Rare collection of vintage radios displayed at Radio Fair

Bhubaneswar: 21-year-old Priti was amazed to get a glimpse of the oldest means of entertainment--- the radio at the two-day International Radio Fair organized by Outreach in Bhubaneswar.

For Priti, radio is certainly a thing of the past but the youngster feels that still it has the potential  to create awareness both in rural and urban population in the country.

Not only Priti, a large number of radio lovers of the city gathered at Bhanja Kala Mandap to celebrate World Radio Day at the radio fair.

"It was certainly unique experience for me to get a glimpse of antique radio sets and gramophones along with kiosks of various radio stations from across the world," said Priti.

Food supply minister Surya Narayan Patro inaugurated the event on Monday in presence of senior journalist Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Vividh Bharati announcer from Mumbai, Kamal Sharma.

Speaking to odishatv.in, the renowned announcer said, "It's a fantastic event and through such programmes we can increase the popularity of radio. In my opinion this event should be held in other cities across the nation as well."

"It's the fourth edition and many broadcasters from abroad are attending the event this year. Stations like NHK World Radio Japan, Voice of America, China Radio International and Bangladesh Betar have come to Bhubaneswar for this fair. We are exhibiting many old and antique radio sets here and damaged radio sets are also being repaired at the fair," informed organiser Subrat Pati.

Radio listeners and curious youngsters made a beeline to the venue for the fair.  They  were amazed to see the old radio sets while some of them had gathered to get their radio sets repaired at a special stall set up for this purpose.

Students of various mass communication institutes also visited the fair. They have set up stalls of community and online radio stations operating on their respective campuses.

"It's a very good experience to attend the radio fair. Many visitors coming to the event and are enquiring about radio programmes and our online radio channel," said Subechha, a student of Birla Global University which runs an online radio channel by its students.

Various seminars and panel discussions on this year's theme 'Radio and Sports' are also being organised at the radio fair.