Akashvani : a century of stories from all India radio
- Gurugram : HarperCollins Publishers India, 2025
- xi, 205 p. ; ill., 22 cm
For decades, All India Radio or Akashvani, Indias national broadcaster, has been the sound of India. Be it Jawaharlal Nehrus iconic Tryst with Destiny speech, shows such as Binaca Geetmala, cricket matches, movies or, more recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann ki Baat, AIR has been and continues to be the primary source for programmes on news, entertainment and knowledge for many Indians. But there are innumerable fascinating stories associated with the radio channel itself..
For instance, did you know that Rabindranath Tagore dedicated a poem to AIR called Akashvani, which was adopted as the Hindi name? Or that an AIR producer was one of the first civilians to be let inside the Golden Temple after Operation Blue Star? Or that noted Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali used to make his disciples listen to AIRs Urdu service to understand correct Urdu pronunciation?
These and many other such tales make up Akashvani: A Century of Stories from All India Radio. With anecdotes from producers, broadcasters, radio jockeys and listeners, this book is a must-read to understand AIRs pivotal role in the average Indians life.
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