Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Dr. L. Murugan, today felicitated the Padma Shri awardee Dr. R. Sreedhar, at a function held in Akashvani Chennai celebrating his lifetime of service to the field of broadcasting and science communication. He also released a book titled Innovations in Indian Public Service Broadcasting, authored by Dr. N. Sundaram and endorsed by Dr. R. Sreedher .

 

During his address, Dr. Murugan highlighted Dr. Sreedher’s career is marked by extraordinary innovation in radio programming. The Minister lauded his work as a science correspondent and a pioneering community radio service in India. Minister lauded that even after his formal retirement, Dr. Sreedher has remained a tireless contributor to the industry, embracing modern technology through podcasts and satellite education initiatives such as Gyan Darshan, Gyan Vani, Edusat, and the Sainikvani Podcast.

 

 

The book chronicles the remarkable journey of the Padma Shri awardee Dr. R. Sreedher, who began his career as a casual employee at All India Radio, went on to serve as a Science Reporter dedicated to popularising science among the general public, and eventually rose to become Director of both All India Radio and Doordarshan. It highlights the many innovative initiatives he introduced while working within the public service broadcasting system, despite operating under stringent rules and regulations and facing intense competition from television and other media platforms.

 

The book also demonstrates that government service need not be a barrier to creativity and innovation, and that committed individuals can bring about meaningful change even within highly regulated institutions.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of Akashvani and Doordarshan, Rajeev Kumar Jain, has hailed Padma Shri awardee Dr. R. Sreedher as a revolutionary figure in Indian broadcasting.

 

Sharing his personal reflections on working under Dr. R. Sreedher’s mentorship. He credited the veteran broadcaster with providing the logistics and confidence necessary for young journalists to make their mark. He noted that Dr. Sridhar’s tenure at Bhopal was marked by significant innovation, even in an era before computers, when broadcasting relied on physical. He described Dr. R. Sreedher’s leadership style as one of humility and inclusion, stating that he never counted mistakes but instead encouraged a spirit of adventure and has been a guiding light for generations of radio professionals.

 

The Director General also highlighted Dr. R. Sreedher’s impactful work in Community Radio following his tenure at All India Radio and Doordarshan.