A tribute to Fiji’s golden voice: Anirudh Diwakar By Thakur Ranjit Singh, Auckland, New Zealand THE sudden passing away of Anirudh Diwakar, Programmes Director of Communications Fiji Ltd’s Hindi Station, Radio Sargam came as a big shock. This loss was not only felt by people in Fiji but also by Indo-Fijians settled around the globe. Most of them were touched by the golden voice of this veteran with 40-year long service to radio broadcasting. He passed away at Suva Private Hospital on Thursday 25 August 2011. The sad news of his passing away spread like wild fire and messages of sympathy and condolences started being posted on Facebook and at Fiji Village website where a special page was dedicated to him. Anirudh was cremated in Fiji on 31 August, 2011 after a farewell by mourners in a packed National Stadium. The Hindi radio stations in Fiji joined in this sorrow to shower prayers and memorable programmes to honour this distinguished Hindi radio personality of Fiji. In a similar spirit, the former radio personalities linked with the common factor of Anirudh Diwakar got together to hold a condolence gathering in New Zealand. As people got together in the National Gymnasium, and while speeches and eulogies were given, a similar gathering was held at the same time in Auckland, New Zealand. The spirit which Anirudh always propagated was that of unity amongst the radio broadcasting fraternity. This also eventuated in Auckland where people from its three Hindi radio stations with connection to Fiji and Anirudh got together to celebrate the life of this veteran announcer. Media personalities from Radio Tarana, Humm FM and Apna 990 which comprised his former colleagues and well-wishers got together in a condolence gathering at Shri Prakash Ramayan Mandali Hall in Stoddard Road, Mount Roskill. Prayers and introductory Eulogy was moved by Fiji Broadcasting Commission’s retired Deputy General Manager and former Deputy
Speaker of Fiji’s House of broadcasting. Shashi Kanta, Representatives, Pundit Devakar also a former colleague, now Prasad. He told the gathering that a presenter at Humm FM, he identified Anirudh some four attributed her career to decades ago, when after completAnirudh who inspired and ing secondary school, Anirudh encouraged her to be an wished to be an announcer and announcer. “He possessed a was interviewed by him at Fiji supernatural ability to work Broadcasting Commission. through and draw the attenHowever, because of his heavy tion through generations of voice, he was instead given a announcers and audience,” position at the station’s advertis- • Anirudh Diwakar, Fiji’s she said. ing department. Even then, Golden Voice left a legacy Others who spoke and passed Anirudh had never left his desire for radio broadcasting in their condolence to Anirud’s to be an announcer, and always Fiji [Photo courtesy of Fiji family included Shalen was available to fill in whenever Village website]. Shandil and former Fiji required. Through his dedication, Parliamentarians Master Shiu and ability to modulate his voice, he was Charan and Harnam Singh Golian. A close able to start a new trend of sweet heavy friend and musician, Durga Reddy also golden voice that others started emulating, spoke of the nostalgic tales of the younger and which brought in a change in the way days of Anirudh. Messages and tributes were people accepted voice over the air. “He was also sent by friends and former colleagues an exemplary worker and has left an ever- Prabha Mishra from Wellington, Pundit lasting voice. While the lamp has been extin- Hemant Vimal Sharma from Melbourne and guished, its light, in form of his voice will Tej Ram Prem from Sydney. These were live on. May his soul rest in peace,” said read at the gathering. A special message read Pundit Devakar. was from William Parkinson, Managing Anirudh’s cousin, Pundit Ami Chand spoke Director of Communications Fiji Limited. highly of his younger “brother” who har- He praised Anirudh’s style and spoke of the boured intense love for music, was a jovial innovation which he brought to his second person and possessed a contagious personal- broadcast media company in Fiji, particularity that touched people of all works of life. ly to its Hindi station Navtarang which comHis former colleague, and now Humm FM’s menced in 1989. station manager, Rajesh Maharaj attributed “Hindi radio at the time was restricted by a his success in Radio to Anirudh, who he style that tended to copy All India Radio and said, inspired him, and praised his very pop- demanded that announcers use very formal ular Radio Fiji programme “Yuva vani” Hindustani using words and grammar that (voice of youth) that also ignited the love many Fiji listeners struggled to understand. and desire for radio broadcasting and media Anirudh realized that here was an opportuniin many youths. Jeff Khan shed further light ty to break free and build a radio station that on the life of Anirudh and praised the impact spoke to the Fiji Indian community in a lanof his “Yuva vani” programme on youths. guage they understood while entertaining Former colleague, Satendra Sharma from and informing them about issues they loved Radio Tarana also told of his good memo- and cared about. The rest as they say is hisries with a very charming radio announcer tory. Navtarang, born in 1989, was an instant through whom he learnt a great deal. Pawan success and of all the radio stations we have Rekha, another colleague from Radio started across the Pacific it remains the most Tarana also spoke highly of somebody who successful nearly 22 years later, “said respected and rewarded talents, and whose Parkinson in a tribute at the Fiji Village webdeparture has left a big gap in Hindi radio site.
The impact of Anirudh’s initiative and trend-setting radio style are emulated in Hindi Radio started by Indo Fijians in Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia. Each of the radio stations across these countries have people who were somehow touched, inspired or assisted by Anirudh Diwakar as was seen in one of the biggest gathering of former Fiji radio personalities in Auckland. The meeting was told that the Managing Director of Radio Tarana in Auckland, Robert Khan made a special trip to attend the funeral of a good friend in Fiji. Anirudh’s boss and employer, William Parkinson, in his tribute in Fiji Village, summed up well: “It will come as a real shock to his many fans that the golden voice that was part of their daily lives for 40 years is no longer there and at Communications Fiji Ltd we will certainly miss his leadership but I know his legacy in both Radio Navtarang and Radio Sargam will live on in the next generation of broadcasters who learnt so much from him.” Indeed, the golden voice will be no more but his bubbly personality may leave some issues behind. This was well summed up in Auckland by an ardent Anirudh fan, who wished to remain anonymous. He summed up this veteran broadcaster’s life through an analogy with President Clinton. “Despite his shortcomings and moments of indiscretion, Bill Clinton still remains perhaps the most popular, likeable and successful President USA had seen. In a similar fashion, despite any indiscretions, Anirudh Diwakar still remains the most popular, likeable, influential and memorable radio personality that Fiji has seen.” I also concur with this thought. Rest in peace, my friend, you will always be remembered for the good human being you had in you. May God grant strength to your family to go through this difficult time. God bless your soul. E-Mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz [About the author: Thakur Ranjit Singh has been close to media in Fiji and was also attracted and befriended by a charming Anirudh Diwakar who he regarded as a good friend. He was the chief organiser and coordinator of the condolence gathering in Auckland.]
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