80 years of AIR: Remembering the golden days of All India Radio

Most of us brush aside the magic that good old radio can bring to our lives. Back in the days, even owning a radio was a matter of pride. Until the advent of television, radio was the prime source of entertainment. Many All India Radio listeners still recall those days when the radio broadcasted a coherent mix of news, soothing music, drama, cricket commentaries and gripping topical talks. All India Radio broadcast started in 1923 via 2 private stations-Radio Club of Bombay & later Calcutta Radio Club. In 1924, broadcasting service was initiated by the Madras Presidency Radio Club. After the Indian Broadcast Company in Mumbai and Kolkata went bankrupt it was shutdown in 1930. Later, Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) under Department of Industries and Labour was launched.

It was on July 23, 1927 that organised broadcasting kick started. Lionel Fielden was the first controller of Broadcasting in India. He was a senior BBC producer who spent five years in India as the controller of broadcasting and one of the main people who established All India Radio (AIR). It came under the control of the Government of India in 1936. 

June 8, 2016, that is today, marks 80 years since All India Radio started its broadcasting operations. Since then, Radio broadcast in our country has come through a long winding journey, with hundreds of radio stations being established in several cities. However, nothing can match up to the nostalgia All India Radio can evoke. Almost all of us have memories, ranging from vivid to vague, of listening to the signature 'akashavani' jingle at the break of dawn:

The signature tune of All India Radio was composed by Walter Kaufmann, then director of music at AIR. Kauffman was forced to leave Prague because of Hitler's fascist rule. He came to India in 1934. He lived in Bombay for twelve years and worked in the music department of All India Radio. He did significant research on Indian music and even worked for Hindi movies.

"In India's remote villages there are many who, after the day's work is done, find time hanging heavily...and there must be many officials whose duties carry them into out-of-way places, where they crave company of friends and solace of human companionship. To all these and many more broadcasting will be a blessing and boon of real value." These are words spoken by Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin at the inauguration of the Bombay Station of Indian Broadcasting Company on July 23, 1927. His words still hold true to a large extent. People even in the most remote village find peace in the company of a radio. According to the All India Radio website , "AIR today broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects catering to a vast spectrum of socio-economically and culturally diverse populace."