[HCDX] Radio hams remember Rajiv Gandhi

[Jaisakthivel <ardicdxclub@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Radio hams remember Rajiv Gandhi

On the birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi,
many recall his contribution to the development of ham radio as a hobby
in the country. Radio hams recall Rajiv Gandhi (VU2RG) simply as Rajiv
and the work he did to promote the hobby.
According to information provided by the National Institute of
Amateur Radio (NIAR), Hyderabad, he found good potential in amateur
radio operators (radio hams) to carry forward his vision to âopen up
communications to the people through amateur wireless stations set up
as a national network in over six lakh villages.â 
 According to Arya Ghosh, a life member of NIAR and a radio ham for
16 years, Rajiv Gandhi, with the help of founder and Chairman of NIAR
S. Suri and others, organised an exhibition, âCommunication
Past-Present- Future,â at Teen Murthy Bhavan in New Delhi from November
14 to 19, 1981 and invited the Press, senior scientists and
bureaucrats. 
His mother and late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited it and made
several contacts over amateur radio, particularly to several Ham
stations set up in cyclone-prone areas of Andhra Pradesh to show how it
would help in disaster mitigation. 
 The plan of action to promote amateur radio nation-wide was prepared by Rajiv Gandhi. 
It was made known to the public at a meeting organised by Mr. Suri
in Hyderabad during Rajiv Gandhiâs first visit to Andhra Pradesh as
AICC general secretary and MP in February, 1982. 
In front of a gathering of 5 lakh people, he declared that amateur
radio must be developed fast in national interest and to see scientific
temper was developed among youth and that of taking the country into
21st Century with communication and information technology open to
public participation through Ham. 
Mr. Ghosh who lives here recalls that Rajiv Gandhiâs love and
affection for ham radio and radio hams was so much that even on the
very last day of his life, he made his last call on ham radio from the
city of Visakhapatnam on board a flight.
http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/20/stories/2009082056070600.htm__________________Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India




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