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• AKASHVANI NAGAON: THE VOICE OF BORDOVA SATRA BATADRAVA THANMIDDLE ASSAM A Commemorative Journey Through Three Decades of Broadcasting
• Page 2At the outset, Foreword extend my warm greetings and heartfelt gratitude to all the former staff members of Akashvani Nagaon for their unwavering efforts, valuable contributions and goodwill in nurturing this fledgeling station into the credible and respected institution it is today. Their vision and foresight have been carried forward and translated into reality by generations of dedicated and passionate assignees whose selfless service to the organisation deserves the highest appreciation. Over the past three decades, Akashvani Nagaon through its informative, interactive and entertaining programmes has touched the chords of countless listeners across towns and villages. In fact, it has become a familiar voice in every household, sharing news, music, knowledge and cherished memories.
• Page 3Table of Contents: Chapter 1: The Dawn of a New Milestone
• Page 4The Dawn of a New Milestone: It was the year 1994, 23rd of February. The social and cultural canvas of Nagaon witnessed a watershed moment as the familiar and iconic Signature Tune went on air at 4.28 pm. A new station, Akashvani Nagaon was enlisted among India's Local Radio Stations. Broadcasting in India witnessed another new milestone as Akashvani became a voice in every home, sharing news, culture, music and memories.
• Page 5Located in the breathtaking state of Assam, India, this city is a melting pot of culture, spirituality and natural wonders. Nagaon is considered one of the most important cultural hubs of Assam where the neo-Vaishnavite cult of life and spiritualism was evolved and nurtured from the times of Sri Sri Shankardev- a social reformer, an ascetic, a philosopher, a playwright, a poet and a litterateur. This evolving town is also considered to be the cradle of Assamese classical music and Nagaon is still following its rich cultural tradition in music, dance and drama (theatre) by virtue of which this station here assumes significance. It provides a podium to showcase its art and culture through the talents available here. The station mainly broadcasts in Assamese although Hindi programmes also find a place through its relay of Vividh Bharati, Mumbai and National channel, Delhi.
• Page 6Red-Letter Days & Historic Visits: The contributions of eminent Assamese artistes, musicians, and litterateurs have forever glorified the Kendra's prominence:
• Key programmes for Dedicated AudiencesInto its 33rd year now, Akashvani Nagaon is continuing to carry forward its legacy of a glorious past, while going stronger by the day with its innovative and creative content. All target groups of the society- the youth, the womenfolk, the farming community, children, the elderly- are incorporated while designing the content and style of programmes. These programmes get further stepped up with the aid of social media platforms like Facebook where publicity as well as short duration live performances are worked out. Kisan Vani: Keeping in mind the importance and scope of agriculture in Nagaon, the station since its beginning has been broadcasting a programme named 'Seuji Pathar' (Green Fields) daily at 6.15 in the evening. In 2004, this initiative was elevated into the national Kisan Vani program. Funded by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Government of India, the program brings agricultural scientists and local farmers together into the studio to solve real-time problems and boost crop productivity. OB coverage at various far-flung locations is undertaken, and this provides for first hand interaction with farmers and real time state- of- affairs in the cultivated fields. The pure joy and happy smiles in the faces of these farmers as they speak into the microphone is something worth seeing.
• Page 8Rather than staying confined to the studio, the production team regularly journeys deep into remote cultivated fields. These live field interactions capture the authentic concerns and triumphant achievements of local agriculturalists. A major annual highlight is Radio Kisan Diwas on February 15th, celebrated with immense gusto either in village squares or in the radio campus to introduce modern technologies, such as: Advanced seed production for medium-duration paddy (like the Numoli variety).
• Page 9Assamese traditional Gamosa being woven ahead of the Rongali Bihu festival, in Nagaon Seed Production Medium Duration Paddy Variety: Numoli (130-135 days)
• Page 10Recognizing that women and children are integral to healthy societal development, Akashvani Nagaon curates highly specialized weekend slots for them. The Children's Segment:
• School children participating on the occasion of Children's DayBihu workshop being organised by Akashvani Nagaon Oral storytelling is a tool which is very effectively used amongst the children. In such episodes, epics and legends that trace the community's roots, celebrates historical milestones etc. are narrated to the children. Children learn about their culture, heritage and imbibe value-based lessons.
