CJI DY Chandrachud recalls his Akashvani days; emphasized how music help change his life
During an interview with All India Radio (AIR), Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud reminisced about his time as a presenter at the radio station.
While being interviewed, he recalled his childhood upbringing where he regularly listened to AIR news broadcasts in Hindi, English, and Sanskrit with his parents, which helped him stay closely affiliated with Akashvani.
“I came to the studios of Akashvani first as a 19-year-old when I was in college. But my association with AIR goes much earlier than that. For one thing, it was this family tradition, so I still remember listening to the English, Hindi, and Sanskrit news those days,” he said.
Reflecting on his youth, the Chief Justice recalled being captivated by the voices of news presenters.
“The iconic voice of Devaki Nandan Pandey would announce, ‘Yeh Akashvani hai; ab aap samachar suniye Devaki Nandan Pandey se (‘This is All India Radio; now, listen to the news with Devaki Nandan Pandey),” he said.
Chief Justice Chandrachud reminisced about his association with All India Radio, where he appreciated the voices of Pamela Singh and Lotika Ratnam. He remembered Ratnam’s famous introduction on All India Radio, which went, “This is All India Radio; the news is read by Lotika Ratnam.”
Highlights the huge role of his mother in his life
Looking back on his past, he recalled that his mother, who worked as a classical musician, frequently took him to the AIR studios in Mumbai during his third or fourth year of school. After relocating to Delhi in 1975, he tried out for Akashvani and started hosting shows in Hindi and English. He vividly remembered his initial broadcast and hosting Western music programs, forming a strong connection with AIR.
“When I moved to Delhi in 1975, I was encouraged to audition for Akashvani, and I began doing programs in both Hindi and English. I vividly remember my first program, and I even hosted Western music segments for All India Radio back then,” he said.
Also read: Justice Khanna to take oath as CJI on November 11
He also urged for more involvement of women in the workforce, including in the legal system.
“Our experience shows that when women are given equal opportunities to compete for employment, they excel like no other group. So, for instance, in the open recruitment examinations in the district judiciary across India, our statistics indicate that more than 50 percent of recruits are women,” Chandrachud said.
