WORLD RADIO DAY: Philatelic historian from Gujarat’Ahmedabad dials back the decades to when radio needed a licence to play

Ahmedabad: For decades in India, listening to the radio required more than just turning a dial; it demanded a govt licence. Today, as digital airwaves flow freely, 83-year-old philatelic historian Ashok Bayanwala meticulously documents an era when owning a "wireless apparatus" meant navigating a sea of paperwork and postal stamps. Born in Calcutta in 1943, Bayanwala's journey is as unique as his collection. A former solicitor, he moved to Ahmedabad at his father's request, where he "started a business in the flour milling sector and settled here permanently". His passion for philately began during his student days, but it was under the mentorship of Vibhas Gupta that he chose the road less travelled. "In 1970, I decided to collect what no one else did," Bayanwala recalls. He has published three books on philatelic history and collecting. "His records show that radio broadcasting in India began in 1924 via private enthusiasts in Madras, eventually evolving into All India Radio in 1936 and Akashvani in 1958. Until April 1, 1985, every receiver required a valid license from the Post Office: a system rooted in a strict legal framework. ‘The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, empowered the govt to grant licences, while the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, made it a punishable offence to possess a radio," he notes that the system was meticulously categorized for domestic and commercial use; while a household set cost Rs 15 to tune in.""The system was rigorous," Bayanwala explains. "Fees were collected via cash or stamps affixed to licence counterfoils. While these were usually destroyed by post offices, for unexplained reasons, some 1951 counterfoils entered the philatelic market and are now prized rarities in his collection."A significant milestone occurred on Nov 1, 1965, when the then broadcasting minister, Indira Gandhi, introduced eight specially printed broadcasting receiver licence (BRL) stamps. Printed at the India Security Press in Nasik, these stamps featured motifs like the Veena and the Akashvani crest. "Post offices even used slogans on envelopes to remind citizens to renew by the last working day of Jan or face punishment," says Bayanwala. Today, these documents are no longer legal requirements, but for Bayanwala, they remain vital records of how India managed its airwaves.——-Code of the airwaves (Licence conditions)Classification: Licences were strictly categorized. Domestic for personal use and commercial for public establishments like cafes or shops Change of residence: If the licensee moved house for more than three months, the new address had to be "promptly intimated" to the local post office Inspection on demand: Owners were legally bound to produce the licence for inspection whenever an authorized post office official or a wireless inspector visited their premises Renewal deadline: Every licence expired on Dec 31. A grace period was allowed until the last working day of Jan, after which a surcharge (penalty) was levied Death of Licensee: The licence did not expire with the person. Upon death, it had to be officially transferred to the household member who took possession of the radio set Secrecy clause: Licensees were prohibited from "divulging or using the contents of any wireless programme" they stumbled upon that was not intended for public broadcast Copyright: The licence only permitted the reception of signals; it did not grant rights to record or reproduce copyrighted material for commercial gain ---Quick bytes: The price of soundDetails of BRL (Broadcasting Receiver License) Stamps:No.Denom.ColourMotif/DescriptionQuantityIssuedBRL-150 paiseYellowish brownVeena-~1974BRL-2Re 1MaroonAkashvani crest25 lakh 1965BRL-3Rs 2Dark greenAkashvani crest30 lakh 1965BRL-4Rs 3Rose redAkashvani Bhavan20 lakh 1965BRL-5Rs 5Brownish orangeKonark sculpture20 lakh 1965BRL-6Rs 7.50ChocolateChildren listening to Radio20 lakh 1965BRL-7Rs 10GreyBharhut (Madhya Pradesh) sculpture10 lakh 1965BRL-8Rs 15Chocolate purpleMusical instruments125 lakh 1965BRL-9Rs 30Reddish brownTV dance performance-~1974BRL-10Rs 50SepiaTV dance performance5 lakh 1965BRL-11Rs 50MauveTV dance performance (Small)-1985