• Empowering Women: 'Aamoi' and 'Aiotee'"The strongest actions for a woman are to love herself, be herself and shine amongst those who never believed she could." Keeping these lines in mind, Akashvani Nagaon introduced a groundbreaking program specifically designed to give a powerful voice to marginalized, unsung women in its new women's programme, aptly named "AAMOI”. The basic idea of this programme is to highlight and give voice to the marginalized and hitherto unheard women of the society. Be it the woman vendor selling her wares or the woman running a tea-stall or the homemaker – their little acts of self- empowerment when highlighted through the Radio, gives them a reason to feel self-worthy, confident and to believe that they can go further. And if that be, we as broadcasters have a reason to smile too. Aamoi
• Page 13Another weekly women's programme is ‘Aiotee', which has been running consistently since the station's inception. This weekly interactive program provides women from all walks of life a safe platform to discuss healthcare, legal rights, and domestic issues while showcasing their musical talents. AKASHVANI, NAGAON
• Page 14Other Key Programmes: 414 41sh, aste AKASHVANI, NAGA
• Page 15Akashvani Nagaon and Assamese Culture: Radio as a medium has a role to educate, inform and entertain people. Entertainment being one of its primary goals, Akashvani Nagaon brings the voices and musical skills of the region's various artistes closer to the people. Songs of various languages are aired, like Assamese, Tiwa, Nepali, Bengali, Hindi etc. Special emphasis is given on preserving the folk music and literature of the region. Hence the recordings of Tiwa, Bodo, Dimasa, Karbi and Dalo folk music alongside the recordings on the two great gurus, Sri Sri Sankardev and Sri Sri Madhabdev. The manuscripts of the Sankari tradition also have been well documented. In fact, the musical programmes reflect the melting pot of diverse cultures that the region is made up of. Musical features on the Tiwa community, Dalo community, Phulaguri Dhewa and Batadrava Than are some of the examples.
• Page 16BO Gayan-Bayan: The soul of Assamese culture
• Archival Insights: Akashvani NagaonTitle of the programme Script
• Akashvani @ 90In order to enhance visibility and public engagement in the year-long commemoration of 90 years of Akashvani/ All India Radio, being celebrated from 8th June, 2025 to 8th June, 2026, this station has intensified youth outreach activities. Quiz, essay and extempore competitions have been organised in collaboration with reputed educational institutions of the region. Quiz Competition at Morigaon College
• Page 19Retrospectives and Musings : My heartiest congratulations to everyone associated with the All India Radio for having completed a glorious period of ninety years this year. We belong to a generation who woke up with devotional music broadcast by the AIR and the haunting AIR's signature tune preceding it. The simplicity and splendour of the signature tune remains etched in our hearts permanently.
• Page 20The 90-Year Journey of All India Radio and 32 Years of AIR Nagaon Centre By Dr. Sarat Borkataki, Nagaon.
• Page 21MEMORIES THAT HAUNT TOO OFTEN. My association with Akashvani Nagaon commenced in April 1994, on 19th of April to be precise. The month of April is quite significant in my life in that a lot of events of cardinal nature happened to me in this Month and I was happy to start my career as a Central Government employee in the role of a programme professional in All India Radio. In my personal baggage I carried the experience of company jobs and teaching in college which hardly were of any consequence for a career in Akashvani. But all along I felt I was looking for something that can enrich me with a wider variety of professional experience. Apart from that longing for variety, I also had a deep love for music which was another primary reason I believed I would be happy working in Akashvani. And happy I was. For the next three decades, I was in Akashvani, which is one third of the entire history of broadcasting in India by All India Radio. More interestingly, I spent almost twenty years of my service life in Akashvani Nagaon, interesting because most of my colleagues had the experience of hopping from one workplace to another in regular intervals.
• Page 22a new comer I was also assigned few programming tasks which went on to become parts of the mainstream of broadcast of the station. The Engineering heads who were called station engineers, came mostly from AIR Delhi or Kolkata on transfer but, Jayanta Borthakur, an Assistant Engineer at that time, was in the station for quite long time and his contributions in upholding the technical standard of the station were significant. As time passed on all the names mentioned above departed from the station on transfer to other places. By the end of twelve years, apart from myself, the two announcers and a couple of Employees in the administrative unit, the station had an entire new look. By then the station had a strong footing both in terms of programming and a committed listeners base and except some changes in content here and there, the station went along with the basic framework already laid out. The station completed fifteen years, twenty years and was hurtling along to attain its silver jubilee. After the year 2005, despite a progressive reduction in personnel strength across all units, the station successfully implemented the NE software package scheme, the very rigorously designed Kishan Vani broadcast, introduced regular morning information programme, earned commercial revenues, almost regularly marked the commissioning day with invited audience programmes, organized Radio Kisan Divas in different outdoor venues and on top of everything created a large base of very talented vocal and instrumental artistes. On the technical front, the station migrated from magnetic tape based analogue system to hard disk and server-based recording and playback technology. The recording and playback studios, the transmitters and the Duty Room, Control Room and the entire office looks so different from the day I walked into the station for the first time. With so many media channels, social media platforms, other OTTs crowding around, the vintage odour of Akashvani Nagaon is still relished by the listeners of the station. As an Akashvani station, Nagaon is still very young, but unfortunately the same cannot be said about the colleagues, artistes, other resource persons and so many admirers I once met. Most of my colleagues have retired or on brink, the young artistes are now veteran in their fields and so many other names have lapsed out of memory.
