Radio and Trust Webinar at CLUJ marks World Radio Day

Jammu February 15:(KNS) Department of Students Welfare, Cluster  University of Jammu organized a webinar on “World Radio Day” under the Patronage of Prof. Bechan Lal, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, CLUJ.  Prof. Bhopinder Singh, Dean Academic Affairs, CLUJ presided over the event.Prof. Rakesh Goswami , Regional Director, Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Jammu and Sh. Shaminder Kumar, Former Station Director, All India Radio were the Key note Speakers for this webinar. Dr. Twinkle Suri, Dean Students Welfare welcomed all the dignitaries and exhorted the theme of World Radio Day 2022- Radio and Trust is significant as  Radio is a powerful, both low cost and widely consumed medium of communication for audience across the world that connects different cultures and diversities to weave us all together in one thread. Prof. Bhopinder Singh in his address recalled the phenomenal journey of radio and how it connects us beautifully with the outside world reaching millions of ears and minds at the same time and also strengthening democracies.

Prof. Rakesh Goswami threw light on the various contributions made by Radio in the lives of people. He traced the history of radio right from its inception in India in 1923 and also In J&K in 1947 till the modern times and also apprised everybody that radio is the most widely consumed and most trusted medium. He exhorted that it is through All India Radio and Akashwani that people have able to prune their Hindi language. He talked about the concept of Internet Radio and informed that around 2/3 population of America listens to Indian Radio. Prof. Goswami also highlighted that Radio has become so relevant in the contemporary times that  Election Commission of India too has started an Internet Radio.

Dr. Shaminder  Kumar focused on the role of Radio in  apprising the entire world of our rich culture and classical music. He stressed on the fact that oral tradition  existed even before writing was invented and during English rule, the entire focus was on English Language. After Independence it was only  Radio that made Hindi language quite popular and the common man learnt correct pronunciation of Hindi words through Radio. He reiterated that Radio is now the voice of government and also a medium through which government makes the common masses aware of its various welfare policies. He also talked about the role of Radio during Covid Pandemic to spread literacy among people. He informed that various folk songs and folk lores which have become extinct now have been preserved by Radio in the recorded form. He concluded his speech by bringing out the difference between Radio and other types of media stating that Radio is the only medium which is disciplined, graceful and reflects the diverse culture .He also opined that the new concept of community Radio which is coming up is good for disseminating information.

The session was followed by an illuminating interaction wherein students raised numerous queries related to qualifications, scope and career in radio broadcasting as a career in radio now days offers a wide range of creative, managerial and technical positions.

About 100 students from constituent colleges and PGI schools participated in the event along with teaching faculty, Associate and Assistant Deans. Cultural Coordinators- Dr. Revika Arora conducted the proceedings of the webinar and Dr. Kuldeep Raina presented the formal vote of thanks.(KNS

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