Ex-MLA’s love for radio continues in digital age | Bhubaneswar News
Berhampur: Once the primary source of information, radio is history for many nowadays. But for 72-year-old Ashok Kumar Choudhury, former MLA of Chhatrapur, radio continues to be a source of information. “Every morning and evening, I tune in the radio to hear news in Odia, Hindi and English. Besides, I listen to songs,” said Choudhury, on World Radio Day that is celebrated every year on Feb 13.
He owns around a dozen radio sets, though only three or four are functional. His love for radio began six decades ago when his uncle owned a transistor set. He fondly remembers listening to Hindi songs, regional news, and cricket commentaries over it.
“I confirmed my victory as an MLA from Chhatrapur assembly constituency in 1985 through the special election bulletin over radio. Though unofficially, I came to know about my win, my supporters burst crackers only after it was announced in the radio bulletin,” Choudhury recalled with nostalgia.
Choudhury won the election on the Congress ticket in 1985. The transistor set he used at that time, which announced his win, has been preserved till now to keep alive the joyful memory, he said.
Radio was the only source of accurate information when there was no electricity and disruption of communication in the district for several days after the super cyclone Phailin in October 2013. “People gathered at our house to listen to news every evening at that time,” said Sanatan Sangram Singh, a former sarpanch of Nalihada.
He owns around a dozen radio sets, though only three or four are functional. His love for radio began six decades ago when his uncle owned a transistor set. He fondly remembers listening to Hindi songs, regional news, and cricket commentaries over it.
“I confirmed my victory as an MLA from Chhatrapur assembly constituency in 1985 through the special election bulletin over radio. Though unofficially, I came to know about my win, my supporters burst crackers only after it was announced in the radio bulletin,” Choudhury recalled with nostalgia.
Choudhury won the election on the Congress ticket in 1985. The transistor set he used at that time, which announced his win, has been preserved till now to keep alive the joyful memory, he said.
Radio was the only source of accurate information when there was no electricity and disruption of communication in the district for several days after the super cyclone Phailin in October 2013. “People gathered at our house to listen to news every evening at that time,” said Sanatan Sangram Singh, a former sarpanch of Nalihada.
