India's First Radio Station (Mysuru)

 radio station, interesting place

MYSORE: While “Akashvani” is synonymous with All India Radio across the country, only a few know of its historical links with Mysore. For, it was here that the term was coined by M.V. Gopalaswamy, professor of Psychology at the University of Mysore, who was also a radio buff.

The first programme was broadcast on September 10, 1935, which heralded the era of radio in the then Mysore State and All India Radio Mysore will celebrate the 75th anniversary of radio broadcast with a slew of cultural programmes on September 19 at the Jaganmohan Palace.

While private radio clubs have been proliferating in the country since 1927, to Prof. Gopalaswamy of Mysore goes the distinction of experimenting and broadcasting radio programmes single-handed from his “Vittal Vihar” residence in Vontikoppal. He procured a 30 Watt transmitter from London and the first programme broadcast was rendering of poems by Kuvempu. A series of music programmes was presented by well-known composer Mysore Vasudevacharya to celebrate the beginning of radio transmission for which he received Rs. 5 a day.