National Broadcasting Day 2023

National Broadcasting Day is observed on July 23rd to create awareness of the impact of radio broadcasting. It marks the start of organized radio broadcasts in India, which began in 1927 with the establishment of the India Broadcasting Company, the country’s first radio company. Although it was later liquidated within three years, radio broadcasting in India continued to grow, leading to the establishment of the Indian Broadcasting Service in April 1930, which was later renamed as All India Radio (AIR) on June 8th. Over the years, AIR expanded and became an integral part of the Department of Information and Broadcasting in 1941, eventually becoming one of India’s primary broadcasting networks.

Historical Timeline

1927: Establishment of India Broadcasting Company, the first radio company in India, leading to the commencement of organized radio broadcasts.
April 1930: The establishment of Indian Broadcasting Service.
June 8th: Indian Broadcasting Service renamed as All India Radio (AIR).
1941: AIR placed under the Department of Information and Broadcasting.
By the time of Independence: AIR had six stations located in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, and Tiruchirapalli.
July 23rd, 1977: Broadcasting began in Chennai.
Since 1956: AIR officially known as Akashvani, a name derived from a 1938 poem by Rabindranath Tagore.

Facts

The iconic Akashvani tune, which is synonymous with All India Radio, was composed by Walter Kauffman, an Indian Jewish refugee, in 1930. This tune has become a significant part of Indian radio culture and history.

National Broadcasting Day is an important occasion to recognize the transformative role of radio in India’s media landscape and its contribution to the dissemination of information and entertainment across the nation. As radio continues to evolve alongside other forms of media, its legacy as a powerful medium of communication remains integral to India’s cultural and communication heritage.