The Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) commemorated the centenary of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) on Friday at Cubbon Park. Amateur, or ham radio, is a non-commercial two-way communication platform used for both communication and educational purposes.
As part of the celebration, awards were presented to ham radio operators from Karnataka who had supported the Indian Army in Kargil. Senior ham operators aged over 80 were also honoured for their lifelong dedication to the field. Members from various ham radio clubs received recognition for their achievements across different domains.
A special callsign, ‘VU1IARU’, will be active until June 29 this year. Additionally, the installation of 20 ham radio stations in government-run residential schools was announced, in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department and the Indian Institute of Hams (IIH). Plans for 50 more stations across the state were also revealed.
The event underscored the vital role ham radio plays in emergency communication, technical education, and promoting international camaraderie.
