Riding the waves, a shared history : By Jawhar Sircar

Source: The Indian Express | February 13, 2014 12:27 am

SUMMARY

The two wars in the 1960s provided Akashvani a unique opportunity to galvanise the nation as never before. The India that appearepd fragmented in 1947 stood like a rock in 1962, behind her soldiers fighting on icy high altitudes.

World Radio Day is occasion to recall Akashvani’s pivotal role in shaping the nation. (Reuters)

Jawhar Sircar

Few people may be aware that the United Nations has declared February 13 World Radio Day. It was on this day in 1946 that the United Nations Radio was established, and though belated, the humble radio has finally been given its pride of place. It was Guglielmo Marconi who obtained the first patent on radio sets in March 1897. That very year, Charles Herrold constructed the first operational radio station. Radio soon became the lifeline for ships, more so during distress, and the technology was developed in World War I to communicate with troops on the battlefront.

As soon as the war ended, civilian use picked up. Detroit, Michigan issued the first known news broadcast. KDKA in Pittsburgh went on air on November 2, 1920, with the presidential election results, heralding commercial broadcasting. Several broadcasters in the US followed, but................

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