9.1. Radio and Sanskrit eduction

Electronic media 20 Radio Let us now turn our attention to the role of the electronic media in Kerala. In the west radio has been almost completed supplanted by the television. But in India it is still very much in vogue. It is pleasant to note that transistor radios can now be seen in even the remotest villages and

290 have become so common that they are carried every where to work, to play, to social gatherings, to travel. The radio amuses as well as instructs. The AIR the national radio network had conceived and executed a number of pragrammes to achieve these ends; amusements, pleasure and education. Among the educational programmes many are prepared for the benefit of students and illiterate women and farmers of the several areas. Most of the programes broadcast over the radio are so full of information and also effective that if one only has the patience to listen to them, one would find unprecedented progress in one's education. Aware of this significance of the part that the radio can play, the Indian government has provided public radio sets for each panchayat. So that the villagers can collect in the building housing the panchayat and listen to various programmes. By means of the radio, people who are separated by long distance from the centre of things can listen to all kinds of news and cultural programmes while relaxing at home. In this it is not even necessary to open one's eyes or to sit up as is necessary in the case of television or cinema. But if the radio is to be made an effective agency of informal education, there is considerable need for giving orientation to its programmes. AIR pays considerable attention to the suggestions put forward by its listeners in this connection and it also consults experts from time to time.

291 To quote Stephen L. Lewis "Radio is the most powerful, inexpensive and convenient tool of education. In subject areas where no specialized teachers are available it should be the most heavily relied upon medium. Unfortunately it is not. It is used for more frequently in under developed 21 nations, although here too T.V is making inroads into its use". Radio is very much popular in India and it is a very active informal agency in every field of education like music, language, sports, arts, science etc.. Kerala AIR has also very active participation in the development of various languages like Malayalam, Hindi, Sanskrit. Every radio studio station of Kerala is broadcasting Sanskrit programmes each and every month like a speech or variety programmes. People receive sufficient education from the speeches on different subjects delivered by great scholars. erstwhile The radio is an important medium of cultural expression. Broadcast service in Kerala was started as early as March 12, 1943, when the Travancore government set up a radio station at Thiruvananthapuram. Though in the initial stage of the station, there was only one transmission in a week, the programme hours were gradually st increased to two hours a day from August 1947. The station was taken over by the all India radio on 1st April 1950 and with this transmission hours were increased. There has since been steady expansion of broad casting facilities in Kerala. Later all India radio opened stations at Calicut,

292 Thrissur (1956, Nov.4) and Alleppy to serve people in all parts of the state more effectively. The radio now serves the cause of general cultural development in Kerala by organising rich and varied programme intended. to preserve the traditional folk songs and folk arts of the state. 22 It took part creatively in the education of various languages like Malayalam, Hindi and Sanskrit. The Radio stations of Kerala are broad casting Sanskrit programmes as speeches or variety programmes. The listeners get sufficient education from the speeches on different subjects offered by the scholars. Usually Sanskrit programmes are conducted once in a month. Each programe is given the duration of ten to fifteen minutes. All India radio, Thiruvananthapuram is broad casting a 10 minute weekly program in Sanskrit on Friday 5.45 P.M. Chances are given to school and college students to present variety programmes in Sanskrit. The station also relay Sanskrit news from Delhi in the morning and evening. The Kozhikode radio station created special Sanskrit education programme during the 1970s. It was called 'Samskrtapatham'. It always starts with the opening verse keyura na vibhusayanti... It was presented as a classroom interaction model. This programme was relayed from all radio stations of Kerala at that time. But unfortunately fifteen years back they stopped this programme. Now a days All India radio broad caste speeches in Sanskrit in various subjects like ancient science, technology, literature, veda etc. As

293 noted earlier they also broad caste variety of entertainment programme in Sanskrit by students of schools and colleges. These programmes include aksharasloka, drama, speech, recitation and story telling etc. In addition to this, importance is given to special occasion like Sanskrit day. Special programmes are broad cast on that day with the help of Sanskrit departments of various colleges. For example the following programs were transmitted in the month. of January/February 2008 by AIR Thiruvananthapuram. Broad cast Broad cast Broad cast Subject Name of artist Date Day Time 01-01-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk - nyayasastram Shambu Potty 10-01-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk Dr. Sreelatha 17-01-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk Sri. Apukuttan Nair 24-01-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk-BhaktiDr. S.K Sreedevi Narayaneeyam 31-01-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk 07-02-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk 14-02-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk 21-02-08 Thursday 5.40 Syamala Navaratna malikaSmt. Valsala devi C. Muralidharan Nair P.Krishnakumar Kavalam Sreekumar sthothram of Shri Shankaracharya 28-02-08 Thursday 5.40 Talk P.K Thankamani Thiruvananthapuram Sanskrit college, college, Ernakulam Maharajas college, S.S.U.S, Kalady, Keralavarma College, Thrissur, Govt. Sanskrit College, Tripunithura, Govt. Sanskrit College, Pattambi, Calicut University

294 Sanskrit Department and so on participated in Sanskrit Cultural Programmes. And often all the All India Radio stations from Kerala present Sanskrit Subhasitas every day at 6 A.M. Some of the Subhasitas are Sanskrit verses.