Last week marked a monumental milestone in broadcasting history: Radio Ceylon, one of the world's oldest radio stations, celebrated its 100th anniversary. Officially launching its transmissions on December 16, 1925, it proudly holds the title of the first radio broadcaster in Asia. At a time when radio was a revolutionary novelty, decades before television reshaped the media landscape, Radio Ceylon began a journey that would weave a common cultural thread across a politically and linguistically divided South Asia.
The Humble Beginnings of a Broadcasting Giant
The story of Radio Ceylon starts in colonial Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka). In 1923, an English engineer named Edward Harper, who worked for the Ceylon Telegraph Department, joined forces with local and British radio enthusiasts to form the Ceylon Wireless Club. Their experimental broadcasts began with gramophone music played from a small room in Colombo's Fort area. Ingeniously, they built their first transmitter using radio equipment salvaged from a German submarine captured during World War I.
World War II brought a significant change. In October 1944, the British government took control, renaming it Radio SEAC (South-East Asia Command). They installed a powerful transmitter to broadcast news to Allied forces and counter Axis propaganda across South and Southeast Asia. After Ceylon gained independence in 1948, the transmitter was returned, paving the way for the official inception of Radio Ceylon on January 1, 1950, as noted by broadcaster Gnanam Rathinam in her memoirs.
Bridging Borders with Binaca Geetmala and Hindi Film Music
Radio Ceylon's true significance emerged in the post-independence subcontinent. From Karachi to Karnataka, millions tuned in, creating a rare shared experience in a region fractured by new borders and politics. Its multilingual broadcasts in English, Hindi, Sinhala, and other languages fostered a unique cultural commons.
A pivotal moment came in 1952 when India's then I&B Minister, BV Keskar, banned film music on All India Radio (AIR), deeming it vulgar and Westernised. Radio Ceylon seized this opportunity, launching a dedicated Hindi service. This move led to the creation of an iconic show. Clifford Dodd, Director of Commercial Service at Radio Ceylon, approached a young Ameen Sayani to host a Hindi version of the popular Western pop countdown 'Hit Parade'.
The result was Binaca Geetmala. Every Wednesday, Sayani's warm Hindustani greeting, "Namaskar behno aur bhaiyon...", would captivate a nation. He recorded the show in Mumbai, and the tapes were flown to Colombo for broadcast. Ironically, India's most popular music reached its people via a station abroad. The show's legacy includes putting the mining town of Jhumri Telaiya in Jharkhand on the map, as countless song requests poured in from its listeners.
The popularity of Binaca Geetmala eventually pressured AIR to reintroduce film music, leading to the launch of Vividh Bharti in 1957. Sayani began broadcasting on AIR in 1970 but continued his legendary show on Radio Ceylon until 1988.
The Legacy of a Centenarian Broadcaster
Today, Radio Ceylon is known as the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). While its widespread, cross-border fame has diminished in the age of digital media and numerous channels, its legacy as a unifying force remains powerful. For decades, it served as a companion to millions, proving that a shared frequency could make a diverse and divided region hum in harmony. Its 100-year journey is a testament to the enduring power of radio to build community and transcend boundaries.
