RJ Wang Lama

Siliguri, January 10, 2024: Starting on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th January 2024, Radio Salesian launched two new shows named Sunne Katha and Radio Drama on Values in collaboration with villagers and college students.

The 40 episode Nepali language serial Sunne Katha is produced locally in the villages visited by Radio Journalists from November 2023. So far, RJs visited 8 villages and they plan to visit a total of 40 villages during the year.

The one-hour long first episode of Sunne Katha from Murmah Tea Estate – Mirik Sub Division consisted of tracing history of the village, its people and their culture, as well as issues faced by various sections of the local community.

“The village visit was fascinating though it was our first visit in this place. The people were very happy to see us and appreciated our work and they actively participated and cooperated with us to make radio programs,” says Program Coordinator RJ Samir Chhetri.

Radio Drama on Values instead, an English language program with 25 episodes is led by Salesian College (Autonomous) Siliguri students of Mass Communication and Journalism in collaboration with talents from other departments. Each episode is part of the popular children’s program Phool Bari (Flower Garden) aired in Sunday with repeat shows on Wednesday and Saturday.

“There was excitement coupled with a bit of nervousness as it’s for the first time that I tried a radio drama. The effort helped build up my confidence and gave great satisfaction to lend my voice and reach out to people,” says Sr Monica of Mass Communication & Journalism 4th semester whose episode on ‘Kindness’ was first of the series broadcast on January 7, 2024.

Another student Pritha Roy of 4th semester whose episode on “Humility” scheduled for broadcast on 14th January says, “Participating in the radio play I had the chance to instill ideals in the next generation.”

Radio Salesian established in 2016 is the first college based community radio of not only North Bengal, but also of eight states of northeast India.