O. P. Sharma
The Regional News Unit (RNU) of Akashvani Jammu has completed over five decades of public service of broadcasting news and is celebrating its 54th Foundation Day on December 6 this year. The news unit successfully rendered the service of providing news for more than half a century in Dogri and later in Gojri languages.
The Dogri news section was set up in Radio Station, Jammu, on December 6, 1971, during the troubled time of the Indo-Pak conflict. This Regional News Unit has gained immense popularity among the people, not only in the sensitive area of Jammu and Kashmir but even across the borders in PoJK and even Pakistan too. It is one among a network of 47 RNUs in the country broadcasting news in various regional languages. Presently, three regional and two national news bulletins in Dogri as well as two Gojri bulletins are broadcast every day.
To commemorate the 54th foundation day, a function is being organized by Akashvani in which select newscasters and others allied at various levels are being honoured for their contributions in respective sectors.
To start with, on December 6, 1971, two news bulletins in Dogri were aired to not only inform and educate the general masses about the day-to-day developments but also infuse public confidence and counter propaganda from across our borders. While the first Dogri newscast went on air in December 1971, another local language, Gojri was also introduced in 1980, which, along with Dogri news bulletins, is steadily growing in popularity. In response to the popular demand for a second Gojri bulletin, the same was launched in 2016 with a grand ceremony graced by the then Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Galaxy of Pioneers
An eminent writer, Jagan Nath Thakur alias Thakur Poonchi was the founding editor of Dogri News Unit, who single-handedly worked by putting in his best and was followed and headed, among others, by noted figures like D. Kiran ‘Kashmiri.’ Ajit Singh, Ashok, Handoo, Mohammad Yussuf Ganai, M.K. Wangoo, Balwant Singh, Vijay Saqi, Sanjeet Khajuria. In recent years, Neha Jalali, R. K. Raina and the present incumbent, N. Gulshan Raina, have headed the RNU and given new directions to the news unit by adopting technology to promote regional languages and popularize the news unit through modern means like social media and feature stories.
The noted newscasters with RNU included Lajya Manhas, Narendra Bhasin, Joginderpal ‘Chhatarpal’, Dr. Veena Gupta, Vijay Sharma, Chanchal Bhasins, Bhanu Pratap, Sudershan Prassar, Raman Kesar, Vijay Verma, Kuldeep Singh Jandrahiya, Nirmal Vinod, Jagmohan Sharma, Vijay Bajaj, Shruti Khajuria, and many others.
RNU has correspondents in every district that play a crucial role in maintaining regional balance in broadcasting news and reporting on crucial aspects of security as well as developmental issues. Over the years, these bulletins have created widespread awareness among the general public.
Radio still remains a highly trusted and popular medium for news, entertainment, and cultural activities. Presently, RNU, Jammu runs daily seven news bulletins in regional Dogri and Gojri languages, along with a variety of chat shows, interviews, national campaigns, and special programs on important regional events and festivals. These programs play a pivotal role in public information and also act in the promotion of Dogri and other languages, as well as projecting our distinct cultural heritage and winning public trust.
Since its inception, the public broadcaster Akashvani has strived to live up to its motto of Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukahaya to ensure a balanced flow of information, education, and entertainment for promoting the welfare and happiness of the masses. Besides airing programs relating to developmental activities, Akashvani endeavours to combat exploitation and promote social justice and national integration.
RNU Akashvani Jammu has incorporated new technological innovations in the broadcast sector, thereby modernizing the infrastructure for news broadcasting. The news unit continues to serve society with objective news for the greater good of the public and in an effort to strengthen the democratic values of the nation.
O.P. Sharma is a Jammu-based senior journalist.
