The invention of the radio by Marconi is a wonderful achievement of science. It is one of the most popular and most useful media of entertainment and information. It is used by all sorts of people- the young and the old, the men and the women, the city man and the country man, the educated and the uneducated. It is useful to get recreation, educative information and news and to broadcast commercial advertisements. There are radio broadcasting stations all over the world.
In india most people tune on the radio or the transistor when they are at leisure and in need of entertainment. There are some people, especially, workers who simultaneously work and enjoy the radio programs. The radio offers entertainment to its listeners through several programs. It broadcasts film songs, devotional songs, classical songs, instrumental music, short or lengthy dramatic programs, children’s programs, women’s programs, programs for laborers and jawans, and humorous skits. There are speeches,debates, discourses and teaching. Stories are narrated for children. Women are taught how to cook particular dishes and sweets, how to,look after their children and how to render social service. The programs for laborers give them not only pleasure but also useful advice. The music teacher teaches the basic things in music. At the time of the examinations some teachers teach different subjects through radio broadcasting . There are special programs for school children.
He next important use of the radio broadcast is the news. News is announced in different languages like english, hindi and the regional language three or four times a day. The listeners understand the current affairs, not only of india, but of all the other countries. The speeches of famous people on social, political,economic and scientific problems are broadcast for public enlightenment. On important occasions like the election, music festivals and religious festivals, we hear the broadcasts for a longer time then we usually do. During important matches, national and international, the running commentary of the match is broadcasted. It is so powerful that ordinary people as well as lovers of games and sports feel a great deal of enthusiasm, ecstasy or sympathy as if they were on the playground. The running commentary on the cricket matches is the most important program during the cricket matches.
The radio broadcasts the information regarding war, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, storms, famine, pestilences, job opportunities, weather conditions and warnings to fishermen against going upon the sea in the stormy weather to keep the listeners in the know of things.