National Broadcasting Day 2024, History, Significance & Facts

National Broadcasting Day in India is marked on 23 July as symbolic of the Radio Club of Bombay the first-ever broadcast in the country in June 1923. The day aims to remind us about the impact of radio on our lives. This day also marks the start of organized radio broadcasts in the country by All India Radio. The radio served as the sole broadcasting medium before TV came into existence.

National Broadcasting Day 2024 History

On 23 July 1927, the India Broadcasting Company came into existence and became the first radio company in India. Soon after this, All India Radio (AIR) came into being in April 1930 as the Indian Broadcasting Service. On June 8, it was rebranded as All India Radio. By Independence, AIR had six radio stations namely in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow, and Tiruchirappalli. However, broadcasting began 30 years later on 23 July 1977 in Chennai. All India Radio (AIR) has been officially known since 1956 as ‘Akashvani’. The name Akashvani (voice or announcement from the skies) was formally adopted by the national broadcaster in 1956. The name was derived from a poem of the same name by Rabindranath Tagore in 1938.

National Broadcasting Day 2024 Significance

Since 1927, Radio has been an important part of people’s life in India. All India Radio has been serving to inform, educate, and entertain the masses truly living up to its motto – ‘Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya’, according to AIR. The day also honours the dedication and contributions of radio broadcasters who have worked tirelessly to connect listeners nationwide. In an age of digital media, National Broadcasting Day is a reminder of radio’s unanimous ability to strengthen community, preserve cultural heritage and provide a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. The significance of National Broadcasting Day lies in its recognition of radio as an essential medium that has reached millions of people, especially in rural and remote areas where access to other forms of media is limited. Radio has played a crucial role in educating the masses and providing timely news. It even promoted cultural and social values.

Interesting Facts About National Broadcasting Day

1. Amitabh Bachchan’s Rejection: Indeed, even renowned entertainer Amitabh Bachchan was turned somewhere near All India Radio because of his voice, showing that achievement doesn’t generally come the simple way
2. Harmonium Ban (1940-1971): Somewhere in the range of 1940 and 1971, All India Radio didn’t permit the utilization of harmonium since they figured it couldn’t deal with the complicated Indian old-style notes.
3. First Commercial on AIR (1967): In 1967, All India Radio played its first commercial, marking a big change in how things were broadcast.
4. Doordarshan’s Start (September 15, 1959): The national broadcasting network, Doordarshan, started on September 15, 1959. Both Doordarshan and All India Radio used to cooperate until they isolated on April 1, 1976

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