September 10, 2024 5:33 PM.
The Mysore Akashvani radio station in Karnataka is celebrating its 90th anniversary today. On September 10, 1935, Radio Mysore was born as India’s first private radio broadcaster. The Professor of Psychology at Maharaja’s College,
Dr M V Gopalaswamy set up the 30-watt transmitter at his residence. The radio station was launched with the performance of legendary Carnatic musician and composer Mysore Vasudevacharya accompanied by HV Rama Rao on violin and Venkatesh Devar on the Mridangam. Mysore Maharaja took over the radio transmitter in 1942. A prolific writer and journalist Narayana Kasturi managed the radio station after Dr Gopalaswamy.
The credit for naming the radio station as Akashvani goes to Kasturi. The radio station run by Mysuru State shifted to its present location in 1944. On April 1, 1950, the state Government-owned Radio station was transferred to the All India Radio network. The Mysore Akashvani radio station has to its credit the decision to broadcast programmes from morning 5.55 am to night 11.05 pm.
It was the first to broadcast educational programmes exclusively for high school students and also the first to broadcast Hindi lessons in South India. As part of the 90th anniversary, the Mysore radio station is broadcasting the slices from its history, providing the listeners an opportunity to relish milestones achieved by the radio station in its long journey.