Radio regains lost regime in Mizoram

Aizawl, Aug 21 (UNI) ''When we grow tired of all this visual. Radio what's new? Radio, someone still loves you,'' sings the British rock group 'Queen', perhaps predicting the revival of the popular audio medium recently eclipsed by the idiot-box revolution.

The song seemingly inspired the people of Mizoram as the radio is seen regaining its lost popularity among the masses, thanks to the FM music programme that kicked-off on August 15.

''Youngsters in the city had hardly tuned into the AIR before we introduced the channel. Apart from English and Hindi hits, most wanted numbers are aired to glue them to radio,'' Station Director L CH Sailo maintained.

The AIR Aizawl station was currently training 40 youths as radio-jockeys, out of which 12 had passed out, Mr Sailo added.

''The RJs have a good taste of modern music, speak fluent English and Hindi. Some of them are experienced as DJs in the big cities,'' the director informed.

The FM music channel starts from 1700 hours and lasts till 2200 hours, which can be tuned in from mobile phones and car tapes. The duration might be extended up to 1200 hours in the near future, he added.

''Since its inception on August 15, I am staying tuned to the programme. It's a good programme,'' said Valpuia, a taxi driver in Aizawl. ''I had never been interested in AIR programme before the FM channel came out,'' 16-year-old girl Marini added.

The AIR deputy director general C Lalrosanga said today that the programmes would be gradually improved. '' We would also include headline news in course of time,'' he said.

''Till the early 70s, only a few people in Aizawl afforded a transistor radio. In those days, radio was the only means of mass communication. All the neighbours swamped the house of a well-to-do family who had a radio to listen to music,'' prominent journalist Lalkhawliana, 72, recollected.

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