Biju Dharmapalan
Radio has always carried a certain charm — intimate yet expansive, simple yet powerful. It slips quietly into daily life, asking for little but offering companionship, information and a sense of belonging. Long before screens dominated attention, radio was the trusted voice in the room — connecting distant geographies, diverse languages and countless lives through shared listening. Even in today’s hyper-digital world, radio retains a rare quality: it listens as much as it speaks.
Many historical moments are etched in collective memory through radio announcements. One such indelible moment was the night of August 14–15, 1947, when crackling radio sets across the subcontinent announced India’s Independence. In that singular broadcast, radio did not merely deliver news — it united a vast, diverse nation in one shared sound of freedom. This power of collective listening remains radio’s greatest strength.
The theme of World Radio Day 2026 — “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a tool, not a voice” — is therefore both timely and profound. It acknowledges the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in the broadcasting ecosystem while firmly asserting that technology must remain a facilitator, not a replacement. AI can enhance production, archiving, translation, accessibility and audience engagement. Yet the soul of radio — the human voice, editorial judgement, empathy and credibility — cannot be automated.
In the AI age, radio is not threatened by technology; rather, it is being redefined by it. AI-powered tools now help broadcasters restore old recordings, transcribe and translate programmes into multiple languages, personalise content and assist in disaster communication. For a multilingual, multicultural country like India, this convergence is transformative. But as the World Radio Day theme rightly reminds us, AI must strengthen radio’s mission, not overshadow it.
India’s public broadcasting tradition offers a compelling illustration of this balance. All India Radio, popularly known as Akashvani and functioning under Prasar Bharati, has served the nation with the guiding principle “Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya” — for the welfare and happiness of the masses. Established in 1936 and brought under public ownership after Independence, Akashvani has grown into one of the largest broadcasting organisations in the world, both in terms of linguistic reach and the diversity of audiences served.
A defining contribution of All India Radio lies in its rich legacy of knowledge-driven programming that has quietly but consistently shaped India’s scientific and social consciousness. Long before “edutainment” became fashionable, AIR curated programmes that blended curiosity, reason and relevance, thereby advancing the constitutional mandate of developing scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry.
Science-focused broadcasts such as Radioscope, Science Magazine and Science Talks made complex ideas accessible to the public. These programmes demystified scientific concepts, explained contemporary developments, countered superstition and encouraged rational thinking — often in regional languages. For students, teachers and lay listeners alike, they functioned as informal classrooms, nurturing curiosity beyond textbooks and laboratories.
Equally impactful have been AIR’s agriculture-centric programmes, which for decades have acted as lifelines for India’s farming communities. Weather advisories, crop management practices, pest-control strategies, soil health guidance and discussions on sustainable agriculture reached farmers directly in their fields and homes. In many rural regions, these broadcasts became trusted decision-making tools, helping farmers enhance productivity, reduce risks and adapt to climate variability.
AIR’s employment- and skill-oriented programmes further extended its developmental role. Career guidance broadcasts, competitive examination support, self-employment awareness initiatives and information on government schemes empowered youth and job-seekers, particularly those with limited access to digital platforms. By offering credible and comprehensible information, radio helped bridge opportunity gaps across socio-economic divides.
Taken together, these diverse streams of content position All India Radio as something far more than a broadcasting service. In many ways, it functions as a living encyclopaedia — constantly updated, spoken in multiple languages and freely accessible. Unlike static repositories of information, radio contextualises knowledge, responds to social needs and evolves with time, supporting the holistic development of citizens — intellectually, socially and economically.
Alongside public broadcasting, private FM radio has emerged as a vibrant complement, especially in urban and semi-urban India. FM stations deliver local entertainment, traffic updates, cultural programming and community conversations, often becoming a soundtrack to everyday life. Their success lies in relatability — familiar voices, local humour and shared concerns. AI may assist in playlist optimisation or audience analytics, but it is the human radio jockey who builds emotional connection.
A contemporary illustration of radio’s societal influence is Mann Ki Baat, the monthly address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The programme demonstrates how radio can still mobilise collective attention, highlight grassroots innovations and foster a sense of shared national purpose, reaffirming the medium’s relevance in the digital era.
At the same time, the AI age presents ethical challenges. Synthetic voices, deepfake audio and automated content generation can blur the boundaries between authenticity and fabrication. As a trusted medium, radio carries a responsibility to uphold editorial integrity, transparency and accountability. AI must therefore be deployed within strong ethical frameworks that protect truth and public trust.
World Radio Day celebrates not just a technology, but a social institution. Over the decades, radio has delivered timely information, amplified talent, encouraged creativity and offered comfort during crises. Its resilience lies in adaptability — from shortwave to FM, from analogue to digital, and now from manual workflows to AI-assisted systems.
Ultimately, the role of radio in the AI age is not to compete with machines, but to humanise technology. AI can help radio listen better, reach farther and serve more inclusively. But the voice that speaks — that reassures, questions and connects — must remain unmistakably human. As long as radio remembers this, it will continue to matter, not merely as a medium of communication, but as a companion in our collective journey.
Dr. Biju Dharmapalan
(Dr.Biju Dharmapalan is the Dean -Academic Affairs, Garden City University, Bengaluru and an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies,
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