Starting his endeavour from the year 1975, one Akhaya Patnaik of Bolagarh in Khordha district, has collected more than 12, 000 radios, which he presented at a two-day fourth edition of the only radio fair of India, ‘Outreach International Radio Fair, that concluded here on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters, Patnaik said he has been collecting radio for the last 43 years. The collected radios are of 27 categories, he said.
Similarly, Rajendra Sahu of Bhubaneswar said he has more than 250 radios manufactured in different times. He had also made around 13 radios by wooden self and other parts of radio which he sell for some bucks.
Asked about his passion, he said, “I am a carpenter but I love radios. When I get free time I make radios or go on a search for radios to different places in the State.
“I have collected radios from places like Bhanjanagar Rayagada, Jajpur and the capital city. Till now I have made 13 radios and I am interested to sell them.”
He said he sold 10 old radios at Rs 16,000 at the even during the last two days.
The Outreach, a philanthropic organisation, organised this international event every year on the occasion of the World Radio Day. The aim of the event was to increase radio listenership.
It is disappointing that the All India Radio, Vividh Bharti and Cuttack AIR didn’t take part in the event in which International broadcasters like Voice of America, China Radio International, NHK World Radio Japan, Bangladesh Vetaar took part.
Event convener Subrat Kumar Pati said he had visited the Vividh Bharti headquarters and invited them to participate in the mega event.
About 200 artists performed music and dances in the event. Patnaik and Sahu exhibited thousands of old and new radio sets, equipment, DRM, auxiliary studio and other things related to Odia.
Padma Shri Sudarsan Patnaik built a sand sculpture to mark the occassion.
Five persons and organisations were also awarded with Outreach National Radio Award on this occasion. While Kamal Sharma was awarded with the ‘life Time Achievement Award’, RJ Devangana from Rajasthan was awarded with 'Popular Radio Presenter of the year' award.
Similarly, Suresh Agrawal of Kalahandi was honoured with the 'Radio listener of the Year' award and SOA FM of Bhubaneswar was awarded with the 'Community Radio Station of the Year' award.
The Amateur Radio Convention and Conference Samity of West Bengal got the 'Best use of radio in public service' award.