SHILLONG: AIR FM Jong Phi has managed to create a special bonding among its listeners.
The special bonding shared by the listeners was possible thanks to the AIR, Shillong who launched the AIR FM Jongphi on 103.6 MHz on October 2, 2010.
The FM which was an instant hit among the listeners and the connection among the listeners does not end only by way of requesting and dedicating songs.
The listeners shared their personal experience, their struggles and also untold stories of life through the FM.
This connection and bond is unique that goes with a saying by Jim Morrison when he said; “Friends can help each other. A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself – and especially to feel. Or, not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at the moment is fine with them. That’s what real love amounts to – letting a person be what he really is.”
From a heart patient to paralytic and blind, all these people form the ‘radio family’ and share words of inspiration besides helping out in times of financial crisis. A listener like Angel is paralytic; Kong Peaceful is a heart patient while Bah Hero and Ronald are blind.
“We had exchanged our cell phone numbers through the FM and since then we are connected to each other,” David a regular listener of the station said.
Similarly, Evergreen Aunty, Clida, Phida Bah Hep Golflinks, Bah Warbah, Kong Becky and others joined the family and since then were up in arms through ups and downs.
A senior RJ of the station said that through the ‘radio family’ the medical expense of Angle was met.
“While those who cannot help financially, the listeners had attended her in hospital in shifts,” she said, adding, “Kong Peaceful gained a new lease of life through conference call by all the listeners at a hospital in Guwahati.”
According to the RJ, doctors at the hospital had described her condition as critical when medicines could not help but conversations.
Kong Becky, a mother who takes care of her bed-ridden son day in and day out, with the radio on all the time, often recites a verse of the Bible to Bah Hero through the cell phone.
“I have been a fan of the radio since childhood. But FM Jongphi has saved my life… I have my own radio family and its getting bigger… I am a mother and I counsel my friend and in this way I can heal myself,” Kong Becky said and informed that the family now has a ‘Prayer Tower’ wherein the listeners connect through conference call and inspire one another.
When asked what they aspire to do in future, the ‘radio family’ said that they hope the family grows bigger. They also urged listeners to join them and reach out to people and be the change.
