The Gaekwads of Baroda have been a step ahead of others in every field and this was also the case when it came to establishing the first and the only Aakashwani broadcasting station of Gujarat. The foundation stone of Baroda Broadcasting Station was laid by Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad way back in May 1939, but the station only started functioning by January 1947, because the start was stalled due to the second world war.
Just like being the first princely state to establish the service it was also the first Indian princely state to be integrated with the AIR (All India Radio) after the independence on December 16, 1948.
It is said that first office was at Salatwada area, while the broadcasting station functioned at Samlaya. Then it was shifted to Yash Kamal Building near MSU & after few years it is now located at Akashwani Premises on Makarpura Road with all of it’s instruments, equipment’s & machines.
The Visionary :
On January 10, 1947, Maharaja Pratapsinh Gaekwad did the opening ceremony of Baroda Akashwani Center, and the first thing to be broadcasted by the station was the National Song of the country i.e. “Vande Mataram”. In pre-independence time, there was ban on singing National Anthem in public, but being a true patriot the Maharaja did so anyways by broadcasting it on the Radio without being concerned about the consequences. He invited famous & legendary artists like Shri Krushna master (Krushnarao Filambrikar) to present the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ on this occasion.
Below is the Quote which he said during the first broadcast of the station :
“This is my Radio Station for my people of the state and therefore, it will start functioning with my country’s National song Vande Mataram“.
Just like his grandfather, Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad was also a great visionary and strived for the betterment and bright future of his people. He insisted that programmes reflecting and depicting the great culture of Gujarat be arranged and wished that the same should reach the masses in their own mother tongue all over Gujarat. He also gave opening to programs related to knowledge, sports, art, agriculture, industries, health, education for the people of his state.
The Artists :
Famous singers like Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Mirabai Badkar, Maula Baksh Khan, Omkarnath Thakur used to perform live on Akashwani. Drama producer C.C.Mehta, Manbhatta, Dharmiklal Pandya, Shri Markand Bhatt also gave their prime contribution. A magazine named ‘Nabhovani’ was published every fortnight, by Shri Muljibhai Shah as the main publisher. Ustad Faiyaz Khan also started broadcasting as staff artist for Rs 150.
Musical festivals were also broadcasted on Aakashwani, which included the items performed by all the leading artists of India along with a western artist Edian Bolt.
A special program was held on death of Mahatma Gandhi which broadcasted ‘Raghupati Raghav Rajaram’ (the song sung by Mahatma Gandhi during the Dandi March) with special chorus, led by great musician like Ustad Faiyazkhan, Pandit Omkarnathji, Pandit D V Paluskar & others.
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So great is the contribution of the Maharaja that the title song of Akashwani composed at his time is still used in some programs to this date !!!
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