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

Culture & Heritage, Delhi Magazine:  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.

Looking back at how communication has evolved across generations, our journey from waiting eagerly for broadcasts and postal updates to today’s hyper-connected era is remarkable—much like the transformation explored in Digital Society Day: From Waiting for Letters to Instant Digital Payments.

Today’s generation has smartphones, the internet, and almost unlimited access to information. Yet, 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 reflect pride and happiness. Their memories are not simply about two broadcasting organisations; they are about an important part of their lives.

Akashvani: The Constant Companion in Indian Homes

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

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 is heartwarming to see that the radio continues to hold such a vital place in their lives.

• Vividh Bharati: Launched in 1957, it became especially popular for its music and film-song programmes.

• Cultural Breadth: Akashvani gave space to classical, folk, and light music, alongside literature, radio plays, interviews, and discussions.

• Connecting the Nation: Old film songs, familiar voices, announcements, signature tunes, and national programmes connected people with the wider country at a time when travel and access to information were not as easy as they are today.

Doordarshan: Turning Television into a Family Occasion

Doordarshan brought an entirely different experience into our homes. Its experimental television service began in Delhi on 15 September 1959, and regular daily transmission commenced in 1965. While television was not available in every household in the early years, its expanding reach soon made it an essential part of family life.

I still remember the evenings when we eagerly waited for our favourite programmes. Hindi serials, children’s shows, English and Hindi news bulletins, classic advertisements, film songs, and special broadcasts all held their own charm. Watching Hindi serials also helped many of us become more familiar with the language.

Iconic shows such as Hum Log, Buniyaad, Malgudi Days, Ramayan, and Mahabharat became woven into our collective memories. Even the old advertisements, with their distinctive jingles and simple presentation, are remembered with deep affection. Watching television was rarely a solitary act—it was a family occasion, with everyone sitting together and sharing the experience.

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

A Window to Knowledge, Rural Development, and Cinema

One of Doordarshan’s greatest contributions was the sheer variety of knowledge it brought to ordinary viewers:

• Serving Rural India: Programmes such as Krishi Darshan (launched in 1967) demonstrated how television could serve farmers and rural communities by sharing agricultural insights, improved farming practices, and rural development initiatives.

• Discovering India: Educational, spiritual, cultural, and adventure programmes—alongside features on books, literature, history, geography, monuments, and tourism—helped us learn about India without having to visit every destination. We could see diverse landscapes and understand the traditions of different communities firsthand.

• Appreciating Indian Cinema: Through films, songs, interviews, and cinema-related programmes across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Hindi, and other Indian languages, we gained insight into the social life, customs, and emotions of people beyond our own regions. Even when we did not understand every word, the performances, music, and visual storytelling communicated something profound. For me personally, this early exposure to multilingual cinema—supported by Akashvani’s film music and interviews—contributed significantly to my development as a film reviewer and critic.

Cricket: A Shared National Fever

Sports, particularly cricket, created some of the most unforgettable memories associated with both broadcasters:

• Televised Gatherings: Thousands still remember sitting in front of a television for hours—sometimes all day—to watch an important match on Doordarshan. A live cricket telecast was a neighbourhood event where friends and families gathered to follow every ball with excitement.

• The Magic of Radio Commentary: Before television became widely accessible, Akashvani’s radio commentary allowed people across the country to follow matches live. The commentator’s voice, the description of every delivery, the thrill of a boundary, and the tension of a close finish painted vivid pictures in the listener’s imagination. Even today, I feel a special longing for that style of commentary—it possessed a beauty all its own.

Fostering National Integration

India is a land of many languages, religions, traditions, and cultural identities. Through national broadcasts, regional-language programming, music, drama, news, and sports, Akashvani and Doordarshan helped citizens understand one another. A listener in Kerala could become familiar with music from another state; a viewer in one region could watch programmes introducing the life and culture of another.

Such shared experiences helped us appreciate the richness of India and recognise that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. While the older generation may not have had today’s technology, they possessed invaluable knowledge, patience, and life experience built through radio, books, newspapers, and television—wisdom that continues to guide us today.

Preserving a Timeless Legacy

With the arrival of private television channels, cable networks, the internet, and digital platforms, the broadcasting landscape has transformed considerably. Doordarshan no longer holds the same monopoly over daily household entertainment, while Akashvani continues to serve audiences via both radio and digital platforms.

Yet, their public-service mission remains irreplaceable. Commercial entertainment cannot fully substitute for programming that educates, informs, preserves culture, and serves communities. There remains a vital need for reliable news, agricultural guidance, educational content, children’s shows, regional-language broadcasts, literature, music, and thoughtful discussions.

When older people recall their favourite radio shows, classic advertisements, familiar melodies, cricket commentary, or the serials they watched with their families, their faces light up with genuine joy. The voices from an old radio and the images on an early television screen may belong to another era, but their influence endures. Technology will keep evolving, yet the human need for meaningful communication and shared experiences remains constant. Akashvani and Doordarshan deserve our lasting gratitude – not only for what they broadcast, but for the memories, knowledge, and sense of togetherness they gave to India.

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