Medium Wave transmitter atop a hill in central Aizawl to complement the broadcast of Mizo programmes beaming from AIR Shillong via a Short Wave transmitter of AIR Guwahati. The studios and offices were crowded into a small makeshift Assam Type quarter meant for the Civil Surgeon.

The fledgling radio station faced many threats from underground elements. There were other teething troubles too, the typical challenges faced by our stations in remote tribal outposts, inhospitable and inaccessible terrain. But the show went on.

What was the role played by this small radio station during the 20 years of

insurgency?

“A sterling role - the station moulded public opinion and promoted the much-needed sense of emotional and national integration with broadcasts of widely listened-to entertainment and spoken word programmes, including news,” said C. Lalrosanga, former DG, Doordarshan, and a senior broadcaster who hails from Mizoram.

“A Regional News Unit was set up here in 1975", Mr Lalrosanga adds, “during the national Emergency and the height of insurgency.” The news bulletins have enjoyed credibility and significant listenership, the Aaj Subah programme is immensely popular.

The Mizos are a music-loving people and it was music that made the difference, whether Mizo devotional or Western, love songs or traditional and folk numbers. The music that provided a platform to the local talent, music that knitted feuding factions together. For, “it is music that makes the world a more harmonious place,” in the words of the famous song.

The music has continued unabated, to beam from the transmitters of AIR Aizawl, transmitters that changed with the times, music that changed its beat with the times…But AIR Aizawl continues, like a Long-Playing record!

Yes, she can move mountains! Meet Saachi Soni

COL. RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE PRESENTS FLAG TO IIMC STUDENT SAACHI SONI FOR LA ULTRA MARATHON

Payal Choudhary in a candid conversation with 22 year old Young Mountaineer, Saachi Soni

“Because mountaineering is a way of life for me”, says 22 year old Saachi Soni, the first Indian Women participant who will be representing India in the La Ultra—The High Ultra Marathon in Leh this year.  La Ultra – The High is an ultra-marathon which unlike other marathons is a more cruel and hard one to take part in. La Ultra gives you the highest temperature variation like no other. This marathon will be conducted in Ladakh.

Ladakh, a Trans Himalayan region in northern India is a cold high altitude desert. Temperatures here in August can fluctuate from 40 Degree C hot to MINUS 12 C cold in matter of 6 hours. You will touch altitudes of 17,500 feet 3 times in the 333 Km category, 2 times in 222 Km & once in the 111 Km category. Saachi is a participant in the 111km category, wherein she will be running through the limits of human endurance, both mental & physical.

Saachi, an outgoing student of Post Gradate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi, started off with her journey at the age of 7, when she explored her interest of mountaineering and adventure sports. She is no stranger with scaling peaks.   She scaled North America’s Mt Mckinley (Denali), one of the 10 most dangerous mountains in the world in 2015.

Following are the expeditions she has participated in and won laurels for the nation:

• Saachi is the youngest Indian person to scale Australia’s 10 highest (75km hike) peaks in just 2.5 days.
•   Youngest Indian woman to scale Europe's highest peak Mt. Elbrus. (Caucasus Range).
•  Have Scaled Peak in Indian Himalayas- Gharwal , Sikkim , Spiti and Himachal.
•  Mt. Deo Tibba 6001m
•   Mt. Everest 2013 (south col)
•  Mt. Corner peak 6050m
•  Mt. Renok summited twice (Winter Ascent)
•  Mt. VC Roy 19,500ft
•  Mt. Bandarpoonch 6316m.
•  Mt. Mckinley , North America's Highest peak

Water sports Basic course- Kayaking, Canoeing , sailing, water surfing, water search and rescue etc.
Snow Skiing- Gulmarg and Manali.

Indian Institute of Mass Communication played an important role in preparing Saachi for the La Ultra Marathon. “DG IIMC K.G Suresh and the institute has been of great help, they have supported me throughout the preparation for this marathon, which is an ultra-marathon.”, says Saachi, when asked about her alma mater, IIMC.

When asked about her inspiration in life she said, “I love getting on mountains, and now it is a way of life for me, that has inspired me throughout”. Saachi has taken training sessions for this marathon, with her regular sessions of 6 hours of running, and workout at Khajan Singh Stadium.

In her message to the nation as a closing remark, Saachi said, “we young people should always follow our inner call, as we are capable of marvellous works to do in life”, “don’t follow others but always follow yourself”.  All India Radio wishes this strong youth icon of India, all the very best for this marathon and life ahead.

