Inside Radio Nepal: Exploring Their Working Methods and My Discoveries

Background

The reason behind this article consists of two things from my own life.

• I noticed the Image FM office through the windows of my classroom a long time ago and I had the interest of knowing more and discovering more about it for a long time.
• My college bus switched with another for pick up a few weeks back. And our new driver dai! plays radio in it. One day I was going through a lot of thoughts (as I mostly am) but that time it was due to a person I have been knowing recently. I noticed the radio program being played and had a sudden query about continuing my old quest of learning about radio and how they are being run in our society as one of the oldest sources of information.

So, I checked for the radio stations in the valley where my preference mainly was to visit Image FM. So, I emailed them and tried to contact them over Facebook but I didn’t receive a response. I then tried other radio stations and I surprisingly got a call back from Radio Nepal then over a few conversations and an E-Mail from my college (as I didn’t have the documents needed) I along with my friends (who helped me with pictures and videos) and alone too got a chance to visit Radio Nepal and explore their workplace.

I am happy to get such a chance to learn and explore. I have learned a lot of new things during my visits and I am really grateful to every individual staff with whom I consulted (my great thanks to Ms.Minarbha Bajracharya, Mr.Pushkar Raj Gautam, and RJ didi). Now being able to write an article about Radio Nepal, their working methods, and my discoveries there makes me grateful. (More of my view in conclusion)

Introduction

Radio Nepal is a state-owned (government-owned) oldest radio broadcasting service of Nepal (Initially 'Radio Prajatantra'). Established on 1951 April 2, Radio Nepal has worked for over seven decades as an information source among Nepalese. Where as of Now Ms.Radhika Arayal, is currently working as the Chairman.

It is situated within Singha Durbar and the current studio is constructed in collaboration with the Japanese Government where the old building was made in partnership with the American Government.
Coverage Map of Radio Nepal: https://radionepal.gov.np/en/coverage-map
Station Details: https://radionepal.gov.np/en/station-details

Shortcuts

• Background
• Introduction
• Work Division
• Music
• Production Studio
• Master Control Room
• Archive Room
• Tape Library
• Interview
• Conclusion

Work Division

On my visit to the studio. There were rooms with labels which I later found out were to carry out specific functions and have been interconnected with each other with every room in the studio being soundproofed. While asking I discovered these primary rooms/sections in the building:-

Music

This section consists of two rooms. One was a recording room which was used for recording music whereas another room acted as a control room that had all the equipment such as an Audio Mixer, and MIDI for post production. The music section is only used for music production primarily but it is also used for big talk shows or for recording radio programs occasionally. Where the complete production of music is conducted in that section.

The recording room was constructed with high concern. It was acoustic in nature and is elevated from the ground level too. On my visit I talked with: Kriti Neupane (Diwakar Sharma), Mohan Raj Maji, and Bharat Bomzan. The another music section is ineffective as of now.

Person I mostly consulted with:

Mohan Rai Majhi is a technician employed in the music department for over 20 years. He lives in Jorpati, Kathmandu. He had learned his skills without any formal education regarding the subject. Where he started his career in 2055 B.S. and worked in his own studio before working in Radio Nepal.

Production Studio

The Radio Nepal's studio consists of 2 production sections and each section consists of two rooms (one for recording and one for production). The recording room consists of a bi-directional microphone (a microphone which takes sound from 2 opposite directions). Production studios are the common recording sections for regular recording of radio programs where it is shared by the RJs and hosts of multiple radio programs.

Which after the recording of talk shows and other programs (literature programs, dramas) it is then sent over Master Control room which further checks the program and sends it to the monitoring body and after the validation, it is then Aired (shared over radio) from the Master Control Room.

The person I consulted with:

I consulted with Ms.Kalpana Kumari Bastola. She works on the radio program Bagmati Serophero. She lives near Babar Mahal and has been working in Radio Nepal for 1.5 years before which she worked in Nepal FM for 5+ years.

Master Control Room

Master Control Room as the name suggests is the room responsible for managing and sharing the radio programs with the listeners. It is a big-sized room containing a small room (that can be accessed outside of the Master Control Room too used by RJs). Where all the programs are shared through this room.

The person I consulted with:

I consulted with Ms. Minarbha Bajracharya. She is working as a day shift duty in charge. I have been able to interview her about her experiences in Radio Nepal.

Archive Room

The archive room was a fun section for me. The archive room consists of thousands of old tapes, Graphanoes CDs, and magnetic tapes. The archive room is inside the old building where it is the library of old cassettes of songs and other programs that were recorded in Radio Nepal decades ago.

The archive room works on converting the songs and programs presented in the cassettes, CDs, and Magnetic Tapes to digital format. Where they use symbol numbers which bring up the metadata about the songs on their server. The room works on saving the songs in the server for their preservation as they won’t be damaged due to disc rot or other factors.

Tape Library

Tape Library is inside the old building too. It is the section that works on developing the schedule for everyday radio programs along with song division.

Interview

I interviewed Ms. Minarbha Bajracharya about her journey to Radio Nepal.

• What is your educational background?
I did my bachelor's from Pulchowk Campus on Radio And Electronic.


• Where did you work before Radio Nepal?
I worked as a Sound Incharge from 2051 B.S to 61 B.S in the International Convention Centre building (Now Parliament Building)


• When did you start working in Radio Nepal?
I started working in Radio Nepal in 2061 B.S.


• What is your job concerned about?
I work as a duty in charge my job is primarily about the production of programs along with recording, editing, and mixing of programs.


• Can you share any specific experience you had in Radio Nepal?
I experienced the 2072 B.S ' Earthquake right here in this room(Master Control Room). I worked all day in the studio. As my job, I had to share information and work for all the people waiting for information and hoping for news from us.
Also, I along with her team stayed for about 24 days in the studio during COVID-19 to share and transmit information through radio nationwide.

Conclusion

Radio is still one of the primary radio studios in Nepal. Although it has been criticized for being biased about the government (which I too suspect it to be). I am grateful to be able to visit there. Radio Nepal no doubt is a well-facilitated studio for music recording and is surely a well-circulated radio throughout our nation. And as a reader if you are interested in visiting and exploring Radio Nepal feel free to contact them through the information provided on their website. I would prefer it to be more effective and relevant with positive and more independent steps as its primary job is to bring awareness and information to people.