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July 1949 Radio & TV News
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early
electronics. See articles from
Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby
acknowledged.
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The Amateur Radio Society of India
(ARSI) and the National Institute of Amateur
Radio (NAIR) are two of India's largest amateur
radio organizations today. This story from a 1949 edition of Radio & Television
News magazine reports on the first two such established groups in India, named
the Amateur Radio Club of India (ARCI), and the Short-Wave League of India (SWLI).
Neither appears to be in existence now and I cannot locate any information on them
(other than this story). However, I got this from ChatGPT about
ARCI. ChatGPT had nothing to say about
SWLI. Interestingly, the SWLI group was set up for radio enthusiasts who were only
listeners - not broadcasters - and were not necessarily licensed.
QRZ India still operates as a licensed amateur
radio operator database.
First Indian Radio Organization
 For the first time in the history of India,
two radio organizations, the Amateur Radio Club of India (ARCI), and the Short-Wave
League of India, have been established, at Mhow in central India, and at Bombay
(P.O. Box No. 6666, Bombay 20), respectively.
The ARCI looks after the interest of all transmitting amateurs, and SWL was formed
for non-transmitting members. They publish a combined monthly journal. "QRZ," the
only amateur radio journal published in that country.
Both of these stations are non-commercial, run by honorary officers, and are
very active on 7, 14, and 28 mc. bands. The call signs used are VU2-ARCI. and VU2SWL,
and the headquarters stations are believed to be the finest and best equipped amateur
stations in Southeast Asia.
Headquarters of the ARCI and SWL amateur radio stations, VU2ARCI and VU2SWL.
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