Formal Allocation of portfolios in Cabinet expansion & reshuffle of Narendra Modi's Government

The Odissi Angel dancing over the 'Waves'

In the day and age when people are gradually shifting to ‘popular’ dance forms like Jazz, Salsa, Western and Hip-Hop amongst others , Shamayita Das a Transmission Executive from All India Radio, Jaipur, stands out by keeping the age old dance form of Odisha alive.

Here are a few excerpts from her conversation with Sami A. Khan:

     

1    From the little girl of 10 who executed her first perfect tribhang to the accomplished dancer of today who is happy doing chauk, tell us about the evolution of the dancer in you.

 A .     Dance has been the essence of my life. The reason of my very being in this world. This pursuit would have been impossible without the sacrifice of my mother, and my guru Padmashri Smt. Madhavi Mudgal’s mentorship. Apart from my keen interest in dance, it was my Guru who influenced me to the extent that dance is now a passion, dedication, love and salvation. Here I would like to quote my guru- “you should be able to enjoy your pain and only then you can be a true dancer!”

2     In the era of Bollywood fusion and remixes, tell us about the relevance of classical dance forms.

A. Since time immemorial dance has been a way of manifesting the innermost depths of the soul. It depends on what type of dance form one chooses to express their self. It can be anything – Bollywood, western, jazz, or classical.

Though the world has attained a faster pace, and this is an era of crash courses and expectations have increased manifold, yet classical dance or music still retains its charm amongst its connoisseurs. Senior dancers passed on the knowledge through Guru Shishya Parampara. It is on us how successfully we pass on the tradition of classical arts to our next generation. For this we must make good use of social media, administration and academics. Awareness in this regard has increased to an appreciable extent and nowadays we do see organisations and senior dancers conducting workshops and demonstrations for the propagation of their respective dance forms. Its relevance will never be lost as this is our country’s heritage – and this heritage cannot be tarnished by any means.

3   Why did you also insist on pursuing academics when dance already had a bright future in store?

A .    Academics is indispensable. Without knowledge art remains somewhat incomplete. For me, the understanding of basic principles underlying movement like momentum, inertia, torque, have been helpful in honing my dancing skills. It helps to understand the body and the mind better. You become a better person and a better artiste. Though I had early exposure to this glamour-laden world still I did not compromise on academics as it always supplemented my art and dance provided me the necessary impetus for rejuvenation. I owe whatever I’m today both to dance and academics. Because of academics I am financially independent, and dance has contoured my identity.

4     Was this an easy path? Tell us about your struggles, your trials and tribulations, as you tried to do what was closest to your heart? 

A. Well, this goes without saying that nothing comes without a price. As a child of then, I used to travel 56 kms, thrice a week from Faridabad to I.T.O. to learn dance. I was not only pursuing my favourite art form, but my Guru was a strong motivator. Needless to say that the never ending saga of exams and performances kept me on my heels throughout. When others were playing or relaxing, I was already enroute to a practice session. There had been testing times, but unceasing dedication to my art form, devotion for my Guru, support of my parents, and faith in myself kept me moving. I have often heard parents say that it is difficult to pursue your passion whole-heartedly along with academics, but in Tagore’s words I would like to say that, “no knowledge in this life is unlearnt, and nothing goes waste who has the desire to fight.” 

Catch Shamayita Das’s mesmerizing performance

Today (19^th May,2016) at India International Centre, New Delhi at 5 pm. 

Dept. of Posts released Commemorative Postage Stamp on #IFR2016

Department of Posts has brought out a Commemorative Postage Stamp on 'International Fleet Review' on 6th February 2016, on the occasion of International Fleet Review 2016. The stamp was released by President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Union Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar and other dignitaries at Visakhapatnam.


Stamps available at ePostOffice at INR 200

To know more about our commemorative stamps, you can also visit the official website of Indian Postal Service






Pic Source: Indian Postage Stamp

Akashvani to broadcast lecture on“Hamara Samay, Samaj Aur Mahabharat” on Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s Birth Anniversary, tomorrow

Akashvani will broadcast lecture on “Hamara Samay, Samaj Aur Mahabharat” on 3^rd December, 2015, to commemorate the 131^st birth anniversary of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. The broadcast will be on the National Hook-up at 9:30pm. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Narendra Kohli, an eminent author in Hindi. The topic deals with relevance of Mahabharat in the present scenario and how theories which are old and are part of a great epic still hold relevance and can guide us into making a beautiful society.

With digital presence of All India Radio, it can be heard through live streaming as well on allindiaradio.gov.in.

Shri Fayyaz Sheheryar, DG, AIR said, “The 61 year old tradition of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Lecture brings forth newer subjects that dwell on India's fast and tireless face to achieve the target of staying shoulder to shoulder with the developed nations."

