Akashvani and Doordarshan: The Voices, Images and Memories That United Generations of India

Special Feature | Public Service Broadcasting Day | EasternLens

Every generation has its own memories. For many of us who grew up before digital technology became part of everyday life, Akashvani and Doordarshan occupy a special place in our hearts. One generation grew up listening to the radio, while another experienced the world through television programmes. Today’s generation has smartphones, the internet and almost unlimited access to information. But I feel that Akashvani and Doordarshan gave us something much more than information and entertainment. They introduced us to India’s people, languages, traditions, history, culture and way of life.

Even today, when older people speak about these institutions, their faces often reflect pride and happiness. Their memories are not simply about two broadcasting organisations; they are about an important part of their lives.

Akashvani: A Constant Companion in Indian Homes

Akashvani was a constant companion in many Indian homes. Morning news, music, talks, discussions, agricultural programmes, cultural broadcasts and special national programmes brought the outside world into ordinary households.

I have often noticed elderly people, particularly those above seventy, listening to Akashvani from early morning, sometimes from around six o’clock, and tuning in at different times throughout the day until bedtime. It makes me happy to see that the radio continues to have such an important place in their lives.

Old film songs, familiar voices, announcements, signature tunes and national programmes bring back memories that cannot easily be replaced. Vividh Bharati, which began in 1957, became especially popular for its music and film-song programmes.

Akashvani also gave space to classical, folk and light music, literature, radio plays, interviews and discussions. Its broadcasts connected people with the wider country at a time when travel and access to information were not as easy as they are today.

Doordarshan: Bringing the World into Our Living Rooms

Doordarshan brought an entirely different experience into our homes. Its experimental television service began in Delhi on September 15, 1959, and regular daily transmission started in 1965.

In the early years, television was not available in every household. As its reach expanded, however, it became an important part of family life. I still remember the evenings when we eagerly waited for our favourite programmes.

Hindi serials, children’s programmes, English and Hindi news bulletins, old advertisements, film songs and special broadcasts all had their own attraction. Watching Hindi serials also helped many of us become more familiar with the language.

Programmes such as Hum Log, Buniyaad, Malgudi Days, Ramayan and Mahabharat became part of our collective memories. The old advertisements, with their distinctive music and simple presentation, are also remembered with affection.

Watching television was often a family occasion, with everyone sitting together and sharing the experience.

Beyond Entertainment: A Window to Knowledge and Learning

One of the greatest contributions of Doordarshan was the variety of knowledge and experiences it brought to ordinary viewers. Programmes such as Krishi Darshan, launched in 1967, demonstrated how television could serve farmers and rural communities as well as entertain viewers.

Agricultural information, improved farming practices and rural development were brought before the public through such programmes. There were also educational, spiritual, cultural and adventure-related programmes that widened our understanding of the world.

Programmes about books, literature, history, geography, monuments, tourism and places of interest helped us learn about India without having to visit every destination. We could see different landscapes, understand the traditions of various communities and develop an interest in places we had only read about.

These programmes made television a source of learning and curiosity, not merely a screen for entertainment.

Cinema: Understanding India’s Cultural Diversity

Cinema was another important part of this experience. Through films, film songs, interviews, discussions and cinema-related programmes, we became familiar with stories and artistic traditions from different parts of India.

Watching Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Hindi and films in other Indian languages helped me understand the social life, customs, emotions and cultural backgrounds of people beyond my own region.

Even when we did not understand every word, the stories, performances, music and visual presentation communicated something meaningful. These experiences gradually strengthened my interest in cinema and helped me appreciate films from different perspectives.

I feel that my exposure to films in various Indian languages has contributed significantly to my development as a film reviewer and critic. Cinema became a window through which I could understand the diversity of our country.

Akashvani also supported this interest through film songs, recorded music, interviews and programmes related to cinema.

Cricket: Unforgettable Memories of Radio Commentary and Television

Sports, particularly cricket, created some of the most unforgettable memories associated with Doordarshan and Akashvani.

There are thousands of people who still remember sitting in front of a television for hours, sometimes throughout the day, to watch an important cricket match on Doordarshan. For many households, a live cricket telecast was a special occasion. Neighbours and friends gathered together, and people followed every ball with excitement.

Doordarshan played an important role in taking televised cricket to a much wider audience and bringing the game into countless homes.

Akashvani had its own remarkable contribution through radio cricket commentary. The commentator’s voice, the description of every delivery, the excitement of a boundary and the tension of a close finish created vivid pictures in the listener’s imagination.

Even today, I feel a special longing to listen to that style of cricket commentary. It had a beauty of its own. Before television became widely available, radio commentary enabled people across the country to follow matches.

Together, radio and television helped make cricket a shared experience for millions of Indians.

Strengthening National Integration Through Broadcasting

When we speak about Akashvani and Doordarshan, we should also remember their contribution to national integration.

India is a country of many languages, religions, traditions and cultural identities. Through national programmes, regional-language broadcasts, music, drama, news, sports and cultural presentations, these institutions helped people understand one another.

A listener in Kerala could become familiar with music and traditions from another state; a viewer in one region could watch programmes that introduced the life and culture of another. Such experiences helped us appreciate the richness of India and understand that diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

The older generation may not have had access to today’s technology or the same range of information, but it possessed valuable knowledge, patience and life experience.

We should never underestimate the contribution of those who built their understanding of the world through radio, books, newspapers and the television broadcasts available in their time. Their wisdom continues to guide the generations that follow.

Adapting to the Digital Age While Preserving Public Broadcasting

With the arrival of private television channels, cable networks, the internet and digital platforms, the broadcasting landscape changed considerably.

Doordarshan no longer occupies the same position it once held in the daily entertainment habits of many households, while Akashvani continues to serve listeners through radio and digital platforms.

Yet their public-service role remains important. Commercial entertainment cannot completely replace programmes that educate, inform, preserve culture and serve communities.

There is still a need for reliable news, agricultural guidance, educational content, children’s programmes, regional-language broadcasting, literature, music and meaningful discussions.

Public broadcasting must continue to adapt to changing technology while preserving the values that made it important to generations of Indians.

The Legacy of Akashvani and Doordarshan Lives On

I feel proud when I think about the role played by Akashvani and Doordarshan in shaping our memories and widening our understanding of India.

When older people recall their favourite radio programmes, old advertisements, familiar songs, cricket commentary or the television serials they watched with their families, their faces often express genuine happiness. That happiness itself tells us how deeply these institutions touched people’s lives.

The voices that once came through a radio and the images that appeared on an old television screen may belong to another time, but their influence has not disappeared.

We should preserve their valuable legacy and ensure that future generations also have access to programmes that enrich knowledge, language, culture and human understanding.

Technology may change, but the need for meaningful communication and shared experiences will remain.

Akashvani and Doordarshan deserve our appreciation not only for what they broadcast, but also for the memories, knowledge and sense of togetherness they gave to India.