Hindu and Indian-formatted music radio stations in Trinidad & Tobago

Indian Arrival Day commemorative magazine 2016

Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre (ICC) is proud to announce the publication of its latest magazine commemorating Indian Heritage Month (May 2016) in Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean). The theme of the magazine which marks the arrival of East Indians/South Asians from India to the Caribbean during indentureship (1838-1917) is “Hindu- and Indian-formatted music radio stations in Trinidad and Tobago.”

There are 39 FM radio stations in Trinidad and Tobago servicing the diverse needs of the multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-racial society. Nine of them are Hindu and Indian-formatted music radio stations: Jaagriti 102.7 FM, The People’s Station 90.5 FM, Taj 82.3 FM, Hot Like Pepper U97.5 FM, Win Radio 101.1 FM, Heritage Radio 101.7 FM, The First…The Finest 103 FM, Sangeet 106.1 FM, and Aakash Vani 106.5 FM.

The very first sound of Indian music on radio was aired in 1947 when Radio Trinidad - the country’s first radio station - was launched. The station broadcasted a one-hour program, Indian Talent on Parade, hosted by Kamal Mohammed. While ground-breaking, the limited time for the Indian music on air would remain for over 40 years. Longer Indian programmes were not considered economically feasible until 1993 when103 FM was launched. 103FM created a revolution. It proved that there was a need for radio stations dedicated to Hindu and Indian religious and cultural programmes.

May-June 2016

11 x 8 ½ inches

40 pages with advertisements and articles

ISSN 1683-4143

Glossy pages and cover

About Indian Arrival Day in Trinidad and Tobago
Hindu- and Indian-formatted music radio stations in Trinidad and Tobago - Editorial
Greetings from the Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts - Dr the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly
Trinidad and Tobago Indian Radio Stations - Profiles
Radio Jaagriti 102.7FM - The only exclusively Hindu radio station in the world
Radio Jaagriti 102.7FM - There was an enormous 2.4 million page hits
Radio Jaagriti 102.7FM - …a whopping 310, 568 record hit
90.5 FM – The People’s Station - Who are we? 90.5 Firsts, etc.
90.5 FM – The People’s Station - Community projects & events
90.5 FM – The People’s Station - Film releases
103.1 FM – The First… The Finest” - It is the first Indian-formatted music radio station
103.1 FM – The First… The Finest” - It has pioneered the Curry Duck Showdown
Taj 92.3 FM – Tuned in to You - Taj targets 25-45 year olds
U97.5 – Hot Like Pepper - The station fills a void in Central Trinidad
Sangeet 106.1FM – The Superstation - It is a leading organiser of outdoor events
Akash Vani 106.5FM - The station draws a mature audience
Heritage Radio 101.7FM - It defines, drives and differentiates
WIN Radio 101.1FM - It has recognised the taste of youths
Interview with pioneer broadcaster - Dr Hans Hanoomansingh
“From the Silver Screen” had the largest number of listener - Dr Hans Hanoomansingh
The impact of Indian music radio - by Parsuram Maharaj

Kumar Mahabir

is a full-time anthropologist at the University of Guyana (UG) and Fellow of The Eccles Centre for American Studies, British Library (2022-23). He is a former Assistant Professor at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). He obtained his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Florida (UF). As a doctoral student, he won a Florida Caribbean Institute Award, an A. Curtis Wilgus Grant, and an Organization of American States (OAS) Fellowship.
Mahabir received a National Award (Hummingbird Silver Medal) for his contribution to education in his country in 2011. He was among 50 recipients who received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the UWI Alumni Association.
Mahabir is the author of 12 books to date.