New Delhi: Radha Krishan, a Delhi-based yoga teacher, is a big follower of All India Radio programs. Every day, he drives from his class to home, with AIR tuned on his car radio. Two months since the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people lost their lives, AIR is targeting listeners like Krishan to be with them on a series of patriotic programs it is airing. Story of a war hero, a discussion on warfare and national security, and information on India’s fighter planes, the national broadcaster is pulling all stops.
“I enjoy the old stories of the glory of our soldiers, of how they defeated Pakistan, and such personal stories fill me with immense pride. My favourite one is Captain Vikram Batra’s. I had even seen the movie (Shershaah), but the radio narration seems way better,” said twenty-nine-year-old Krishan.
Days after the Pahalgam terror attack, and before India launched Operation Sindoor to weed out terror camps across the border, the All India Radio began telecasting a number of programs with patriotic fervour. The aim was to uplift the mood of the people after the deadly terror attack. All India Radio and Vividh Bharati took a nationwide campaign broadcasting patriotic jingles, soldier interviews, and special features such as Sainiko Ki Shaurya Gatha — an ongoing program celebrating war heroes.
“We have been doing such programs after the Pahalgam attack as the entire country was mourning and we had to spread a patriotic feeling among people. The clashes (India-Pakistan) started later, but we started building up the momentum way earlier,” said Pramod Kumar, coordinator of All India Radio.
It is not just AIR programs that people are tuning in to. The new wave of nationalistic fervour is also visible at the Delhi war memorial that is witnessing a surge in visitors dropping by and thronging its souvenir shops to pick a piece of military culture.
We have been doing such programs after the Pahalgam attack as the entire country was mourning and we had to spread a patriotic feeling among people. The clashes (India-Pakistan) started later, but we started building up the momentum way earlier
Pramod Kumar, program coordinator, All India Radio
“The number of visitors is increasing with every month, after Operation Sindoor we have seen a rise in the number of visitors. People come here and spend hours knowing about all the heroes,” said a official working in the administrative office at the National War Memorial in Delhi, on condition of anonymity.
Also read: Noida’s best-kept secret—its Mughal, Maratha, Bhagat Singh history
Stories of bravery
PM Narendra Modi and Defence minister Rajnath Singh have said on multiple occasions that Operation Sindoor is not over yet. AIR is making sure listeners continue to consume patriotic content even in entertainment-heavy time slots. AIR’s regional stations such as Kohima have scheduled post-news bulletin jingles and patriotic signature tunes to maintain thematic continuity with overall programing.
Charcha Ka Vishay Hai, a fortnightly program, has dedicated multiple episodes to dissect Operation Sindoor, inviting field experts. The producers have also used background music to enhance the narrative. The show begins with a woman’s voice introducing the topic: “ye Akashvani hai aur charcha ka vishay karyakaram me apka swagat hai”. As soon as the anchor finishes introducing the topic, the guests and the moderator, a poweful voice rises: “Sindoor nahin mitne denge, Tiranga nahin jhukne denge. Ab zulm nahin humko sahna, mere desh ke yaaron ka kehna.” It’s like a clarion call for listeners before a discussion on national security starts.
AIR had created feature programs on the soldiers/officers killed in action during the 1947-48, 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. In light of Operation Sindoor, such programs are seeing re-runs. AIR is telling listeners their tales of “nidarta and shoorvirta”.
In one such telecast, the presenter narrates the tale of Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, who fought in the 1947 India-Pakistan war. He was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously. The radio feature recreates the scene from the battle front: the conversation which shows Singh’s preparedness to take on the enemy and the absence of crucial arms supplies.
“Hum ready hai lekin golabari ke liye topein abhi tak nahi pahunchi hain, over”
“Vo achanak kisi aur sector me bhejni pad gayi caption, apko bina golabari ke hamla karna hoga”
“To jawano ko bina golibari ke aage padhna hoga”? asks Peeru.
“Tum maidane jang me ho kisi phoolo ke bagiche me nahi” comes the voice from high command.
This anxious dialogue is followed with the sound of guns. The seven-minute-long feature is one of the many such audio packages that AIR is running on its channels and on YouTube and Facebook handles as well.
