The AIR is dead... long live AIR

These days I have rediscovered the magic of government radio. I wouldn’t have heard radio if not for the private players. And I wouldn’t have switched to government radio if not for boring and pathetic private players. Most FM channels play the same music. It’s the same latest songs being played by all. Almost all RJ’s are similar in their pompous and ‘I am soo dam smart’ tone. I thought Aniruddh was the most irritating till I heard Manish Valecha. He is the worst. He does play some lovely music though I wish he just shut up.
The best thing about the goverment run All India Radio (AIR)100.7 fm is the amazing talk shows that they have. Typically after a game of squash, while driving home at around 9.00 to 9.15 pm I turn on it on. News in Hindi followed by news in English (most turn off here but the patient inherit the earth). People like me with no TV love it. The best then follows. Post the news they have a talk show on a current and important subject. This will be a 15 minute chat typically having a senior journalist with an expert on the issue. I have heard shows about the LTTE, Sri Lankan Military response, Right to education Bill, hosting IPL during elections, criminalization in politics etc. It is great to listen to these experts talking with deep insights on these issues. It is a pleasure to hear them. It gives you a rare chance to understand the core of issues that are dealt with. Most of the time either these issues are not carried by national press or they have pathetic analysis on them. Journalism in India is dead in any case. At these forums the expert and the journalist is not afraid to take shots at the political machinery, the current government or even the judiciary. It seems fair and impartial. What strikes me is that there is someone in this government company who is tirelessly working away, identifying issues, the right experts and quietly trying to do his job. This quiet honest worker is as much a hero as possibly Tarun Tejpal. Long live the quiet efficient bureaucrat. If you are somewhere reading this… I bow to thee.
But I don’t know how long this will last. How many of us actually listen to this. Tarun once explained in his edit on the importance of politics and us the elite paying more attention to it. I sure hope this radio station is never privatized. Look at the news channels these days. I miss the Doordarshan news. It was infinitely more balanced. If demand dictates supply then the fact that we don’t have balanced and well analyzed opinions on the news then it is a reflection on our tastes and our demand.