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Lecture Series has been a part of Akashvani since 1969 and scholars from various fields come and share their views on this day. Some of the names who had been a part of this lecture are Dr. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Smt. Mahadevi Verma, Dr. Girija Vyas, Shri V.P. Singh. The lecture is in Hindi.

This lecture is part of the top billed annual events of All India Radio like Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture Series, Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan, Sarv Bhasha Kavi Sammelan and many more.

  

ENDURING, ENDEARING MONALISA

March 2012. It was a memorial concert for Dr Bhupen Hazarika in Shillong a few months

after his demise. Organized by the North Eastern Service (NES) of AIR. Waves of applause

had greeted the announcement of the song Shillongorey Monalisa Lyngdoh by the maestro’s brother Samar Hazarika.

What is it about this song that continues to pull the crowds forty years after it was first sung, I

remember thinking. A cult classic that is loved by Assamese and Khasi-Jaintias alike…

That’s when I decided to tell the story of Monalisa. The beautiful Khasi maiden from

Shillong, who captures the heart of an Assamese youth. And the imagination of successive

generations.

Monalisa with her guitar, immortalised by Dr Bhupen Hazarika in this much-

loved song : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ErjPZvYWok

This story got told in September 2015 when AIR marked the birth anniversary of the Bard of

Brahmaputra with a feature titled “MONALISA – A GIRL, A SONG AND A DREAM”.  

Shillongorey Monalisa Lyngdoh is a symbolic love song between an Assamese boy and a

Khasi girl, a plains man and a hill maiden, a nontribal and a tribal, and a Hindu and a

Christian. The story of sundering of romance between the pair is an allegory for the

separation of a political kind – the carving out of Meghalaya from “Undivided Assam”. On

the other hand, it is also at the same time, a song of harmony, of hope that the separation

between the communities will end one day.  Written in 1972 against the backdrop of the

trauma and upheaval of the division of states.

There was only one name in my mind for the feature’s script writer - noted English author,

classical vocalist and music critic Mitra Phukan from Guwahati. Luckily for me, Mitra

baideo (elder sister) was happy to come on board. “The times that Hazarika lived through

were some of the most momentous in the history of India’s North-east,” she wrote, “with

fragmentation and gory, long drawn feuds being a part of the chronicles of the

times. Singlehandedly, Hazarika strove to build bridges between the feuding factions, through

his lyrics, music, stage presentations and cinema.”

Bhupen Hazarika’s younger brother, late Jayanta Hazarika, had been the lead singer. His wife

Monisha Hazarika had an interesting anecdote to share on how the song got written “within a

few minutes”. At the two-storied house which served as HMV’s temporary recording studio

in Guwahati those days. After standing up Jayanta and the musicians for the whole day at the

studio, Bhupen Hazarika had strolled in at 8pm, asking, “Are we all ready to record?”

“What do you mean, ready?” Jayanta is said to have burst out. “You never gave the song to us!"

"Okay, okay,” said Bhupen. “Let me write it and you shall set it to music.”

Sitting on the ground floor he wrote four lines which were then sent up to Jayanta on the first

floor, who set them to music. The exercise was repeated for the next four lines, and the next...

A 19-year-old JP Das was sitting by his friend Jayanta’s side that day. With his guitar. JP Das

was one of that generation of people who were displaced suddenly by the division of states.

Who was steeped in western music, “specially the Beatles” - his inheritance from the little

Rock and Roll town called Shillong.

The whistling that precedes the song and the harmonizing – an alien concept in Assamese

music of that era – were his contributions to the song, JP Das tells me.

A retired Assistant Station Director of AIR Guwahati, JP Das can look back on a successful

music career today. He is still singing the song at concerts and get-togethers in both states. 

The young crowds are still lapping it up, he informs me.

“Monalisa Lyngdoh, you who live in Shillong, keep on playing hillbilly music with the guitar

in your hands…” goes the opening bars and refrain of the song.

The song will continue to play on, as Padmashri Dr Helen Giri, a stalwart in the realms of arts

and culture in Meghalaya tells us. “Monalisa Lyngdoh needs to play on and on and on,” she stresses.

The radio feature “MONALISA – A GIRL, A SONG AND A DREAM” was awarded the

Public Service Broadcasting Award on November 12 this year. In the true spirit of public

service broadcasting, which seeks to integrate a variety of people in the sutra of enlightened

togetherness and compassion, this programme salutes Dr. Bhupen Hazarika’s stellar efforts to

knit the Northeast together and then meld the Northeast into the mainstream of this diverse

country. The feature is accessible on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoJZu5YPcr0&feature=youtu.be

As the singers extol the virtues of love transcending all boundaries, as evident from the image

of the two star-crossed lovers meeting in Nongpoh, the mid-point of the journey between

Shillong and Guwahati, the question arises, are we, the people of today, ready to take a step

forward and meet the ‘other’ half-way?

