2017-02-13 Mon

In this age amidst the unending chatter of the social media, let’s go back in time and reminisce the good old days when the only source of “noise” was that of the radios. And mind you this “noise” was welcomed by all!

The days when only an elite few had the luxury and the privileged to afford a radio transmitter, listening to a radio used to be a community thing, a social event. Clustered around a small machine people used to feel connected with the whole world.

This remarkable feat of connecting people (long before ‘Nokia’ did :P) was an achievement of an Italian scientist named Guglielmo Marconi. Sometime around the start of the 20th century, Marconi developed the first apparatus for long distance radio communication and on 12th December in 1901 the world’s first ever wireless message was sent! And since then radio has played an integral role in mass communications and technological developments all through the centuries.

Despite being over 100 years old, the radio is one of the most popular ways of mass communication and educates people all over the world. It has played its part in the building of various nations, helped people and various freedom struggles, saved lives during natural or human-made disasters.

The idea of World Radio Day was first proposed by Spain's Radio Academy in 2010. Later in 2011, UNESCO declared that World Radio Day will be celebrated annually on February 13th. The date was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the United Nations Radio, the UN's international broadcasting service, which was established on February 13th, 1946. The first World Radio Day was officially celebrated in 2012.

This day celebrates the radio as a way of educating people, providing information, and promoting freedom of expression across cultures. Last year, the UNESCO’s theme for World Radio Day was “Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster”. The theme for the 2017 edition of World Radio Day is “Radio is You!”

Well...in India too radio has played an important role in nation building. All India Radio (AIR), officially known since 1956 as Akashvani (literally, "Voice from the sky"), as India’s National Broadcaster and also the premier Public Service Broadcaster is truly living up to its motto – ‘Bahujan Hitaya : Bahujan Sukhaya’. One of the largest broadcasting organisations in the world, AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 146 dialects!

Celebrating the World Radio day, Grenada has issued different miniature sheets commemorating the Radio Pioneers, The famous Radio Broadcasts, and various radio technologies with each stamp having a different face value.

This year’s theme is “Radio is You” and it’s all about audience participation and engagement. So participate people, make your voice and opinions heard, bring communities together and promote positive dialogue for change!