AIR remembers Mahatma Gandhi speech to commemorate

NEW DELHI: To commemorate the first and only address by Mahatma Gandhi on All India Radio (AIR) on this day in 1947, the broadcaster today held a prayer meeting at the Broadcasting House here.

Marking Gandhi's AIR address, November 12 is observed as Public Service Broadcasting Day.

AIR officials said that the Father of the Nation had stepped inside the studios of Broadcasting House on November 12 in the year India gained its Independence to address refugees camping in Kurukshetra in Haryana whom he could not personally visit.

"Words which he spoke on that day became a treasure for Akashvani and a snippet of the speech is played on 12th November as a mark of respect and tribute to this great personality," an official said.

The AIR prayer meeting saw a bhajan recital by children while an excerpt from Gandhi's speech was also played.