13/08/2026
Happy to share the news of the launch of the Handbook, 'Indigenous Languages and Community Radio in India', on the occasion of the 'United Nations' International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (9 August), which is designed, composed and executing the printing of the same by Arth Brand Agency.
I would like to thank Vinod Pavarala, Kanchan K. Malik, and Vasuki Belavadi for continuous trust entrusted upon Arth Brand Agency and unconditional support for more than two decades now!
The UNESCO Chair on Community Media at the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad, is happy to announce the launch of the Handbook, 'Indigenous Languages and Community Radio in India', on the occasion of the United Nations' International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (9 August). (Because 9 August falls on a Sunday this year, the official virtual UN commemoration is being held on Monday, 10 August 2026 – the date of our launch.)
This publication is an outcome of a project undertaken by the UNESCO Chair on Community Media with the support of a grant from UNESCO's International Programme for Development of Communication (IPDC). The project explored how community radio stations across India enable and strengthen efforts towards the preservation, promotion and revitalisation of Indigenous languages.
Authored by Vinod Pavarala, Kanchan K. Malik, Vasuki Belavadi, Aniruddha Jena, Treesa Reena John, and VamsiKrishna Pothuru, the Handbook aims to support community radio stations in strengthening their capacities to broadcast in Indigenous and other marginalised languages, and to encourage the participation of individuals from Indigenous communities in these efforts. The publication is intended as an open-access resource available on the UNESCO Digital Library.
We are deeply grateful to the five community radio stations – Nityananda Janavani Community Radio Station 91.2 FM (West Bengal), Radio Brahmaputra 90.4 FM (Assam), Community Radio Mattoli 90.4 FM (Kerala), Radio Dhimsa 90.4 FM (Odisha), and Vanya Community Radio 90.4 FM (Madhya Pradesh) – for their valuable participation and contributions to this project.
We also sincerely thank Ma'aly Hazzaz, UNESCO New Delhi Office's Regional Advisor for Communication and Information in South Asia; Ash*ta Singh, Associate Project Officer at the UNESCO Office in New Delhi; and Hezekiel Nhlanhla Dlamini, former Advisor for Communication and Information, South Asia, for their continued support in bringing out this handbook.
Design and printing support for the Handbook was provided by Arth Brand Agency.
Indigenous Languages and Community Radio in India: A Handbook is available on the UNESCO Digital Library.
Link: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398773
University of Hyderabad | UNESCO New Delhi Office
UNESCO | United Nations India
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India
Poster design credits - Eish*ta Srivatsa & Pradumm Singh
