Hey friends!

Just wanted to check if you people still enjoy listening a radio broadcast?

Radio was my world

Back in my student days, when televisions, internet and smart phones weren't available to me, the radio was the best medium of entertainment, news & information, live cricket commentaries and interactions. The first thing I used to do on waking up was to switch on my radio. And it used to keep playing music through out late night hours while I used to study.

Those were the days of Short Wave (SW) & Medium Wave (MW) broadcasts. It was so exciting when we used to get connected with stations from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), BBC London and other remote locations.

The voice was not as clear as today's FM radio broadcasts and we used to keep tuning in for stations for the best reception quality. There were several stations in India itself.

Radio was the most respected medium of those days. We often used to write a 15 paise postcard to interact with the program host and even the program presenters used to remember our names and locations.

How can I forget that the first ever cheque I received in my life was from All India Radio. When we used to go to a radio station for giving some program, they used to pay us some remuneration for it too. I opened my first bank account in my student days just to clear cheques of radio station. What fun it was!

But today, when we have so many mediums for entertainment and information; not many people listen to radio. Today, several private players have entered this space and all broadcast is on FM frequency. Of course, that has the best quality but I don't get the transmission for most stations even if I'm slightly away from the city.

In this age of smart phones, internet, video and live streaming, why am I even talking about radio?

World Radio Day

Well, do you guys know that yesterday it was World Radio Day?

World Radio Day is celebrated every year on 13^th February since 2012. UNESCO chose this day as it's the foundation day for United Nations Radio.

So yesterday, while listening to radio I was expecting something special on this day. To my disappointment, nobody even mentioned that it was World Radio Day! So today I searched a little for it. I found some information on Radiodays Europe's website.

From there I came to know that India too celebrates World Radio Day and this was the second year when they hosted The Radio Festival of India in Delhi. Interestingly, the organiser of the Radio Festival told that she got inspired to do something like this in India after witnessing Radiodays Europe.

Theme of World Radio Day this year was Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace.

Radio is the cheapest medium for broadcasting. Community Radio stations have helped in times of crisis and calamities several times. This shows its power in the times of emergency.

I wish the medium of radio will continue to play an important role in bringing peace to this world.