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A short history of Indian radio

6 min read

Few countries have a relationship with radio quite like India's. For generations it was the sound of the household — and its story helps explain why the medium still feels so alive here.

The Akashvani era

Public broadcasting in India took shape in the 1930s and grew into All India Radio, known as Akashvani — "voice from the sky." For decades it was the country's shared soundtrack, carrying news, classical music, drama, and cricket commentary into homes from the cities to the most remote villages. In an era before television was widespread, the radio set in the corner of the room was a genuine family member.

Vividh Bharati and the film-song boom

In the 1950s a service devoted to entertainment and film music arrived and quickly became beloved. Its blend of Hindi film songs, listener requests, and cheerful presenters gave millions their daily dose of Bollywood melody. For many Indians of a certain generation, the sound of that service is the sound of childhood afternoons.

The arrival of private FM

Radio in India stayed largely public until the early 2000s, when private FM licences opened the airwaves in the big cities. A wave of commercial stations brought slicker production, radio jockeys with big personalities, and a fresh, urban energy. Suddenly the dial had competition, and listening felt modern again.

Community radio finds a voice

Alongside the commercial boom, community radio grew in towns and rural areas — small, local stations run by colleges, NGOs, and villages themselves. These channels carry farming advice, local news, health information, and regional music in languages the big networks often overlook. They're a reminder that radio can be intimate and hyper-local, not just national.

The internet changes everything

The biggest shift of all came with streaming. Once a station could broadcast over the internet, the old limits of transmitter range simply vanished. Two things followed. First, a whole ecosystem of independent, internet-only webcasters appeared — stations devoted to a single decade of film music, a single legendary singer, a single mood. Second, the vast Indian diaspora could finally hear home again: a listener in Toronto or London could tune into a station in their own language as easily as someone in Mumbai.

Listening now

The through-line across ninety years is constant: radio in India has always been about companionship — a voice, a song, a familiar presenter keeping you company through the day. The technology changed from airwaves to apps, but that feeling didn't. If anything, there's more to discover now than ever before.