Broadcasts in two new languages--Mizo and Assamese--have been added by Adventist World Radio and will be produced in the just-inaugurated studios Feb. 27 in the city of Aizawl.
Broadcasts in two new languages—Mizo and Assamese—have been added by Adventist World Radio and will be produced in the just-inaugurated studios Feb. 27 in the city of Aizawl. This brings the number of languages in which AWR currently broadcasts to approximately 55.
The state of Mizoram is sandwiched between Bangladesh and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The majority of the people are related to the Shan tribe in Myanmar, so their outward appearance does not fit the typical profile of Indians living in the region.
More than 38 million people live within the Northeast India Seventh-day Adventist church region, but there are currently only 32,643 Adventist church members there—a ratio of one member for every 1,164 citizens.
The studio, one of nearly 50 around the world, is located within the regional church office in the city of Aizawl. It was constructed by the local church entity, and AWR is providing the equipment and training. Aizawl spreads out over several peaks in a very mountainous area; Adventists occupy one of the summits for their regional office, and a school.
This new studio will supplement the production work being done by the Adventist Communication Center in Pune, India. The center produces programs in seven regional languages—Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Punjabi and Marathi—under the direction of Edwin Mathews. Eventually, the new studio in Mizoram will be developed into the production center for the entire Northeast India territory. There are possibilities for developing programs in other languages to reach additional groups of people, such as the many Tibetans who reside in the area.
Approximately 95 percent of the population in Mizoram is Christian. Since Mizoram is a Christian state, there are fewer restrictions for broadcasting Christian programs there than in other areas of India. AWR plans to begin broadcasts from local FM stations, combining with shortwave programs aired from studios in Guam to blanket the area. AWR is working out a plan in which radio sets can be provided for the development of listener clubs. Area pastors and church members would then make a direct contact with the people in these clubs.