• Page 23At the very outset, it's my proud privilege to offer my heartiest congratulations, greetings and best wishes to all the associated members of Akashvani in general and Akashvani Nagaon centre in particular on its successful and glorious completion of 90years of active service to the nation. I, Dr. Pradip Kumar Das, ex-Chief Scientist as well as former Rice, Wheat and Jute Breeder, Assam Agricultural University Zonal Research Station, Shillongani, Nagaon 782002, Assam have been associated very closely, actively, cooperatively and affectionately with Akashvani Nagaon centre since its inception on 23rd February, 1994 and I feel very proud of my association due to sincerity, dedication, well behaviour, punctuality and respect to their profession of all the Staff members right from, Centre -in Charge to the lower level. It has been disseminating continuously the various recommended technologies developed by AAU to the farmers of Nagaon, Morigaon and Hojai Districts timely, effectively for which Farmers have been well benefitted. I have been invited to this centre for recording talks, discussions, phone in programme etc for broadcasting Agricultural Technologies to the Farmers as per schedule. The staff members of the centre also provided us feedback including farmers problems which gave us better planning of Research Projects more efficiently based on their needs. Akashvani Nagaon centre covered broadcasting Agricultural Technologies of Rice, Wheat, Jute, Pulses, oilseeds etc very effectively and regularly. Apart from this, the Nagaon Centre also broadcasts various need-based aspects of Veterinary, Fisheries, Medical, Engineering, Sports, Music and so on. One of the most useful programmes of Nagaon Centre, I have been regularly listening to is "Su- Prabhat " i.e. (Today Morning) at 7.15 am in the morning daily where all the daily basis information of date, day, month, tithi, time of sunrise/sunset and all events of state, national and international places, people are covered including songs of local singers. In this programme messages, comments, fruitful knowledgeable topics, views etc from invited Resource Persons of Scientists, Doctors, Engineers, Educationists, Social Workers, Farmers, and many such personalities are broadcasted from which I am educated. I would like to inform that I have been regularly listening Radio Programme since 1962 more particularly Binaca Geet Mala, Ceylon centre and I still remember the very sweet voice of Great Announcer Amin Saini who died recently and I offer heartfelt homage and tribute to him. Akash Bani played pivotal role in polarizing newly developed, released and notified crop varieties including nationally related and notified Jute Variety developed by the Research Centre, Shillongani, Nagaon. From the Akash Bani Nagaon centre, I have been much benefitted professionally as well as personally. Lastly, I offer my best wishes for its bright future in respect of its infrastructure, studio, audio virtual machines, improvement in number and status of manpower etc and also to the people in general and the great Farmers in particular. Dr. Pradip Kr. Das
• Page 24Snapshots at a glance: ALL INDIA RADIO NAGAON
• Chorus presentation by assignees21 site
• ALL INDIA3 World Radio Da 13 February
• Snapshots of memorable momentsTART: 14995 feat ORI First Announcer of Akashvani Nagaon
• MEGHDOOT POST CARDIt is your Life, It is your will. Dangers ahead
• Page 29Meltron recorder, which was widely used, and now a thing of the past 59
• Page 30Resilience Through Changing Times: Akashvani Nagaon's trajectory has so far been going strong. But this journey has not been without its share of challenges. The global COVID- 19 pandemic that shook the world, had its damaging impact in our backyard too. A nationwide lockdown was announced which heavily restricted movement, and entry into the radio complex was strictly controlled to ensure safety. Yet, showing incredible resilience, courage and meticulous planning, the broadcast of programmes from Akashvani Nagaon went on air unhindered. Operating with just a handful of dedicated staff members, important broadcasts pertaining to critical real-time health safeguards, government guidelines, mental health counselling and numerous other programmes went on air and kept people informed. Specialized educational broadcasts for children, and other entertainment programmes kept people's spirits alive as they remained confined in their homes. A big salute to these broadcasters.
• Page 31THANK YOU