Nostalgia about the All India Radio
Nostalgia about the All India Radio| All India Radio
This post is about the sweet memories of All India Radio or, as we call it, Akashwani. I know we still have access to the radio and it still has many listeners. But my point of the discussion is, how important radio was back then in and before the 1990s.
Growing in a middle-class background, our day used to start with radio. As the sun would shed its light on our eyes, we’d wake up with the morning bhajans, followed by the news. The news used to be transmitted from Delhi. Radio was a very useful and impactful device back then.
Once we would come back from our schools in the afternoon, it’d be Vividh Bharati with its rhythmic start. I remember there used to be a program named "Sakhi Saheli". It was mostly my mother who used to have her radio running in her kitchen. Later in the drawing-room, when she would do other home chores such as stitching, sorting the veggies, and cleaning cupboards, or even folding and ironing the clothes, Vividh Bharati was all we’d listen to. No matter what chores, the radio was like a common thing. It was indeed a family member.
I still remember some other programs like "Aaj ke fankaar" or be it some other programs that were the only celebrity interactions back then. The announcement used to be very clean and composed. There was no whizz and whoosh. Everything was quite laid back then. I remember my mother saying, “with the radio, you can do your work, instead of sticking to the television”. It was like a background score of our life back then.
Once all the chores would get done and when it is bedtime, I remember my grandma listening to Indian classical music at night. Honestly, it used to make me drowsier. Who can forget the Iconic akashwani signature tune?
I still remember how my Grandpa used to be stuck on the radio for listening to the cricket match commentary "BSNL chauka.... connecting India!!". I must say it did connect India on days like Independence Day and Republic day.
The honored president's speech in the language which the locals would feel theirs. It really made everyone in India proud.
We do have some programs even today like "Mann ki baat", where we have a great talk from our respected Prime minister.
We do have a great platform in the internet age like the news on AIR online portal and app.
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Be it Indian music or pop music, it was All India Radio which used to promote all of it. The FM Rainbow channel was the one-stop for all the pop music. The most important program was the one for the Indian soldiers, where they would send a letter requesting songs to be played. It was great to know about them and that they are having communication with their loved ones situated far away. Where there was no electricity in some areas, radio made sure to keep people entertained.
I agree we have all of that right now on a digital platform. I even agree that technology should be updated, but somewhere in today's world, I still miss it. It was something which was more inclined towards the composure of one’s mind even with the connection and entertainment than what it is right now.
I really don’t know or understand what it is that in those days listening to the radio felt really different. It still cannot be replaced by any of today's digital media. What is that reason?
(Ps. Do comment and let me know!)
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