Modern Telangana History - Bhagyanagar Radio

Bhagyanagar Radio (భాగ్యనగర్ రేడియో)

Source: T-SAT Lecture
Presenter: Bhooshan Govindula
Topic: Bhagyanagar Radio & its role in Hyderabad's Integration

Introduction & Purpose

• Bhagyanagar Radio was an underground / secret radio station (అజ్ఞాత రేడియో) operating in Hyderabad State.
• It played a crucial role in the Join India Movement (జాయిన్ ఇండియా ఉద్యమం).
• Its primary objective was to counter the propaganda (దుష్ప్రచారానికి) spread by the Nizam's official Deccan Radio (దక్కన్ రేడియో).
• It aimed to inspire (ఉత్తేజం కలిగించింది) the people of Hyderabad to support the merger with the Indian Union.

Establishment & Key Figures

• Established in Hyderabad.
• Founder: Paga Pullareddy (పాగ పుల్లారెడ్డి).
• The equipment (parikaraalu - పరికరాలను) was provided by Achyuta Patwardhan (అచ్యుత పట్వర్ధన్).
  • Context: Achyuta Patwardhan was a Socialist leader involved in the Quit India Movement's underground radio activities, along with Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Usha Mehta. This experience likely influenced the Hyderabad setup.
• Main Technician: Vidyadhar Gurjar (విద్యాధర్ గుర్జార్).
• Telugu Announcer/Broadcaster: RamaKrishna Sharma (రామకృష్ణ శర్మ).
• Urdu Announcer/Broadcaster: T. Nagappa (టి.నాగప్ప).

Operations & Content

• Started broadcasting on November 20, 1947.
• Continued operations until September 17, 1948 (the day of Hyderabad's surrender during Operation Polo).
• Broadcast Frequency: 41 meters.
• Broadcast Schedule: Twice daily (రెండు పూటలా ప్రసారం).
  • Morning: 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.
  • Evening: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
• Nature of Operation: Highly Secretive.
  • Locations were frequently changed (తరచూ మారుస్తూ నిర్వహించారు) to avoid detection by Nizam's police and CID.
  • Operated from various places including: Sultan Bazar, Putli Bowli, Shalibanda, Begum Bazar, Secunderabad.
• Content Broadcasted:
  • News related to the Join India Movement.
  • Counter-arguments against Deccan Radio's propaganda.
  • Reports on Razakar atrocities, including events like the Bairanpally Massacre.
  • Inspiring messages and patriotic songs (దేశభక్తి గీతాలు).

Impact & Significance

• Successfully countered the misinformation spread by the Nizam's government.
• Kept the public informed about the realities of the political situation and the Join India Movement.
• Boosted the morale of the people fighting for integration with India.

Challenges & End of Operations

• Technician Vidyadhar Gurjar was eventually arrested (అరెస్టు) by the Nizam's forces.
• Despite arrest, he did not reveal (నోరు విప్పలేదు) any information about the radio's operations or the people involved.
• The radio ceased operations on September 17, 1948, coinciding with the successful conclusion of Operation Polo and Hyderabad's surrender.

Other Related Radio Stations

• Deccan Radio (దక్కన్ రేడియో): The official radio station of the Nizam government, broadcasting from Khairatabad. Used for propaganda supporting the Nizam's independent stance.
• Azad Hyderabad Radio (ఆజాద్ హైదరాబాద్ రేడియో): Another radio station, operated by the Communists from Vijayawada (outside Hyderabad state), also supporting the anti-Nizam cause but with a different ideological perspective.