Twitterati celebrates All India Radio's 80th birthday

Twitter users celebrated 80 years of India's very own Akashvani by tweeting some interesting facts about the country's first public radio broadcaster using the hashtag #80YearsOfAIR.

The All India Radio, which had started out as the Indian State Broadcasting Service in 1930s, ranks among the largest radio networks in the world.
With the motto 'Bahujan Hitaya : Bahujan Sukhaya', which translates to 'for the happiness of many, for the welfare of many', the network broadcasts programs in 23 languages and 146 dialects. Some of its popular musical shows include Hawa Mahal, Chhaya Geet, Sangeet Sarita and Sargam.

Twitter users sent out tweets to share their memories of AIR since its first news bulletin broadcasted on January 19, 1936. We take you through some fascinating trivia about AIR tweeted by users on Tuesday.

#80YearsOfAIR Congratulations @AkashvaniAIR. With news broadcast in 91 languages & dialects every day, Radio binds India together.

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) June 8, 2016

AIR reaches more than 99%of India's pop,caterg to a wide spectrum of socio-cultural diversity,focusg on Informatn& Edutainment #80yearsofAIR

— Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) June 8, 2016

#80YearsOfAIR 80 years on, with 418 stations, #AllIndiaRadio is the world's largest multi-lingual public network. https://t.co/8zD4CIWEgH

— Jyoti Rai (@jyotirai26) June 8, 2016

Listening to the commentaries of Sanjay Banerjee,Vinit Garg,Prem Kumar & Prakash Wakankar made our childhood awesome . #80YearsOfAIR

— Niraj Singh (@N1rajKumar) June 8, 2016

History in Pics at All India Radio Delhi Office ... @airnewsalerts @AkashvaniAIR #80YearsOfAIR pic.twitter.com/Sk2bhGqHlM

— Alexander Dhissa (@DhissaAlex) June 8, 2016

"Yeh Akaashvani hai" Reassurance that all is well with the world whenever you hear it. #80YearsOfAIR

— Ravishankar V (@RaviVeeraghanta) June 8, 2016

Prasar Bharti, the autonomous body under which AIR operates, also paid tribute to the public broadcaster's 80-year old journey by tweeting AIR's milestone pictures.

#80YearsOfAIR: India Post released a commemorative postage stamp to mark #SilverJubilee of AIR #OnThisDay in 1961. pic.twitter.com/M9rkUX1msF

— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) June 8, 2016

#80YearsOfAIR: AIR completes 80 years today.!
Remembering the golden days of #AllIndiaRadio. https://t.co/rB8VPEOPQw pic.twitter.com/O6BrLkvpZX

— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) June 8, 2016

#80YearsOfAIR: Then premier of Madras presidency, Rajaji signs visitor's book at AIR Chennai's inauguration in 1938. pic.twitter.com/tzaa5CHEXX

— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) June 8, 2016

#80YearsOfAIR: Pt. Nehru addressing the nation from the Delhi station of #AllIndiaRadio in 1946. (Pic :The Hindu) pic.twitter.com/eWMGDyoO1J

— Prasar Bharati (@prasarbharati) June 8, 2016