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By:

Suhas B Naik-Satam

25 November 2025 at 2:24:38 pm

All India Radio Mumbai: The Voice of a Century

A century of memories, culture and trust that lives in the hearts of millions. Some voices do not remain mere voices; they become witnesses to history. They live on through generations of memories, create a sense of belonging in homes, and become an inseparable part of the collective memory of society. The voice of All India Radio Mumbai is one such voice. 23 July 2026 marks a historic and proud moment in the history of Indian broadcasting. On this day, All India Radio Mumbai enters its...

All India Radio Mumbai: The Voice of a Century

A century of memories, culture and trust that lives in the hearts of millions. Some voices do not remain mere voices; they become witnesses to history. They live on through generations of memories, create a sense of belonging in homes, and become an inseparable part of the collective memory of society. The voice of All India Radio Mumbai is one such voice. 23 July 2026 marks a historic and proud moment in the history of Indian broadcasting. On this day, All India Radio Mumbai enters its centenary year. This is not merely the hundred-year journey of a broadcasting centre; it is a glorious chapter in the cultural evolution of Maharashtra, the bond of trust created with people, and the dissemination of knowledge and ideas. 23 July is celebrated as Indian Broadcasting Day. On this day, organised broadcasting services began in India, marking the beginning of a new era in the country’s communication landscape. In those early years, radio was not merely a technological medium; it was a powerful tool that connected the nation, shaped thoughts and provided a platform for culture. In today’s digital age, the means of communication have undergone a remarkable transformation. Mobile phones, the internet and various digital platforms have enabled information to reach across the world within moments. Yet, the importance of radio continues to remain unique. This is because radio is not merely an experience of sound; it is a dialogue of emotions and trust. The warmth of the announcer’s voice, the identity of programmes, the melodies of music and the rich tradition of ideas have helped All India Radio Mumbai create a lasting place in the hearts of listeners. Mumbai is not only the economic centre of the country but also a vibrant cultural capital. Numerous streams of literature, music, theatre, cinema and art have flourished from this city. All India Radio Mumbai played a significant role in bringing these diverse cultural expressions to households. By taking the thoughts of Marathi writers, the voices of musicians, the imagination of playwrights and the talent of artists to listeners, the centre became an inspiring platform for many. The countless voices broadcast from the studios of All India Radio Mumbai remain alive in the memories of listeners. The melodies of भावगीत (lyrical Marathi songs), classical music concerts, powerful performances of dramatic readings, literary interviews and various cultural programmes enriched the cultural life of Maharashtra. For many artists, All India Radio became their first major platform, helping their talent gain recognition and reach a wider audience. The contribution of All India Radio has never been limited to entertainment. Through the threefold approach of information, education and entertainment, the medium has consistently contributed to social awareness and public enlightenment. It has played an important role in promoting education, creating social awareness and developing a scientific outlook among people. An important chapter in this tradition is the establishment of the Science Cell in 1976. The cell was created with the objective of bringing developments in science and technology to ordinary listeners in a simple, understandable and engaging manner. At that time, science was often considered a field restricted mainly to experts. Encouraging a scientific outlook among society, bringing new discoveries and concepts in science to common citizens, and nurturing curiosity among students were important needs of the era. The Science Cell of All India Radio Mumbai fulfilled this responsibility effectively. Through science news, expert interviews, discussions, educational programmes for students and initiatives explaining the science behind everyday life, the Science Cell brought the light of knowledge to the common people. By presenting information on subjects such as space research, the environment, health, agriculture, energy and technology in an accessible language, the cell created a rich tradition of science communication. The journey of science communication that began in 1976 remains an important milestone in the centenary journey of All India Radio Mumbai. Along with music, literature and culture, All India Radio also gave science an important place in social life. The effort to promote scientific thinking and encourage curiosity about knowledge has become even more significant in today’s information-driven era. In its century-long journey, All India Radio Mumbai has not merely broadcast programmes; it has woven an invisible thread connecting memories, emotions, knowledge and culture with society. That is why the voice of All India Radio Mumbai continues to be a symbol of trust, warmth and cultural identity for millions of listeners. As All India Radio Mumbai stands at the threshold of its centenary year, may this remarkable journey of voices continue to illuminate the path of knowledge, culture and communication for many more decades to come. (The writer is the Chief Executive at the National Centre for Science Communicators, Mumbai. Views personal.)

Crores siphoned off, yet no courage to probe

Khaki, Black Money - Part 4

 

State’s police machinery is sinking in the mire of corruption

AI Generated Image
AI Generated Image

Kolhapur: By law, every government employee is required to file an annual statement of assets held in their own name and that of their family members. The Supreme Court has repeatedly underlined this obligation. Yet, ask a simple question: how many actually file these disclosures on time? How many senior officers ever bother to seek an explanation when they don’t? The blunt answer is — almost none.


The reason is obvious. No one wants to declare assets, no one feels compelled to, and crucially, no one is ever held accountable. Instead, this loophole has been brazenly exploited to erect personal empires of wealth. Among all departments, the police rank disturbingly high. Armed with khaki uniforms, batons and pistols, sections of the force have turned into licensed predators. The plunder of Maharashtra continues unabated — and those in power, themselves mired in scams, find police reform deeply inconvenient.


Today, the Maharashtra government has digitised land records across the state. Property registrations are available online. If even a modicum of intent existed, an AI-enabled audit cell could be set up overnight to map police officers’ declared income against their actual assets. The results would be explosive. It would expose how ordinary citizens were systematically fleeced, how accused persons were beaten into submission to grow illegal cash crops, and how complainants themselves were extorted under the guise of “cross-examination”. What is missing is not technology, but political will — and public pressure. Without a mass demand, this rotten edifice will not collapse.


Some officers own hundreds of acres of land. Others have invested in hotel chains, real estate empires, or live in palatial homes that would shame royal estates. Where did this money come from? Ironically, these very officers lead agitations demanding pay commission hikes. Their salaries, it seems, are irrelevant — daily “top-up income” flows far more reliably. There have been officers who walked into offices with empty wallets in the morning, threatening staff that the wallet must be full by evening. Once juniors realised the boss’s appetite, the entire machinery descended into organised extortion. Many careers were destroyed, many lives ruined — but Maharashtra’s law and order apparatus looked away.


The police force was created to ensure citizens live without fear — “Sadrakshanaya, Khalnigrahanaya”. Today, it is the common citizen who trembles before stepping into a police station, while goons, fixers and habitual offenders move in and out with swaggering ease. Matka and gutkha are officially banned, yet flourish openly. Liquor is smuggled from Goa with police escorts and red beacons. Businesses and citizens are crushed under hafta demands. Drug peddling has turned Maharashtra into a floating narcotics market for its youth.


Transfers of officers require suitcases of cash; transfers of constables require cartons. The system has full authority to crack down on corrupt and irresponsible personnel — but when both sides are partners in crime, accountability becomes a farce. What survives is not law, but collusion.

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