[cr-india] Radio Manipal

Fri Oct 2 07:31:09 IST 2009

Dear all:

I have read Dr. Sreedher's 'anguished' posting on cr-india regarding Radio
Manipal.  Frankly, I find it offensive, in spite of Dr. Murthy's gracious
reply. No one has monopoly over the airwaves, least of all those of us who
have been in the movement for democratizing the airwaves.  If Manipal
Institute has applied for a radio station under the existing guidelines
enabling educational institutions to do so, they have every right to do it
(even though we at CRF have repeatedly articulated the need for separation
of policy for campus and community stations). If they decide that right now
their capacity is only for 1 hour of broadcast, so be it. On behalf of the
CR Forum, I would like to strongly oppose any diktat about manadatory number
of hours of broadcast. As to Dr. Sreedher's concern about 'wastage' of
frequencies, I wish more of us express our consternation at the sheer
rubbishing of the airwaves by inane commercial FM stations and their
reducing radio, with its vast potential, to a mere music-box.

Regarding the capacity building workshops and Dr. Sreedher's anger at
Manipal not having attended any of them organized by CEMCA, I can only
reiterate my position that one cannot monopolize the market for 'capacity
building'. And, I hope in spite of CEMCA's efforts, the Government would
never make it mandatory for any one to attend capacity building workshops
organized by CEMCA, CRF or any other entity. They should be free to pursue
their own paths as long as there is a authentic desire to serve the needs of
their respective communities.

If people feel the need to build their capacities, let them decide how they
would want to acquire those. I sincerely hope the Ministry and the Screening
Committee (whose disbanding has been suggested by CRF) recognize the anomaly
of someone aggressively seeking participants in workshops organized by his
institution, often through inducements of funding via DST projects, sitting
on the screening committee judging CR applicants.  So if you earn his wrath
by not participating in his workshops, would a license be denied to you?
Alternatively, would those who manage to be in the good books of Dr.Sreedher
and his organization by participating in his workshops and seeking his
'help' for licensing procedures, get safe passage through the bureaucratic
maze?  I think this is a serious anomaly and someone in the Government
should take cognizance of it.

We at the CRF would like to play a positive, facilitating role for the
emergence of a genuine, grassroots, community radio sector in India.  We may
not have strong institutional infrastructure and support and neither do we
always enjoy the benevolence of the Government in furthering our larger goal
of democratization of airwaves.  But, we represent the spirit and
aspirations of genuine community broadcasting in this country -- not in a
monopolistic fashion, but as part of a wider movement.

Meanwhile, my best wishes to Radio Manipal and its team. I hope they will be
able to put together a model campus radio station.

best,

vinod

On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 4:05 PM, subrahmanya murthy
<cshnmurthy at yahoo.co.in>wrote:

