Broadcasting with Purpose – Lessons from Radio Nagar and the Power of Community Radio
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In this episode of Spotlight on Soar Sound, John Coster and Rob Watson speak with Dr. Priti from Snehalaya, a social development organisation in Ahmednagar, India, about the power and potential of community radio as a tool for social change. The conversation offers an inspiring and reflective look at how Radio Nagar 90.4 FM has developed over the past 15 years—not as a conventional broadcaster, but as a platform for voice, connection, and transformation.
Dr. Priti describes her journey from practising medicine to becoming one of the core voices behind Radio Nagar. What began as a leap into the unknown became a vital part of Snehalaya’s mission to support women, children, and marginalised groups, not only through direct services but through storytelling, participation, and dialogue.
Community radio, as Dr. Priti and Rob discuss, is distinct from commercial or national broadcasting. It’s about relationships—between presenters and listeners, between communities and public officials, between experience and shared action. At Radio Nagar, it’s common for people from slum areas, sex workers, students, and change-makers to be invited into the studio—not to be spoken about, but to speak for themselves.
A key strength of the conversation is its emphasis on the intangible power of radio: not just the messages that are delivered, but how and by whom they are delivered. Listeners trust local voices. They respond to familiar dialects. They engage when stories reflect real life, not just top-down policy. This is especially true when dealing with complex issues like public health, social stigma, and inequality.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Radio Nagar stepped up with on-the-ground interviews, myth-busting about vaccines, and direct support for those in crisis. Unlike standardised health messaging, their broadcasts were rooted in relationships, local knowledge, and lived experience. It’s a lesson many public bodies and media organisations are still struggling to learn.
There’s also a strong message of inclusion and sustainability. Dr. Priti highlights how young women in particular have taken leading roles as radio presenters, shaping narratives in a media landscape that too often marginalises them. She speaks of community radio as an ecosystem that needs to be nurtured—not only with funding, but with respect, training, and connectivity across borders.
As Radio Nagar approaches its 15th anniversary in January 2026, there’s a clear call to recognise and support this model of media—what John aptly calls a “do tank” rather than just a think tank. With World Radio Day and International Women’s Day also on the horizon, this is the perfect moment to shine a light on the people who are making change with a microphone, a message, and a sense of shared humanity.
Listen to this episode of Spotlight on Soar Sound to hear how community radio can reframe communication as a force for justice, dignity, and togetherness—and why now, more than ever, we need to invest in that possibility.