Also read: The idea of Noida. The bad boy of NCR, Mall of India swag, a culture vacuum
Loyal listeners
Eighty-three-year-old Colonel Virender Thapar listens to the morning program Aaj Savere—the stories of brave soldiers—every day with his wife. He has a long relationship with All India Radio. He remembers the old days when he was a Colonel in the Indian Army and waited for radio programs that used to be specially broadcast for them.
“Every day between 7:30-8:00 am, I get to listen to a story of one brave war hero in the AIR program. Last time it was Major Vivek Gupta. How many bullets hit him, and he lost his life for the nation,” said Thapar, who lives in Noida.
He remembers the details.
“He was the warrior who fought the battle of Tololing in 1999. He was there as the leading commander and was killed in action on 13 June, exactly seven years after joining the Rajputana Rifles,” said Thapar.
Thapar has a connection with All India Radio that he still cherishes. He recalled how all his fellow soldiers used to gather to listen to the radio.
“I still remember the voice in which the presenter used to say ‘Manjula ka fauji bhaiyo ka namaskar’ and then the package would start,” recalled Thapar.
AIR staff told this reporter that after Operation Sindoor, the listener base has increased. They don’t just listen but also give their feedback and even ask questions on WhatsApp.
“In every program, we share our WhatsApp number on which they share how they liked the program and ask questions about techniques, how to get a job in the Army, and what it is like to be in the Army,” said Prabha Kumari, one of the program heads at All India Radio, Delhi.
In her weekly programme Sandesh to Soldiers, a caller asked if and how a woman could get into the Army full time.
“Our expert addressed that query and even spoke about the recent incident where women NDA candidates got graduated…”
Also read: 6 years, 400 trials, and a breakthrough—how Kashmir gave India its first gene-edited sheep
Reels, social media push
Captain Vikram Batra, Colonel B Santosh Babu, Subedar Bishan Singh — these are India’s war heroes. AIR is now taking their stories to the common people. The public broadcaster’s social media handles share posters of such programs. At times, small clips—like trailers—of the shows with photos and videos are posted on the internet to engage audiences.
In one such promo, AIR shared Captain Vikram Batra’s story: “Captain Batra’s bravery led to India’s capture of Point 4875 but sadly he succumbed to his injuries. One of his radio messages during the war, Yeh Dil Maange More, later on became the catch-line for the Kargil War,” reads the anchor as the pictures of Batra are presented on the screen.
These stories are 3 to 4 minutes long and dive deep into the bravery of martyrs.
On FM Rainbow, regular patriotic programs such as Sandesh to Soldiers and Vatan ke Naam are receiving makeovers by the program heads. Gallantry award winners and news guests are being called in to give the listeners something new. Old features of the profiles in which they talk about the soldiers. Programs such as Desh Ki Dharti, Veeron Ko Naman are being telecast.
“We have called 10 NCC cadets recently who scaled Mount Everest. There will be a conversation with them about their energy, their will to serve the country, and their proud moment. We have been calling defense experts for their comments and analysis to our programs,” said Prabha Kumari.
On FM Rainbow, regular patriotic programs such as Sandesh to Soldiers and Vatan ke Naam are receiving makeovers by the program heads. Gallantry award winners and news guests are being called in to give the listeners something new. Old features of the profiles in which they talk about the soldiers. Programs such as Desh Ki Dharti, Veeron Ko Naman are being telecast
During Operation Sindoor, all MEA briefings were broadcast on various channels. And every regional channel had to run at least one patriotic program.
Many listeners who have heard these stories before and are now tuning in for reruns. In some households, two generations are listening to these shows and reliving the old memories.
Sixty-two-year-old Ramesh Chand has heard the stories of Sainiko ki Shaurya Gatha before—stories of 1971 war heroes. This time, there are also stories of heroes who laid down their lives in the 2020 Galwan clash with China.
“It’s like I am back in the old times again, just the characters have changed. I am making my grandchild listen to these stories, as I don’t remember much, but he can remember that his grandfather used to make him sit and listen to this so he can remember our heroes,” said Chandra.
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)