Public Service Broadcasting Day: November 12

Public Service Broadcasting Day is observed every year across India on November 12 year to commemorate first and last visit of Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation) of All India Radio Studio (AIR), New Delhi in 1947. On this occasion, artistes of Akashvani Bhawan, Delhi  performed Vaishnav Jan Toh and other bhajans and school children performed Rabindra sangeet.

Key Facts

Gandhiji had visited AIR studio to address displaced people from Pakistan who were temporarily settled in Kurukshetra, Haryana after partition of Indian subcontinent. It was his first and last live broadcast. In this broadcast, Gandhiji had decided to convey his message through radio, as he couldn’t visit refugees of Partition stationed at Kurukshetra in Haryana. This day was instituted in 2000 as Jan Prasaran Diwas (Public Service Broadcasting Day) after it was conceptualised by Suhas Borker, Convenor of Jan Prasar. This day seeks to spread Gandhiji belief that aim of media was public service. Accordingly, he used to run several newspapers and understood power of media. He was completely against commercial ads and believed that only those non-commercial ads should be accepted that serve some public purpose.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2018