VIJAYAWADA: For the first time ever, the Vijayawada All India Radio (AIR) has set up a stall at the Vijayawada Book Festival showcasing the digitised archives, treasured music and literary works. It is turning out to be a major attraction for music lovers, especially senior citizens. Novels, plays, stage verses and musical recordings are available at the AIR stall.
“This is the first time that we have moved out of the premises of the AIR. Our vintage collection, which is an exclusive property of the AIR is now available for the music lovers,” said Assistant Director for programmes, Vijayawada AIR, J Sailaja Rao.
“We have a permanent store for selling CDs here at the AIR office too,” Sailaja Rao said. She said the works of Viswanatha Satyanarayana, Gurajada Appa Rao and Gora are yet to be digitised. Many NRIs and relatives of literary greats are coming to the AIR seeking archival material. The digitisation is a phase-wise work.
A panel selects the classics and sends them to Bengaluru and thence to Delhi for final approval. “Every year, Rs 5 lakh is being sanctioned for digitisation,” Sailaja Rao said.
“A lot more focus should be on digitisation and the collection should be made available to the general public,” said senior AIR announcer A Sharada.
AIR librarian P Srinivas too feels the archival material should reach the common man.
“I am a great fan of Viswanatha Satyanarayana’s recordings. The AIR should digitise all the works of the great author,” said retired professor Madhira Shankar Prasad.