The name ‘All India Radio’ may not be heard on the airwaves since the state broadcaster must only be referred to as Akashvani in all broadcasts from now on.
All India Radio Replaced By Akashvani
It is mentioned the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has decided to enforce a law provision by which the radio vertical of Prasar Bharati will now be known only as Akashvani.
This decision was announced on May 3 in a satellite message sent from the policy division of the office of the director general, Akashvani, to all centres.
It may be noted the phrase ‘Akashvani’ was originally used by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1939 as a poetic translation of All India Radio.
In this regard, Jawahar Sircar, a TMC MP and former I&B secretary, said, ”The freedom movement was at its height and the word Akashvani soon became a part of the subtle nationalism prevailing at that time.”
The new announcement pattern will now be followed in addition to English. Although AIR is broadcast in 179 languages, but the radio vertical will continue to use Hindi nomenclature.
