By Esha Chaudhuri
As the world observes World Radio Day on February 13, Sunday Shillong delves into what it takes to be a Radio Jockey (RJ) in the present times as well as within the ambit of a modern world and the responsibilities that come with it. Speaking with the three most popular household names of the radio world in Shillong; namely Nicholas J Kharnami aka Mirchi RJ Nicky J, Gordon J Thabah or RJ Gordon of Mirchi 91.1, and Moushumi Dey or RJ Moush with AIR, give us a sneak peak into their roles and responsibilities as drivers of social consciousness through the power of their individual voice.
Tune In
As the theme for World Radio Day 2022 has been assigned “Radio and Trust”, a large segment 
of this profession brings forth an understanding and building a relationship of mutual trust with the RJs and the audience. RJ Nicky comments, “Radio is all about connecting with people, especially as an RJ one should be able to feel the pulse of the listeners, and be able to place oneself in the shoes of his/her listeners irrespective of their backgrounds – understanding their daily struggles, the social set ups, what excites or irks them.”
RJ Gordon states, “The radio holds an important place for the public. It is easy to use, it’s live and it’s human. For more than 80 years, radio has survived and prospered by being the easiest of media to use. Wake up in the morning, take a shower, get in the car, turn on the radio.”
Articulating her personal bond with her listeners and its wide accessibility, RJ Moush says, “The radio is a big family and all through our voices. Listeners tune in not just from cars but even those in remote areas where one cannot afford a television set, radio channels are still free as long as one has a radio or a mobile set.”
Speaking with some citizens across age groups, Erika K. Syiem said, “I’m a student and I often miss out on trending topics. I listen to the radio to get informed. I like hearing people express their thoughts with occasional musical breaks.”
Bhattacharjee said, “FM channels these days concentrate on pop music, which is nice but in my days, we’d listen to poetry and quotes from thinkers too. I miss that.”
In words of Wandari Diengdoh, “I look forward to listening to the radio every single day – it’s a part of my routine when I drive to work and when at home in the weekends, too. Locally, I like listening to RJ Nicky but otherwise my favourite channel is RadioOne.”
Reminiscing on the older days, A. Choudhury says “I’m habituated to the radio, as we would call it in our times. Now, it’s the FM (laughs). I would look forward to listening to that hour when it (the radio) would come on. It was a really a time cherished. Now, of course, it’s on all day, I believe.”
A people’s job
Pandemic or not, an RJ’s role has been one that has been constant, consistent and perhaps at times unnoticed. Speaking of his own share of struggles, adaptability and the need for an easy exchange of energies, RJ Nicky says, “During the onset of the pandemic in 2020, things were challenging, we had to have a technical setup back home, network issue was a major hurdle. But somehow, I was able to manage doing my shows from home, which was indeed an amazing experience altogether, it gave a realistic feel of life with the pressure cooker whistles from my kitchen, or the TV set running in the background and of course my cats mewing occasionally and interrupting the broadcast. Along with this, we (RJs) were war footing with updates, connecting with medical experts, government officials and most importantly mitigating fear and anxiety through authentic information. It was extremely important to shift the focus to human resilience and keep the hope alive. I would be more observant of activities at home especially in the kitchen and this gave a whole new perspective to my shows- where we would talk on the simple joys of cooking or working out.”
Expressing her thoughts at a time of uncertainty with the onset of the pandemic, RJ Moush says, “I remember there were so many rumours floating on social media and being an announcer and RJ, our responsibility increased manifolds especially with providing authentic information to our listeners. In fact, mental health became a huge issue so we spoke and encouraged our listeners to share with us their feelings instead of bottling them up.”
Emphasizing on the importance of the bond shared with his audience and the importance of mental health, RJ Gordon shares, “The bond that we have formed with listeners not with our facial expressions, but with our voices and the emotions has helped many to make a steady connect. During the phases of lockdowns, with more time being spent at home, engaging in household chores, the tasks felt easier and lighter with the radio playing in the background.”
Alan Nongbri, a college student affirmed the same, “Listening to the radio helped me cope with the hard times during the pandemic. Most would agree that music helps in lifting our spirits and eases anxiety too.”
R Baruah, a digital designer also shared, “The radio has been my friend for many lonely days. I’m not someone who can communicate my feelings too well. For me, the radio has been a safe place, a place which makes me closer to many without social pressures.”
Awareness and Action
The radio is almost always credited for its accessibility to all, irrespective of physical disabilities especially the blind. Our RJs have utilised the platform to do the same. Speaking his own journey and shows, RJ Nicky says, “My segment is a mixed bag – street talks, Bollywood quiz, riddles, and life hacks. But I do have a special segment called “My Meghalaya My Pride” which is buzzing really well among the listeners – it not only connects the listeners with the legacy, history, major events of Shillong and Meghalaya as a whole in the form of a quiz; but at the same it has also been a platform to raise awareness on various social and environmental issues affecting our State.”
In fact, the radio apart from being a space dedicated to entertainment and information dissemination; it is at the same time often used to create social awareness on various burning issues.
Sharing his passion for environmental issues, RJ Nicky says, “Apart from the segment and all the featured guests, I also have conducted several on ground activities as an extension of the show. My modus operandi is simple “Keep Meghalaya clean and green” and if that involves taking on to the street and getting the trash out, I will not hesitate to spend every hour of my day towards this cause. I have led several such campaigns in the past and proven the fact that it is possible. All we need is the will power to ACT!!!”
Describing his personal initiative, RJ Gordon says, “To keep the music in me alive and to share my gift with the world, I have this on-air cum digital project called “Studio G” where I invite artists to collaborate and we share our music to the world. I insisted on this musical project because music has certain powers to sooth the soul, we work on songs and covers that contributes to societal change.”
Unfolding her journey in the world of radio and the connect with people, RJ Moush 
elaborates, “In over two-and-a-half decades being an RJ, I too have evolved as a person and grown along with the evolution of radio. I love speaking with the youth specially guiding them and educating them in their growing up years. There have been many instances of joy being in this platform where there have occasions where I’ve associated with listeners and their stories, which have changed my perspective towards life.”
Speaking on the issue of accessibility of the radio among the disabled, RJ Moush stated, “The radio transcends all forms of barriers as we have quite listeners that are visually impaired and for them the radio is an important form of entertainment. Many among them regularly participate in our call-in or requests programmes with a lot of enthusiasm.”
School-goer Mebarisha Suting entrusts the radio for its concern for causes, saying, “It is true, an influential speaker can raise social awareness. I’m personally drawn towards the cause of animals, and I do think that RJs can from time to time speak on such topics to get young minds motivated.”
A forum that relies on the tenets of hope and humanity weaved in with a bond of friendship is bound to evolve with technological innovations, while maintaining its relevance among its audience.