Press Trust of India On October 1, 1939, All India Radio made its first broadcast for foreign listeners — a Pashto service started by the then British rulers to counter the Nazi Germany propaganda during World War II.
The national radio broadcaster has decided that the 80th anniversary of the historic event will be marked by year-long celebrations beginning this week right up till October 1 next year.
‘Best of India’
The external services of the All India Radio (AIR), though began with the aim of serving the propaganda of the British colonialists, have now transformed into the
“The missions are going to circulate the material that we have sent them to sensitise the listeners in their respective countries about AIR’s external services,” he said.
“This is one service where we are trying to showcase the best of India. We are also trying to put India’s point of view and right perspective in the face of a lot of misinformation which has been circulated by countries with which we have a worrisome relationship,” the senior AIR official said.