>
>
>
>    Dear Dr.Sreedhar, Sajan Venniyoor, Prof.Dr.Shambhunath Singh,
>
> Thanks for the excellent views aired by Dr.Sreedhar.
>
> As I stated earlier that Radio Maniapl as a community radio has an
> excellent infrastructure and has wide recording labs and wonderful equipment
> for recording. Even one hour transmission is having wornderful reception at
> many points that we checked in the radius but there are some points still
> where we need to confirm the reception levels.
>
> As for orientation to the existing radio incharge Mr.Shyam Bhat and as for
> keeping in touch with the other CRs I welcome the views of Dr.Sreedhar. Yes,
> I too feel that a CR cannot function like this in isolation. I need to take
> up this at my present Director Dr.Tapas Ray level.
>
> As for the workshop,which was held on the days of holidays, coming as it
> did, apart from lighting of lamp by Dr.M V Kamath, Mr. Abdul Rahman Pasha
> who was well known here for having worked in Community radio sector, besides
> publishing two books on CR in Kannada, was the person who carried out the
> entire workshop throughout its length and breadth. Unfortunately it did not
> appear in the media. Dr.Kamath is not only Hon.Director for MIC, he is one
> of the Board of Governors which administers the Univeristy and being highly
> aged person, his presence is to be construed symbolically as an occasion to
> seek auspcious blessings. For any act of planning, we all go to Dr.Kamath
> for his blessings in MU as a matter of respect to one who got the Kannada
> Rajya Pursakara and awarded Padmabhushan.
>
> As such I request you all to treat the Manipal Radio with a positive
> concept and not to treat with any contempt. As a Professor I have been
> analysing the content of Manipal Radio and I am in Possession of the
> analysis along with the original content for any one's verification too and
> I have no hesitation to state that its content for the community is more
> than 50-55% besides entertainment programmes for the youth etc. It is truly
> doing the programmes necessary for the CR in Tulu and farming communities.
>
> I do believe that CR is a forum for free exchange of views. I know
> Dr.Sreedhar atleast last two years and Dr.Devesh Kishore and myself had the
> privilege of Dr.Sreedhar sharing the       plat form   for the inauguation
> of Salaam Namaste 90.4 FM a CR again last year.Prior to that I met
> dr.Sreedhar inLodon while attending the conference of PCF5. I truly enjoyed
> his frankness and boldness apart from his scholarship.
>
> My approach to our institute or university is to persuade the top brass
> with words of positive connotation and value rather than harshly criticzing
> them. I beleive if anything happens in this world, it is based on good words
> and good relations not by attacking and criticising some one.
>
> I hope I shall be able to meet Dr.Sreedhar's expectations as far as Manipal
> radio is concerned in associating itself with otther CRs.
>
> Regards
>
> C.S.H.N.Murthy Ph.D
> Professor in Mass Communication,
> Manipal Institute of Communication, Press Corner,
> Manipal University,Manipal 576 104Karnataka India
>
> --- On *Thu, 1/10/09, sreedher ramamurthy <r.sreedher at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: sreedher ramamurthy <r.sreedher at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: Maniapl Radio FM is working under licence from the Ministry
> since Sept 12,2008-Prof.Dr.CSHN Murthy[cr-india] cr-india Digest, Vol 71,
> Issue 1
> To: "subrahmanya murthy" <cshnmurthy at yahoo.co.in>
> Cc: "sajan venniyoor" <venniyoor at gmail.com>
> Date: Thursday, 1 October, 2009, 3:10 PM
>
>  Dear Prof Murthy and Sajan
>
> I wrote this mail out of my sheer anguish. I as Director of EMPC, IGNOU
> sent many of my staff for trainining on Community Radio conducted at Manipal
> during the earlier years of this decade. Such was the credibility of Manipal
> School of Journalism and mass communication.
>
> But why should Manipal FM ( it is a misnomer  I & B wants them to be called
> Manipal CR - an advisory was sent in 2008) is emulating the example of
> Indian Institute of Mass communication.
>
> With such a rich expereince, background , infrastructure and finances, what
> prevents them being an example of CR in India? Isit  not a national waste of
> using the frequency for one hour ( the license is for 24 hours) ? Are they
> not denying civil society organisations in the area their right to get a
> frequency allotted since they are sitting over this allotted freqeunce?
>
> I know very well the situation in Delhi. I have time and again told many
> people, forums and officials, that Delhi is the worst example of CR stations
> and it is a shame that CR stations in the capital are not in a position to
> come upto anyones expectations. I have never defended these stations. I dont
> even go to Delhi university CR for which I was instrumental. After seeing
> their attitude, I hate going to these stations.
>
> I have the greatest respect for Mr M V Kamat and he knows me very well.
> That does not mean that CR workshops should be inaugurated by him.  The
> radio station must take his advice and become an example for the entire
> country and even the region.
>
> There are two enemies for CR stations . One is All India Radio and the
> other commercial radio. AIR persons are not fit to run community radio
> stations unless they are properly oriented. being Government servants for 3
> decades and so on, their modus operandi remains that of AIR. I have seen it
> in Gyan Vani and other CR stations. They have no clue of participatory,
> voluntary radio productions.
>
> Lastly, Why is it Manipal radio is not in touch with any other CR station
> in the country? Why are they not attending the capacity building workshops
> organised by the Ministry of I & B ministry. Had I known that they are
> broadcasting, we would have invited them for the DST project on Science for
> women - which will provide good finances to run the radio station? Being
> aloof and claiming that we are the best and we have future plans is no good
> deal. Come participate in cr workshops organised by CR forum, UNESCO, UNICEF
> , UNDP , CEMCA or ministry of I & B , and share your experience. Get back
> with more ideas from others. That is the spirit of CR.
>
> No one has ever praised the programes of SARANG. But Rego's efforts is to
