INNOVATIONS IN INDIAN PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING

Born on 5th February, 1948 Dr. N. Sundaram holds Ph.D., in Education. A marine biologist turned Educational Administrator; Dr. Sundaram initially was a researcher in marine fisheries before moving to the field of educational administration of research and higher education Institutions all over India. He specialized in research on aquaculture, conservation and preservation of marine molluscs for a decade of so. He has experience in the educational administration of not only research Institutions but also of higher education Institutions (universities) in the country for more than five decades now. He held the position of Director in Indira Gandhi National Open University and Registrar of five universities, viz. Banaras Hindu University, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Tamil Nadu Open University and Shri Ramasamy Memorial University Sikkim. Other positions held by him include Joint Director (Admin & Finance) in National Book Trust India and Senior Administrative Officer in ICAR. Retired from active public service, Dr. Sundaram is now writing books on mainly Indian Higher Education.

Mann Ki Baat - an interactive innovative talk show hosted by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendera Modi - has revived radio listening and the use of Radio in conveying the country's development, providing voice to the grass roots and accessibility of the highest leader of the country to the common man. The first episode of Mann Ki Baat was aired on October 3, 2014. The broadcast, which took place on the Hindu festival of Vijayadashami, marked the beginning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address to the nation.

Having spent my entire career spanning over five decades on public service media and especially radio, I find myself as one of the hand-counted people across the globe who still believe in the power of radio. Radio is a very big communication tool which is still not exploited to its full capability and the medium of sound needs a lot of innovative ventures and modern AI technology should be used to give a new life to the medium. I am sure with the Hon’ble Prime Minister's leadership and continued use of this medium will bring in a revolution and video will be used only where it is absolutely necessary.

I am delighted to have edited the book written by my former colleague and friend, Dr. Natarajan Sundaram, titled "Innovations in Indian Public Service Broadcasting". The book is largely based on my experiences, which I have shared with him over the past several years. Dr. Sundaram has thoughtfully selected a few of these — particularly those that were innovative and ahead of their time — and presented them from the perspective of an ordinary listener.

The book begins with the history of broadcasting, especially in India. There are several versions of the history of Indian radio, some of which are not well documented. I have been a broadcaster since 1972.

I wanted to use emerging technologies to transform the traditional one-way radio format into an interactive, participatory medium. At that time, I experimented with available tools such as police wireless systems and dedicated hotlines via coaxial cables.

In later years, the television posed significant competition, and as TV viewership rose, radio listener ship declined. Even today, many claim there are no longer radio sets or listeners. While it's true that standalone radio sets are rare in the market, I always emphasize that there are still over 350 commercial radio stations in the country, run by major business groups. These ventures would not survive without profit or a solid business plan.

The nature of mass media has changed from targeting the general public to catering to specific audiences. Today, radio producers must promote their programs actively, engaging listeners and inviting their participation to enrich the content. In our quest to reach and retain a dedicated audience, we must continue to adopt and adapt new technologies. We need to innovate with fresh audio formats and create programs that are immersive and participatory. Dr. Sundaram took all these aspects into account and kindly agreed to write this book and the content not only covers the independently verified history of radio broadcasting but also documents several innovative radio programs from the past five decades, spanning from 1970 to 2025. His compilation highlights the evolution of broadcasting and points toward the future where "visual radio" may well replace traditional news television.

I am proud to have contributed to this book and extend my best wishes to Dr. Sundaram and the publishers - Atchayam Velyeedu, Coimbatore. Their books cater to a niche audience, and both Mr. Chandrasekaran and Mrs. Vanathi Chandrasekaran took personal interest in every word and letter and meticulously verified all the facts and contents before publication.

I sincerely hope this book finds a place in every school, college, and library. It will be a valuable resource for anyone interested in developing interactive, participatory and knowledge-driven audio and video programs.

I wish that each and every member of the Indian Public Service Broadcasting try to capture their experiences and document them in the form of a book or upload them digitally in any online publications.

It is not often that the history of a sector can be traced so clearly through the vision and perseverance of a single individual. Indian broadcasting - both public service and community-driven - owes such a defining arc to Dr. R. Sreedher. His work emerges not merely as a record of professional accomplishment, but as a blueprint for how communication technologies can genuinely democratize development. This volume, Innovations in Indian Public Service Broadcasting, captures that contribution with clarity and conviction.

Across several decades, Dr. Sreedher stood at the intersection of technology, pedagogy, and public service, consistently expanding what radio could do for ordinary citizens. At a time when radio was still widely perceived as a one-way, centrally controlled medium, he insisted on the opposite: that radio must become participatory, hyper-local, and driven by the aspirations of the communities it served. The Community Radio movement in India - today a nationwide network of hundreds of stations speaking in the languages and idioms of their people - would simply not exist in its present form without his early interventions.

From the establishment of Anna FM, India’s first campus-based community radio station, to the subsequent decades spent training institutions, NGOs, and local bodies in community broadcasting, Dr. Sreedher demonstrated that media innovation is most powerful when it is inclusive. The book documents this journey in detail: the workshops, the facilitation centres, the development of curricula, and the sustained policy advocacy that eventually enabled community radio licensing to expand beyond academic institutions. These were not isolated acts of professional enthusiasm, but part of a sustained vision to strengthen decentralised communication infrastructure in India.

Equally important is the philosophy underpinning his work. Dr. Sreedher understood that communication is not simply the distribution of information; it is the distribution of agency. Community Radio offered - and still offers - exactly that: a platform for farmers, fisherfolk, women’s self-help groups, tribal communities, youth collectives, and local institutions to generate their own knowledge ecosystems. Long before today’s conversations on last-mile digital inclusion, he had already demonstrated what participatory media could achieve in education, disaster response, health outreach, and rural development.

