Kolkata, August 1, 2025

 

When the Doordarshan Kendra Kolkata was inaugurated in 1975, it marked the beginning of a transformative chapter in regional public broadcasting. The first set of broadcasts from Kolkata was made possible by the herculean efforts of technicians, artists, engineers, and government officials, many of whom were present at the Science City Auditorium today to commemorate the golden jubilee of this journey. These stalwarts, who laid the foundation of Doordarshan’s presence in Eastern India, were felicitated by Shri K Satish Nambudiripad, the Chief Guest and current Director General of Doordarshan, in the presence of Shri Rajiv Kumar Bhattacharya, Additional Director General (East and North East) and Shri Gopal Kumar, Deputy Director General (Engineering) of Doordarshan Kolkata.

The programme began with a digital lamp-lighting ceremony and the felicitation of dignitaries, following which Shri Bhattacharya delivered the welcome address. 

Reflecting on Doordarshan’s rich legacy, he recounted how, in the early years, programming was tailored to serve an expansive demographic—ranging from toddlers and students to farmers, labourers, and working professionals. He noted how the vision of the Kendra was always inclusive and socially rooted, ensuring that no voice went unheard. 

Emphasising that this public service ethos continues to resonate, the ADG said that even today, a loyal audience tunes in not for flashy formats, but to relish Doordarshan’s characteristic simplicity and timeless aesthetic—a legacy they are proud to preserve.

In his keynote address, the Director General of Doordarshan offered a candid and forward-looking assessment of the institution’s journey. He remarked that Doordarshan’s biggest strength is also its biggest challenge—its legacy. Recalling how the organisation transitioned to colour broadcast in 1982 and entered its golden phase from the early 1980s through the late 1990s, the DG mentioned how iconic programmes such as Ramayana, Mahabharat, and Malgudi Days that defined the era. However, he noted that post-1997, the broadcasting landscape began to shift dramatically, and Doordarshan found itself having to both uphold the weight of its heritage and compete in an increasingly crowded satellite and digital space. He pointed out that while Doordarshan once rose to national prominence riding the wave of a satellite revolution, the current media ecosystem is dominated by the digital revolution—where content is no longer bound by time while linear broadcast still is. 

For Doordarshan to not just survive, but thrive, the DG stressed the need for agile transformation and strategic modernisation. He spoke about Waves, an up and coming OTT platform that will offer curated Doordarshan content for contemporary digital audiences. Highlighting the broadcaster's growing digital footprint, he noted that Doordarshan’s Instagram following has surpassed one million, and its YouTube channel has over six million subscribers. He described YouTube as an emerging industry, now worth $800 million for content creators, and underscored the importance of embracing such platforms to build a bright and resilient future.

The event featured a vibrant cultural programme with artistes of national repute like Smt Usha Uththup, Smt Chaiti Ghoshal, Shri Debesh Roychowdhury, Shri Jagannath Basu and Smt Urmimala Basu making the event one to remember and cherish. 

Doordarshan was founded in 1959 and became an autonomous public broadcaster under Prasar Bharati in 1997. Doordarshan Kolkata, since its inception in 1975, has played a crucial role in nurturing local culture, languages and talent, offering a powerful platform to regional storytelling and social messaging in Bengal. Its legacy is deeply interwoven with the evolution of Indian public media, and Bornomoy 50 stands as a testament to that enduring spirit.

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