"Radio became my saviour..." These words encapsulate how the medium – over the years -- became an integral part of the daily routine of Geetha MG, a 59-year-old teacher from Kodungallur in Kerala.

She says, “I still listen to the radio. When I was teaching, it was my first source of news in the morning while doing household chores. It gave me a quick idea of what had happened the previous day. After school, when I was rushing through chores, TV wasn’t practical. And, to reduce screen time as I advised my students, I followed the same and relied on the radio.”

For many in Kerala like Geetha, radio has long been more than just a gadget. From bustling tea shops to the living rooms, it quietly shapes the rhythm of daily life.

On most mornings, activity begins early in small tea shops across towns and villages. As kettles boil and newspapers are unfolded, a radio near the counter is switched on. The news bulletin from All India Radio plays in the background. The setting is familiar, often depicted in films as a marker of village life in Kerala, and it closely reflects reality.

From politics to everyday concerns, everything finds its way into conversation here. Customers listen while stirring tea. A weather update matters to a farmer planning his work. A political headline draws quick opinions. A cricket score can lift or lower the mood of the room. No one formally decides to “tune in”. It simply becomes part of the morning.

Tea shops have long functioned as informal discussion spaces in Kerala. Radio strengthens that culture. When major news breaks, reactions are immediate because everyone is hearing the same bulletin at the same time.

Unlike personalised social media feeds, radio creates a shared listening experience. In many rural areas, especially in these common moments, still shape the day’s conversations.

Inside the home

For many in Kerala’s older generation, radio was woven into the structure of the household. It was not treated as a gadget but as part of the daily rhythm. A set would occupy a fixed place, on a living room shelf or near the kitchen window, and be switched on at the beginning of the day almost instinctively, without ceremony or announcement.

Mornings were usually busy, with children getting ready for school and adults preparing for work, but the news quietly played in the background, a steady and familiar presence.

By evening, listening became more deliberate. News bulletins were heard with attention, conversations slowed, and film songs filled the house as dinner was prepared.

Many remember waiting patiently for their favourite programmes, sending in postcards to request songs, or adjusting the antenna during a tense cricket match. The signature tune of All India Radio is still instantly recognisable to those who grew up with it.

Bhaimi, a native of Alappuzha, now 90 years old, reminisced about her radio habits: “Radio was the major source to know what happened around us. Especially Akashvani. Our day actually revolved around it. The weather function, the agricultural news, all helped us to know the day’s forecast and work accordingly, as you all know, Alappuzha and its surrounding regions were full of paddy fields then.”

Even today, in some homes, the day begins with the radio, devotional programmes and the morning news playing quietly before the rest of the household wakes and daily routines take over.

A Practical medium

Kerala’s terrain has kept radio firmly relevant. For fishing communities, it delivers essential weather updates and safety alerts. When heavy monsoons or floods knock out electricity and mobile networks, battery-powered radios often remain the most reliable way to stay informed.

In such moments, radio is not about nostalgia. It is about access.

The FM Shift

The expansion of private FM channels changed listening habits in cities. Radio jockeys adopted a conversational tone. Listeners called in to share opinions. Traffic updates became part of the commute.

Younger audiences discovered radio in cars, buses and workplaces. At the same time, older listeners stayed with traditional broadcasts. The medium managed to serve both groups without losing its core function.

Yadhukrishnan from Palakkad, a new-generation radio listener, said: “I listen to FM while driving. The shuffling playlist is always fun, and it elevates my mood on long drives. Club FM is my always pick.”

Still present

World Radio Day, established by UNESCO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, honours radio’s importance worldwide. In Kerala, that significance can be seen in simple, everyday moments.

Radio here is unobtrusive. It does not demand attention but continues quietly, from tea shops to living rooms, as part of daily life.

On World Radio Day, its value is not just in celebration, but in recognising how deeply it remains a part of people’s everyday routines.