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A Grassroots radio initiative knits together the Hajongs

Authors:

Abstract

A community radio programme is acting as a bridge among members of the Hajongs, a unique through little known tribe from NE India with members scattered in various parts of world. Published at the Vidura - Press Institute of India
January-March 2021
VIDURA
ritamjit, a member of the
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enous tribes, their culture has been
eroded over time.
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resentation in mainstream media.
people in upper Assam, includ-
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maputra has also connected them
also a fan of innovative storytell-
station.
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ferent health issues and democratic
values from the radio station and
records it on his mobile phone, con-
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people not only in the country but
also overseas.
“The community radio has been
of the public authorities and provid-
station director of the community
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potential of the community radio
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char area, a riv-
char
it could be used to sustain the lan-
community.
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tion, be educated on relevant issues
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Janeng
Aai -
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renamed Phulow Aagan
January-March 2021 VIDURA
and repeated at 2 pm.
Janeng
Aai
anaemia, child and maternal health
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second section Amla anusthan amla rao
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Phulow Aagan -
munity radio is established for. The
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As a community radio enthusiast,
Phulow Aagan
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paper, The Budget, published from
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realised its enormous potential as
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serve their beautiful music, culture
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care issues and other livelihood
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tiative has united a small scheduled
by the mainstream media.
(The writer is a media educator,
author and a health rights activist
based in Guwahati. Currently,
he heads the Department of
Communication & Journalism at
L-r: A Hajong family listening to the radio programme; Prakash Hajong at the studio of Radio Brahmaputra; and Kritamjit at
the studio.
Women of the Hajong Community listening to a radio programme.
Chapter
Full-text available
Community media are grassroots-media that works in service of, for, about and by a community. Alternatively, it could comprise unconventional, oppositional, participatory and collaborative media practices that have been developed in the journalistic context of ‘community media’. While most community media are centred in one geographical area thereby limiting its spread, it is digital journalism that brings the community together irrespective of the place. From disaster to pandemic, from cultural interchange to political upheaval, often communities now rely on information that is more accessible and digitalised. Digital media has been extremely crucial in archiving the art, literature and historical significance of a community. At the same time digital journalism acts as a binding force that keeps both the internal and diaspora community connected. Digital journalism provides a foreground for getting into a diverse and sustainable communication. Instances of uncovering lost heritage, preserving endangered languages and providing an international voice against community apartheid and raising funds for community crises are not few and far in between. Compiling together such stories of digital journalism intervention in community development would be extremely crucial to understand the strengths and combating the challenges in a global scenario.
Chapter
The present paper shall deal with access and utilization of the Brahmaputra Community Radio Station (BCRS), particularly by the Hajong community (tribe) from the Dhemaji district of Assam. The paper shall also attempt to explain how BCRS is being able to create a community media platform to promote the language and culture of the Hajong community. Brahmaputra Community Radio Station (BCRS) is the first civil-society-led community radio station in the Northeast India region. It has been established with the aim to promote local voice and culture and spread community voices, particularly the marginalized group of community who do not have any access to other medium of community to the mainstream. As a part of its aim and objectives, BCRS is working with different community groups from the tea garden and riverine communities of Dibrugarh and Dhemaji and other parts of Assam since the past decade. In the riverine and mainland villages of Dhemaji, there are different tribal groups, including the Hajong Community. From the inception of the Radio Brahmaputra, BCRS has been able to create a loyal listenership among the Hajong community people. Based on their spontaneous participation and involvement with the radio station, producers of BCRS visited their villages to get more information about their need and to provide particular space for this community on the radio platform. The paper shall explain the process of the initiation of BCRS to motivate and engage the cultural participation of the Hajong community in the radio station. The paper will conclude with the help of a case study of the Hajong community radio programme listeners and how BCRS with the help of newly constructed infrastructure like Bogibeel Bridge and expansion of mobile connectivity has been able to mobilize the community.
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