RE-INVENTING HINDU RELIGION ON RADIO IN FACE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

RE-INVENTING HINDU RELIGION ON RADIO IN FACE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING

Thakur Ranjit Singh

They say, necessity is mother of invention. We started flying when we saw a great need to travel faster and quicker. We invented phone and radio when humans felt a great need to communicate, and so developed our modern society with new inventions coming as we felt an urge for them. This social distancing has created another need- for religion by radio.

A plea to radio bosses: ROBERT KHAN of Radio Tarana, SATEN PRASAD of Humm 106.2 and IMRAAN HUSSEIN of 990am to stand up and show media and community leadership in addressing the way they present Hindu Programs in face of current crisis and social distancing.

If it was the month of Ramadan, at least two Hindi Radio Stations in Auckland would be daily dedicating three to five hours (if not more) for Islamic programmes, both sponsored and non-sponsored. However, no similar exposure has been noted for Hindu religion. This, however, has never been requested because the religion has a good network in community and did not need radio for its promotion. However, the current restrictions call us to change.

With the current social-distancing announced, and Ram Naumi on our doorsteps, FIJI PUNDIT requests for a Paradigm Shift for Hindi Radio Stations, not only in Auckland, but the whole Fiji Hindu Diaspora around the world. What this means is CHANGING a way of thinking to another due to changed situations. And social distancing and restrictions call in for a change of way things were done.

Such Ramayan recital and discourse can either be pre-recorded or brought live to our homes via Radio during nine days of Ram Naumi. We would sure have proud Hindus and businesses in our community who would be able to sponsor such programs in Radio if stations are nor prepared to do it as community service.

Ram Naumi is the most important continuous religious event of nine days, especially for Fiji Hindus, most of who have their origin in Uttar Pradesh, in Ayodhya, birth place of Shri Ram.

Change is inevitable and necessary in these trying times. Therefore, FIJI PUNDIT directly addressed Messrs Robert Khan, Saten Prasad and Imraan Hussein, respective Managing Directors of Radio Tarana, Humm 106.2 and Apna 990 Radio Stations in Auckland, and pleads with them to institute a strategic move, and change the way they are doing things for Hindus on air.

All these three stations saved financially from cancellation of Holi festival they were sponsoring or hosting this month, so revenue is their least of worry in these nine days. What is the worry is their hesitation to change in the evolving marketplace, as their strategic plans may not have anticipated such a scenario as we have now.

Hence I request them to come on board and devise ways of bringing Ramayan to our drawing rooms with either live or recorded version of Ramayan. There are many reputable Mandalis, Mandirs and Pundits who would oblige to help them.

Such home-based Ramayan recitals and katha have been discouraged and called-off due to current restrictions and fear of spread of virus. Radio Ramayan recitals can fill that vacuum.

On a daily basis of Ram Naumi, they could dedicate 5-6 am and 7.30 to 8.30 pm (or longer) of their radio time to Ram Naumi prayers and Ramayan Recital and discourse by different or same presenters. These times are away from the prime – time, hence not a great dent in their revenue. Some of the programmes could be sponsored as Islamic programmes are sponsored by generous Muslims and businesses. I assume we have such dedicated Hindus in our community who can do the same. While some of the stations have already been doing so during Ram Naumi, we call on all of them to make necessary changes due to current times.

Both Radio Stations and businesses have gained highly from Hindu religious people, which is one of the highest religion after Christianity. And this is a time to pay them back.

Hence I call upon the three CEOs and our various Hindu religious leaders to show their leadership in these trying times, and bring Ramayan recitals to our homes during this holy time of Ram Naumi. The ball is in their court, and I hope our Hindu community will make a move, and hope the radio Stations will cooperate and provide Hindu religion their deserved and balanced time on air.

Such Ram Naumi festivities are no longer allowed by restricting to 100 people, hence Radio Ramayan will be able to fill in this gap to some extent, especially for elderly and others without any access to live-streaming.

We have four clear days to 25 March, 2020, to implement this strategic change and will call upon all concerned to make this work. This article has been forwarded to the respective radio Bosses.

This also applies to radio Stations in Australia, USA and Canada to follow suit and bring Ramayan recital during such trying times of distancing in our homes via radio.

Wishing all a blessed Ram Naumi, with expectations that the current crisis will teach us to do things differently and realise how fragile human life can be.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and a media commentator, and runs his blog FIJI PUNDIT. He is originally from Fiji and is based in Auckland, New Zealand.]