From Tower Collapse to Digital Triumph: India's First Gorkhali Radio Reborn as App
When torrential rains brought down the broadcast tower of Gham Chhaya 90.0 FM in October last year, it seemed to mark an abrupt and devastating end to a rare community institution—India's pioneering Gorkhali community radio station. For four years since its launch in Dehradun, the station had served as a vital cultural anchor for the Gorkha community, amplifying its language, music, and collective memory across regions.
A Legacy Interrupted by Nature's Fury
The silence that followed the tower's collapse, however, proved to be remarkably short-lived. From the wreckage of the physical infrastructure emerged a resilient new, digital voice: the country's first dedicated Gorkhali community radio application. This innovative platform began streaming live radio and curated podcasts on January 23 and has already recorded approximately 600 downloads, signaling a promising digital rebirth.
Madhu Gurung, the founding president of the initiative, shared the origins with TOI on Thursday. "The idea of a community radio for Gorkhas was first seeded in 2015 during the bicentenary celebrations of the Gorkhas in the Indian Army, when nearly 15,000 people gathered in Dehradun," she recounted. "That's when we felt the urgent need for a platform of our own—a voice to keep our culture and heritage alive for future generations. Radio felt like the most accessible and intimate medium to achieve this."
The Journey from Concept to Community Pillar
The group's journey began modestly by securing a one-hour weekly slot on an existing radio station. With subsequent Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support, they successfully launched Gham Chhaya 90.0 FM in October 2021. Over the next four years, the station evolved into a significant point of pride and identity for the community.
Notable achievements during this period included:
- Collaborations with renowned artists like Prashant Tamang
- Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Music Nepal, a prominent record label
- Expanding listenership far beyond Dehradun, reaching diverse communities across multiple states
This flourishing journey faced a severe disruption in October 2025 when unprecedented heavy rains caused the broadcast tower's collapse. "Initially, it felt like everything we had painstakingly built over years was lost in an instant," Gurung admitted. "Financial constraints made rebuilding the traditional infrastructure practically impossible. What followed instead was a remarkable collective effort by dedicated community members to keep our platform alive by embracing digital transformation."
Innovative Digital Resurrection Against Odds
The transition to a digital application presented both challenges and opportunities. "Developing the app cost nearly half of what a new broadcast setup would have required," Gurung explained. "With limited in-house technical expertise, we strategically outsourced the development while meticulously curating all content internally. The app now hosts live radio streams, on-demand podcasts, and a growing digital archive that documents Gorkha history, traditions, and cultural expressions."
Currently operated by a dedicated five-member team, the platform is steadily finding its digital audience. RJ Richa, who anchors several popular programmes, reflected on the transformation: "The transition, though born out of crisis, has been deeply fulfilling professionally and personally. Losing the tower was undoubtedly a huge setback, but building the app from scratch reminded us powerfully why we started this initiative in the first place—to preserve and promote our unique heritage."
Sustaining the Digital Voice for the Future
The initiative currently survives on self-funding and community contributions, even as the group actively explores securing CSR support and strategic advertising partnerships to ensure sustainable operations. Importantly, the team continues to hold the valid licence for 90.0 FM and maintains hope for eventually returning to terrestrial broadcasting when circumstances permit.
"Over time, we've received encouraging feedback and calls from listeners in Sikkim, Bihar, and several other states," Gurung noted with optimism. "This overwhelming response reinforces the community's faith that continues to drive our mission forward. The app is gradually finding its distinctive place among both traditional and new listeners, proving that our cultural voice cannot be silenced."
This digital phoenix rising from the physical ruins demonstrates how technology can preserve cultural heritage when traditional means falter, ensuring that the Gorkha community's stories, music, and identity continue to resonate across India and beyond.
