Today is National Broadcasting Day, it was on this day that the Indian Broadcasting Company was established
Dehradun: “This is All India Radio…” – for many born in the 20th century, this phrase still echoes in their ears from time to time. Radio – the most powerful medium of information and entertainment in the previous century. You might already know that Akashvani came into existence in 1956; before that, it was known as All India Radio (AIR). However, radio’s journey in India had actually begun much earlier – back in 1923, over three and a half decades before Akashvani was born. It took four more years to take an institutional form, and in 1927, the Indian Broadcasting Company was established in Bombay (now Mumbai). On July 23 of that year, the company aired its first broadcast. That day is now celebrated as National Broadcasting Day.
So today, let’s take this opportunity to remember radio’s journey in India. The Indian Broadcasting Company was a private enterprise. It set up its first radio station in Bombay, and within the same year, a second station in Calcutta (now Kolkata). At that time, radio was accessible mainly to the urban elite. Along with music and songs, news bulletins were also broadcast. For three years, the company continued operating these stations, but eventually, due to severe financial difficulties, it declared bankruptcy. In 1930, the then British government established the Indian State Broadcasting Service, which was renamed All India Radio (AIR) in 1936.
After independence, AIR expanded rapidly. Today, AIR operates 591 stations, covering 98% of the country’s population and broadcasting in 23 languages and 146 dialects. The government’s initiatives such as community radio reflect the importance of broadcasting, especially in reaching remote areas. Even in this fast-paced era of rapidly evolving technology, radio continues to hold its ground and remain relevant.