This is a contribution by Ms. Basudha Banerji, PEX, DG: AIR, Delhi. She won the Public Service Broadcasting Award 2015 for her feature “MONALISA – A GIRL, A SONG AND A DREAM". This award is given every year on November 12, which is observed as Public Service Broadcasting Day, to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's first and only visit to All India Radio on that date in the year 1947. 

AIR Hyderabad gets award

AIR Hyderabad gets award

http://www.telugupeople.com/news/article_00100628_AIR_Hyderabad_gets_award.asp

Hyderabad, Nov 26 (INN): The All India Radio, Hyderabad has bagged second prize in "Innovative Category" in the Akashvani Annual Awards-2014 for the programme titled 'Viswa Guru', which was produced by Amabadipudi Murali Krishna, senior Grade Announcer of AIR, Hyderabad.

An Akashvani annual award is a prestigious event conducted at the national level with participation from all AIR stations across the country in various languages. AIR, DDG (Engineering), Narendra Kumari, V. Udaya Sankar, Station Director (I/C) and other staff appreciated Murali Krishna on announcing the award.

On the request of audience the award winning programme will be broadcast again on November 30. The award function will be organized soon in New Delhi, informed Udaya Sankar.

Akashvani hosted Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture on "Hamara Samay, Samaj aur Mahabharat"

BROADCAST OF DR. RAJENDRA PRASAD MEMORIAL LECTURE 2015, WILL BE ON DR. RAJENDRA PRASAD BIRTH ANNIVERSARY ON 3rd DECEMBER 2015 @ 9:30PM ON THE NATIONAL HOOK UP

Akashvani hosted Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial  Lecture 2015 on "Hamara Samay, Samaj aur  Mahabharat", today at the National Media Centre, New Delhi.

The focus of the lecture was on events of bygone era and its relevance to the present day society.
This was eloquently dealt with by eminent scholar and author of Hindi Dr. Narendra Kohli, who has to his credit illuminating work on reinventing the ancient form of epic writing in modern prose.
Dr. Kohli brought forth various facets of the Mahabharata and correlated them with the present scenario and spoke about how we need to work towards a better, fulfilled and progressive society.
He said the Mahabharta was definitely not a "Yudhashastra, but a Dharamshastra that teaches us the way of life."
Director General of All India Radio, Fayyaz Sheheryar, said, "Interpreting ancient religious philosophies of India is a bounden duty of all free-thinking Indians as we get closer to the truth through our 'Darshana' which is globally adored and eulogised."
"The subject dealt with today is one significant stride in the direction of knitting India internally and welding it with the remaining world which is essentially peace- starved," he added.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Lecture Series has been a part of Akashvani since 1969 and scholars from various fields come and share their views on this day.
Some of the names who have been a part of this lecture series are Dr. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Mahadevi Verma, Dr. Girija Vyas and V.P. Singh.
The lecture, which commemorates the 131st birth anniversary of our Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India's first president, will be broadcast on December 3 at 9.30 p.m.
It was attended by the Chairman, Prasar Bharati, the Director

General of the AIR, Prasar Bharti Board Members, other dignitaries and officers.

AIR to record and preserve folk songs

New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) To preserve India's immensely diverse and rich legacy, public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) has undertaken a special project to record lakhs of folk songs, sung across states on various occasions, and preserve these for future generations.

Officials told PTI that an important aspect of this project is that folk and ceremonial songs will be recorded in their pristine beauty for posterity.

"This is a unique project and its scale considering India's ethno-linguistic diversity is simply huge. It is planned that over 200 AIR stations across the country would record folk songs, which will be preserved for future generations," a senior official said.

The officials said India's folk song heritage is rich but these songs need to be preserved for posterity. Around 5,000 songs have already been collected as part of this project, they added.

"In some societies, the songs are accompanied by a dholak and a spoon is used to create additional music. So when professional folk singers sing them, often the synthesiser takes place of the spoon. However, the attempt in this project, is to record these songs as they are originally sung," the senior official said.

To ensure that the songs are preserved in a proper manner, it has been planned to not only record these songs but also add original script, its translations in Hindi and English, background note and notations.

The officials said that several workshops have been held in various cities to apprise AIR officials, who are working for this project.

Giving details, another official said that last year, a workshop had been held in Shillong as the northeastern states have a very rich and varied cultural legacy. Workshops have also been held in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and other cities and another one is being planned in Jaipur, the official added.

Courtesy 
http://www.ptinews.com/news/6763264_AIR-to-record-and-preserve-folk-songs.html