The Bhupen Hazarika School of Mass Communication, Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University organised a special lecture on 13th February, 2024 on the occasion of World Radio Day. Utpal Datta, Professor of Practice, Performing Arts, Assam Down Town University was the resource person who delivered a lecture on ‘Radio at the crossroads in India’. At the very outset, the Director (i/c) of the Bhupen Hazarika School of Mass Communication, Professor Prasenjit Das threw light on the importance of World Radio Day which is a UNESCO International Day celebrated on 13th February every year since it was adopted in 2011. Professor Nripendra Narayan Sarma, Director of the Maniram Dewan School of Management , KKHSOU , in his opening remarks said that radio is the most democratic medium in providing access to everyone. He said that radio’s unique ability to reach out to the widest audience means it can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. The resource person, in his speech, said that the day is an opportunity to celebrate radio as a medium - a chance to promote international cooperation between radio broadcasters, to encourage major networks and local radio stations to foster access to information and freedom of expression. Keeping in line with this year’s theme on Radio : A century informing, entertaining and educating , he said that radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse. He then goes on to talk about the status of radio in the country whereby government radio (AIR) and private radio (FM) occupies a major chunk of the broadcasting scenario in the country. Shri Dutta also delved on the history of radio broadcasting in India- both in the pre and post-Independence period with special emphasis on All India Radio. It was said that AIR initially began as the Indian State Broadcasting Service under the British colonial rule, and its first broadcast took place in Bombay (now Mumbai). Thereafter, in the post-Independence period, All India Radio underwent significant expansion, both in terms of infrastructure and programming. It became a public service broadcaster with a mission to inform, educate, and entertain. He also discussed some of the important milestones of AIR, including the commencement of stereo broadcasting in 1977 and the introduction of FM broadcasting in the 1980s. In spite of the rapid progress made by the broadcasting sector, a few burning problems related to financial sustainability, competition with digital platforms, audience fragmentation, content quality and technology still persists. It was also mentioned that radio has the ability to reach across borders and can become a valuable source of information where reliable news is scarce.