> be complimented having brought, Congress and BJP together on the same
> platform, Centre and State government on the same platform, Hindus, Muslims
> and Christians on the same platform.
>
> I feel the CR digest is a place wherein we can express our frank views? We
> are not criticising any individual but institutions.
>
> Hope I have clarified
>
> regards sreedher
> Dr. R. Sreedher
> Director
> Commonwealth Educational Media centre for Asia
> 8/4 Sarv priya vihar, , New Delhi 110016
> 91 11 26537146
> Fax 91 11 2653 7147
> Res: B1/43 Ground Floor rear
> Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016
> Cell No: 09810778473
> Phone:91 11  26535649,9111 46067664  email:r.sreedher at gmail.com<http://in.mc952.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=email%3Ar.sreedher@gmail.com>,
> sreedherr at yahoo.com<http://in.mc952.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sreedherr@yahoo.com>
> Sent from Delhi, DL, India
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 1, 2009 at 2:32 PM, subrahmanya murthy <cshnmurthy at yahoo.co.in<http://in.mc952.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cshnmurthy@yahoo.co.in>
> > wrote:
>
>>   Dear Shri Sajan,
>>
>> I received a mail from Dr.R.Sreedhar regarding his views (see below
>> highlighted in red ink) on Manipal FM, which is an FM Radio like any campus
>> radio under license from the Ministry of I&B and is operational since Sept
>> 12,2008 for one hour and   is being run by an experienced radio person
>> namely Mr. Shyam Bhat who is an ex-employee of AIR.
>>
>> Aside our views on CRs in the Universities/ Institutes, the Manipal FM has
>> the wherewithal in the form of a full audio studio where even music
>> programmes on bigger scale could also be recorded with orchestra, not very
>> congested ones that you see in many FM radios in different
>> university/institute campuses.
>>
>> After my joining here, I found Mr.Shyam Bhat taking the support of BA J C
>> and MS final students in preparing a number of programmes. I even had
>> anlaysed the content of the progammes being broadcast from Sept 12, 2008 and
>> certainly in one hour duration they are airing 50%  programmes relevant to
>> farmers, and Tulu community people.
>>
>> I verified the contents of Dr.Sreedhar's mail making fun of Manipal FM
>> organizing FM radio workshops in the name of community radio workshops and I
>> do not know where from he got to know that a non-community radio person
>> having inaugurated such workshop.
>>
>> In a joint collaboration, the Manipal FM and Mangalore University NSS Unit
>> organized recently a work shop not for community radio target groups but for
>> general consumption and it was Dr.Kamath, who is a Padmabhushan awardee, 88
>> years old respectable former Chairman of Prasar Bharati. If that were to be
>> his objection, well there is nothing I could say over the matter. But, other
>> than that, Mr.Shyam Bhat clarified no other community workshops are being
>> organized. Nor non-community radio people are involved.
>>
>> I wish Dr.Sreehar take same yardstick to other FM radios claiming
>> themselves to be community radios including the ones in Delhi/Noida
>> institutes. But surprisingly he attended the inaugural functions of such
>> institutes in Delhi where the contents of transmissions which I analysed do
>> not fall into the definition of consumption for communities specified at
>> all.
>>
>> As for Manipal Radio FM, the University has larger plans to unfold in the
>> years to come, as I understand from my Director and definitely it would go
>> on air for longer hours catering to Tulu and Farming communities in and
>> around.
>>
>> This is for your infomation and clarification on the capabilities of
>> Manipal FM radio. Those who have any doubts about the wherewithal of the
>> studios, equipment and infrastructure, and man power they are welcome to
>> visit Manipal Institute of Communication on whose campus it is situated.
>> Infrastructure wise, a few FM radios can compete with Manipal FM radio .
>>
>> If Radio Sarang can do same thing for three hours, and if it is acceptable
>> to the echelons sitting in Delhi and judging the matters at their level,
>> then Manipal FM doing presetly one hour job for entirely administrative
>> decisions of the University should not be viewed as a serious lacunae. It is
>> the content which matters and as an academic I am convinced that more than
>> 60% content it caters in one hour to the Tulu and farming community is
>> community oriented content.
>>
>> This is for your information and wider dissemination.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> C.S.H.N.Murthy Ph.D
>> Professor in Mass Communication,
>> Manipal Institute of Communication, Press Corner,
>> Manipal University,Manipal 576 104Karnataka India
>>
>> --- On *Thu, 1/10/09, sreedher ramamurthy <r.sreedher at gmail.com<http://in.mc952.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=r.sreedher@gmail.com>
>> >* wrote:
>>
>>
>> From: sreedher ramamurthy <r.sreedher at gmail.com<http://in.mc952.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=r.sreedher@gmail.com>
>> >
>> Subject: Re: [cr-india] cr-india Digest, Vol 71, Issue 1
>> To: cr-india at sarai.net<http://in.mc952.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=cr-india@sarai.net>
>> Date: Thursday, 1 October, 2009, 10:55 AM
>>
>>  *This is with reference to Manipal FM. No one knows when this radio
>> station was commissioned. a radio station which does not have a wherewithal
>> to run for longer hours and doing only token one hour of broadcast , is
>> organising Community radio workshops.  Workshop being inaugurated by a non
>> community radio person . I find no person who has some knowledge of CR radio
>> in India is involved in the exercise. Karnatak is home to Budhikote, and
>> also the VP of the AMARC lives in Karnatak.*
>> *god save such radio stations. sreedher
>> *
>> Dr. R. Sreedher
>>
>>
>> -----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>>
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-- 
Prof. Vinod Pavarala
Head, Department of Communication & Dean
Sarojini Naidu School of Performing Arts, Fine Arts & Communication
University of Hyderabad
Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500046
Phone: +91-40-23135500/23011553 (off)
http://tiny.cc/deptofcomm
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