National Broadcasting Day 2023: India celebrates National Broadcasting Day on July 23 to recognize the profound impact of radio on our lives. This day marks the beginning of the first radio broadcast in India, known as “All India Radio (AIR).” To commemorate this event, All India Radio (AIR) hosted a symposium in New Delhi devoted to investigating new forms of communication and discussing the role of broadcasting in shaping a modern India.
Journey from IBC to Akashvani
During British rule, the Radio Club of Bombay initiated the introduction of radio broadcasting services in India in 1923.
The first radio transmission in India began in 1927 at Bombay Station under the Indian Broadcasting Company.
On July 23, 1927, All India Radio was founded as a private company known as “Indian Broadcasting Company Ltd (IBC),” and this date became the foundation for National Broadcasting Day, which was established in 1936.
Later, on June 8, 1936, the IBC became All India Radio (AIR). The name “Akashvani” was officially adopted by AIR in 1956, drawing inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore’s 1938 poem “Akashvani,” which translates to “voice or announcement from the skies.”
National Broadcasting Day is a significance
India’s radio played a significant influence in the country’s independence. Azad Hind Radio, led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Congress Radio were instrumental in inspiring and mobilizing Indians against British colonial authority prior to independence. Moreover, during the 1971 war, Akashvani played a pivotal role in assisting Bangladesh’s liberation struggle against Pakistan’s oppressive forces. These historical contributions demonstrate the enormous influence radio broadcasting has had on molding the nation’s destiny. Consequently, National Broadcasting Day is a momentous occasion for our nation, commemorating the force of broadcasting and its role in shaping India’s history.
History of Indian Radio Broadcasting
Radio broadcasting in India began with private initiatives in 1923 and 1924, when radio clubs were established in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras (present-day Chennai). However, owing to financial limitations, these stations were forced to close.
Subsequently, an experimental Broadcasting Service was introduced in July 1927 in Bombay and a month later in Calcutta through an agreement between the Government of India and the Indian Broadcasting Company Ltd.
In response to public outrage over the closure of the Indian Broadcasting Company, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) was established on April 1, 1930. In 1932, after beginning as an experiment, it was placed permanently under government control.
In 1936, a new radio station was established in Delhi. The Indian Broadcasting Service was rebranded as All India Radio (AIR) on June 8 of the same year, with a new signature melody. Eventually, the Delhi station became the center of national-level broadcasting.
