Mangaluru: To celebrate the joy of winning the national award for the best programme on air in the community radio category, “Antara Belaku”, a programme for the blind listeners, the St. Aloysius College Institutions and the Radio Sarang 107.8 FM team had organized a get together, here on Sunday, September 29.
The specialty of the programme was the participation of over a dozen blind listeners, who regularly listen to Radio Sarang without fail.
The chief guests of the programme were prominent television anchor, orator and professor Bhaskar Rai Kukuvalli and Tulu scholar Dr Ganesh Amin Sankamar.
Although there were two chief guests for the programme, the blind listeners were the main guests in true sense.
Addressing the gathering Bhaskar Rai said, “The blind listeners’ section has a major role to play when it comes to listeners of Radio Sarang as they are also the major listeners of radio programmes. God has given everybody two eyes. But, it is not of that importance what you see with you naked eyes, but what is important is what you see from your inner eye. The inner eye makes us understand what our eyes fail to do. The life around us is made beautiful only if one sees through the inner one.”
“Radio Sarang has achieved mammoth of a task by reaching out to the hearts of commoners. It is the only radio which has encouraged and opened the doors for public participation”, he added.
Bhaskar Rai also lauded the efforts of the Sarang team and the college administration for winning a national award, which according to him is a rare feat by a community radio.
Dr Ganesh Amin said, “Amid the chaos of social media and hype of other media, Sarang has struck the chord of social well-being and has lit the lives of the blind listeners.”
Adding to it he said, “At this juncture we are celebrating Dasara, which is also a festivity of vibrant colours, light and life. If you take a round of the Mangaluru city, it is illuminated so brightly. But outer vibrance and illumination holds no meaning if a person lacks the inner light.”
Connecting his personal memories to the event for blind listeners, Dr Ganesh Amin said, “I’ve a younger brother who is specially-abled. In true sense he is special for our family, as he fills the atmosphere with joy through his positive spirit and laughter. Even though I’ve lost my parents 15 years back, he makes me feel like they are with us all the time. That is his strength.”
All the gathered blind listeners were felicitated for their immense support shown towards Radio Sarang.
Rector of St. Aloysius Institutions Rev Fr Dionysius Vas SJ, Director of Radio Sarang Rev Dr Melwyn Pinto SJ, Radio Sarang staff and other guests were present.
‘My daily routine is fixed according to Sarang programme’
Blind couple Shivananjaiah and Pushpavathi from Madikeri, who are working in the deputy commissioner’s office, narrated an interesting instance, to prove that they are the regular listeners of Sarang.
Pushpavathi said that after listening to Radio Sarang, she has not only become the fan of its programmes, but it has also helped her be more disciplined and value time.
She said, “Before due to wrong judgment of timing, the food that I used to prepare was not of that quality. After listening to Sarang, I get to know that my cereals are cooked to perfection as it helps me in keeping a watch on the time.”
Shivananjaiah couple also mark their timing of daily routine according to the programmes that they listen on Sarang.
Another blind listener Aithappa Mudigere from Chikkamagaluru said, “Although I did not have proper facility to setup a radio transmitter at home, using long wires and swirling it around my house, I’ve setup a radio transmitter, with little technical knowledge that I have and with it, I hear all the programmes of Radio Sarang, especially, “Aadu Aata Aadu”, which has helped me in enhancing my general knowledge along with entertainment.”
