Air waves are also abuzz with the World Classical Tamil Conference-related activity. Pioneering it in the city is PSG Community Radio of the PSG College of Technology. It's the only engineering college in the city to host a community radio station.
B. Chandrasekaran, Station Director, says the station has been airing ‘Semmozhi Neram' for the past couple of months. “The programme began in March and is broadcast between 7 a.m. and 7.30 a.m.” Apart from a daily interview with well-known Tamil poets, writers, the station managers have been using the platform to also project upcoming litterateurs.
“For instance, we interviewed a construction worker, Sivakumar, who has a few interesting works to his credit,” he says.
The jockeys quiz the guests about their works, the reasons behind writing them and their struggle to publish the same.
Mr. Chandrasekaran says ‘Isai Tamil' and ‘Nadaga Tamil' segments also form part of the ‘Semmozhi Neram'. “There the listeners are told about non-film Tamil music and Tamil drama, both old and contemporary.”
So far 100-plus people have been interviewed.
On the conference days – June 23 to 27 – the community radio is planning to provide live coverage to its listeners, who live within a 12-km radius.
In Erode, Kongu FM, a community radio initiative from Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, has been airing the conference theme song and interviewing poets from the Kongu region.
Programmes on development of Tamil are also part of the special package.
Faculty in-charge of the FM radio K. Thangaraj says it has entered into an understanding with Kodai FM to air a few more programmes.
Erode Sengunthar Engineering College's Mugil FM has also been airing awareness programmes on the conference.
