KStJ · D.Litt · Ph.D · Scientist · Inventor
Documenting the strategic management and engineering milestones of India's national broadcaster, Prasar Bharati (All India Radio & Doordarshan).
Analyzing the governance and operational excellence required for large-scale terrestrial broadcasting networks.
Dr. Hari Om Srivastava worked tirelessly alongside Padma Shri H. S. Jolly and Shri V. B. Pradhan in the Constitution of the Indian Broadcasting (Engineers) Service. This landmark initiative played a pivotal role in strengthening and expanding two of India’s most influential institutions—All India Radio and Doordarshan. Through his memoirs, Dr. Srivastava reflects on the challenges and triumphs of building these organizations, capturing the spirit of dedication that shaped their growth and legacy. His work stands as a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and perseverance in nation-building. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reminds us: “Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.”
In the early 2000s, Dr. Hari Om Srivastava played a pivotal role in extending All India Radio’s FM service from Delhi to the Middle East and North East Africa. He designed the modalities for hiring transponder space on the Afristar WorldSpace satellite, the world’s first satellite radio network. The MOU signed on 24 May 2000 between Prasar Bharati and WorldSpace was made possible through Dr. Srivastava’s efforts, and the service was inaugurated by Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of Information & Broadcasting, on 15 August 2000. With the addition of the Asiastar beam in 2002, AIR reached most of Asia and Africa, delivering high-quality digital music and opening possibilities for education and healthcare services. Dr. Srivastava’s vision and leadership ensured that AIR became a pioneer in satellite radio, laying the groundwork for future collaborations with private broadcasters and the sharing of Prasar Bharati’s DTH platform.
After the establishment of Prasar Bharati as an autonomous corporation, severe financial constraints and staff retrenchment pressures threatened its stability. Dr. Hari Om Srivastava responded with vision and pragmatism—he created a profit centre within the organization by leasing assets and services of All India Radio and Doordarshan. This initiative generated new revenue streams, strengthened financial independence, and helped Prasar Bharati move toward self-sufficiency. The model worked successfully as long as Dr. Srivastava led the profit center, demonstrating his ability to combine technical expertise with organizational foresight.
During the 1980s and 1990s, contracts for broadcast operations in countries such as Oman, Botswana, and Nigeria were handled by TCIL, which relied on deputed staff from All India Radio through the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Recognizing the need for a dedicated entity, Dr. Hari Om Srivastava revived the idea of creating a specialized consultancy within the Ministry. Through his initiative, detailed proposals, and persistent advocacy, the plan gained approval across ministries and was finally cleared by the Cabinet. In 1997, Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) was established as a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of I&B. Dr. Srivastava’s vision ensured India had its own professional consultancy to provide expertise, generate revenue, and expand broadcasting services across Asia and Africa.
Innovation in Satellite Radio
Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Dr. Hari Om Srivastava pioneered the use of WorldSpace satellite technology to bring uninterrupted digital radio services to moving trains in India. To overcome the challenge of maintaining continuous satellite signals, he introduced space diversity technology, fitting multiple dish antennas on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
The first trial on the Delhi–Mumbai Shatabdi Express on 18 June 2002 was a resounding success, thrilling passengers with live broadcasts, including the 2002 FIFA World Cup commentary. This innovation was later extended to more express trains equipped with PA systems.
The breakthrough was highly acclaimed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva, and quickly adopted by other countries, including China. Dr. Srivastava’s vision demonstrated how Indian broadcasting could lead in global innovation..
Global Broadcasting Initiative
In 2002, under the leadership of Dr. Hari Om Srivastava, All India Radio (AIR) achieved a historic milestone by extending its FM services to Mauritius. Working with the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Srivastava spearheaded the agreement that enabled listeners in Mauritius to enjoy AIR programmes directly on their FM sets—marking the first time India entered into such a broadcasting partnership with another country.
This achievement reflected Dr. Srivastava’s vision of expanding India’s broadcasting footprint beyond national borders, strengthening cultural ties, and showcasing India’s technological capabilities on the global stage..
After independence, broadcasting powers rested with the Union Government. In 2001, the sector was liberalised, allowing private broadcasters to establish FM radio stations. The first auction of licenses (FM Phase I, 2000) issued 108 licenses, though only 22 became operational. Despite limited success, this opened the way for Phase II (2005) and Phase III (2015), generating significant revenue for the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and AIR Resources. Dr. Hari Om Srivastava recognized the immense business potential of private FM broadcasting. He ensured that agreements were signed with all broadcasters, enabling them to collocate transmission systems on All India Radio and Doordarshan towers for faster and more economical rollout. His initiative not only secured revenue streams for AIR Resources but also laid the foundation for private FM’s expansion across India. On 10 December 2001, AIR Resources signed landmark agreements with private broadcasters under Dr. Srivastava’s leadership—a turning point in India’s broadcasting history.
In the early 1980s, Dr. Hari Om Srivastava spearheaded the introduction of computers in All India Radio and Doordarshan, transforming personnel management and technical operations. Beginning with the installation of a mini-computer at Akashvani Bhawan in 1982, he expanded computerisation to zonal offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, and later established a dedicated Computer Division with advanced systems from Norsk Data, Norway. Under his leadership, AIR and Doordarshan implemented Personnel Management Information Systems, Payroll automation, CAD applications, and networking under AIRNET, laying the foundation for digital transformation in Indian broadcasting. His vision and persistence overcame national and international restrictions, ensuring that broadcasting embraced modern computing decades ahead of its time.