The Hindi service of the BBC radio broadcast popular for decades will air for the last

time on 31

January. The process of shutting down the Hindi service, which started on May 11 in 1940, had

started for almost a decade, which is now going to be completed. The last telecast of 'Namaskar

Bharat' took place on 27 December and now its only remaining program 'Din Bhar' will be

telecast on 31st of January at 7:30 pm.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has said that the BBC has decided to discontinue

shortweb radio broadcasts in Hindi, given the constantly falling number of radio listeners.

However, broadcasting in Hindi through digital service will continue.

'There was no awareness of eating food on BBC radio'

The BBC has a history of radio broadcasts that began at the time of World War II. It has been

considered the source of authentic news. Its programs have also been very popular among the

people. Renowned educationist Krishna Kumar says it is difficult to say whether the BBC was

my discovery or was inspired by listening to my father. Dive into the ocean of memory and

found Dad sitting with several BBC voices. So many times that the food kept in front became

cold.

Journalist Kurbaan Ali, who has been associated with BBC Radio's World Service, Hindi Service

and Urdu Service for almost fifteen years, says there was a time when BBC was known in the

country and world for authentic news. In a way, he had a monopoly on it. He remained at the

peak of popularity during the Emergency and remained the sole source of authentic news. It has

had crores of listeners in India and Gulf countries.

Service started to favor Britain The BBC Hindustani Service was born with the aim of promoting

Britain's side in the World War. In that war, there were innumerable Indian soldiers who fought

side by side with the British forces. His courage was necessary.

On 11 May 1940, the BBC's Hindustani Service began its first broadcast with a ten-minute news
bulletin. In June 1941, Hindustani Seva got half an hour. Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari became its first

director. Bukhari was its director until 1945. After partition in 1947, this same Bukhari became

the first Director General of Pakistan Radio.

The efforts of Director Bukhari

Bukhari wrote a letter to the BBC's Empire Service Director RA Randall on 22 May 1941 - If the

BBC feels that Indian public opinion is important in this war, it should start the Hindustani news

at 8 am Indian time with the current Hindustani broadcast. The time for eight o'clock was not

found, but by 1943, more than one meeting of Hindustani Seva was held. Bukhari kept trying to

extend the broadcast time as long as he lived.