This is also a book about public service broadcasting at its best - nimble, innovative, and deeply connected to the lived realities of people. The chapters chart an extraordinary range of experiments: science communication, interactive formats, low-cost technologies, convergence tools, satellite-based learning, and the creation of institutions like Gyan Darshan, Gyan Vani, and multiple community-centric platforms. The breadth of innovation presented here reinforces a simple truth: public media can be transformative when guided by purpose and imagination.

For those of us in government, this work is also a reminder. Policy frameworks may enable change, but it is the commitment of individuals like Dr. Sreedher that animates them. His career exemplifies how public institutions can become engines of citizen empowerment when anchored in field-level engagement and technological creativity.

This book is timely, authoritative, and necessary. It will serve students, policymakers, practitioners, and anyone who believes in the power of communication to build a more informed and inclusive India. Above all, it stands as a tribute to a pioneer whose life’s work continues to resonate across the airwaves of the nation.

Mr. Shiv Khera, the author of a best selling book titled "You Can Win" said that "Winners don't do different things. They do things differently". Dr. Sreedher, endorser of this book titled "Innovations in Indian Public Service Broadcasting" written by Dr. N. Sundaram, is one of the winners because he did things differently even while doing many different things. Dr. Sreedher is known to me personally for many decades. He was associated with the world of broadcasting through All India Radio and Doordarshan for more than 50 years now and continues to be asssociated with the broadcasting industry, though retired from active government service.

As Science Reporter and/or Producer/Programmer and finally as Director of All India Radio and Doordarshan too, Dr.Sreedher was doing different things differently which resulted in many innovations in the Indian Public Service Broadcasting. After leaving the service in All India Radio and Doordarshan, he continued to conceptualise, design and implement his innovative ideas in the field of broadcasting which received accolades from all corners. One such important innovation pertains to the Community Radio movement in India due to which Dr. Sreedher is widely regarded as the "Father of Community Radio" in India.

The present book is a compilation and documentation of many innovative radio and television programs carried out by Dr. Sreedher over a period of more than five decades, i.e., spanning from 1970 to 2025.

Due to global technological development, the innovations documented in the book may look common in the present day. However, technology convergence and crowd participation should make it easier for the present generation to think of many more innovations in the field of public service broadcasting in India. From this point of view, the present book is very timely and will inspire the entire stakeholders in the field of broadcasting.

I congratulate both, Dr. Sundaram and Dr. Sreedher, author and endorser respectively of this book and wish them all the best in their future endeavor.

From the early days of All India Radio to the transformative impact of Doordarshan and the rise of Community Radio, public broadcasting in India has always been more than a medium. It has been a bridge - connecting diverse cultures, languages, and communities across this vast nation. The evolution of public service broadcasting in India is inseparable from the vision and creativity of individuals who dared to imagine new possibilities. Among them, one figure stands out prominently - Dr. R. Sreedher, whose groundbreaking contributions shaped how millions of Indians learned, engaged, and communicated. Dr. R. Sreedher is now Padma Shri awardee for the year 2026 in the field of Radio Broadcasting. Dr. Sreedher’s journey reflects what true innovation looks like.

Starting as a programme contributor, he quickly became known for his ability to simplify complex ideas, especially in the field of science communication. His early radio programmes, filled with curiosity and public participation, laid the foundation for a more interactive broadcasting culture. Long before the digital age introduced interactivity, he used police wireless lines, science clubs, and phone-in programmes to bring audiences into the heart of radio storytelling. But perhaps his most powerful contribution came in the field of educational and community-based broadcasting. Through the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), the Countrywide Classroom project, and various distance education initiatives, he proved that broadcasting could be a powerful tool for learning, even in remote and under served regions. His ideas demonstrated that radio and television were not merely entertainment platforms - they were classrooms that could cross geographic and social barriers.

In 2004, India witnessed a revolution with the establishment of Anna FM, the first campus-based community radio station in the country. This milestone, led by Dr. Sreedher, opened the door for hundreds of community radio stations across India. These stations gave local communities a voice - farmers, women’s groups, students, artisans, and rural youth. For the first time, broadcasting became truly democratic, local, and people-centred. Programmes were no longer made only for the audience - they were made by the audience, reflecting their culture, issues, and aspirations. Today, as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and mobile technologies reshape media consumption, the legacy of India’s public broadcasting innovations becomes even more relevant. The principles that guided pioneers - public welfare, inclusiveness, community engagement, and educational empowerment - continue to guide our digital future.

Public service broadcasting must evolve, but its mission remains the same: to inform, educate, and empower every citizen. The innovations showcased throughout India’s broadcasting history prove that technology alone is not enough. What truly drives progress is imagination, empathy, and the desire to serve society. As we look toward the future, let us remember the innovators who laid the stepping stones and let us continue to build systems that honour the values of public service, cultural diversity, and accessible communication for all.

I would like to take this moment to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Sundaram, whose guidance, encouragement and scholarly support have played an invaluable role in shaping this work. Every stage of this manuscript-its conceptualisation, refinement, and final presentation-has been strengthened by his wisdom and unwavering belief in the importance of documenting the legacy of Indian public service broadcasting. Dr. Sundaram is not only a remarkable academic mind but also a compassionate mentor whose clarity of thought and constructive insights helped me navigate the complexities. It is an honour to speak about a subject Innovations in Indian Public Service Broadcasting, that stands at the heart of India's communication landscape.

I wish that this book finds a place in every college, university and media houses of this great nation Bharat