Old timers in Vizag recall the 1971 Indo-Pak War

With radio as the only source of information back in the day, old timers say that information spread through word of mouth and later got confirmed by AIR news

In the age of social media, spread of misinformation has become a rising challenge for the authorities. Even as the Indian Armed Forces successfully thwarted several attacks made by Pakistan in the bordering States in the last week, the misinformation campaign run by the neighbouring country on social media left many confused over the state of affairs.

People glued to their phones for updates regarding ‘Operation Sindoor’ were left baffled over the ‘unconfirmed information with AI-generated images’ spread online. But, what about the 1971 Indo-Pak war, on what sources did the people of Visakhapatnam rely on.

Radio was the only source of reliable information back in the day and the use of landline telephones was limited. However, the All India Radio (AIR) in Visakhapatnam, which was established in 1963, was popular by then.

Retired Professor Dr. G. Hanumantha Rao, who was a student of Andhra Medical College during the 1971 war, recalls, “I was in our college when I heard a loud thud, and later came to know that a Pakistan submarine was sunk by the Indian Navy. Later, we (some classmates) went to the beach, which was close to our college, and someone told us that their windows rattled at that time. Information used to spread through word-of-mouth and it used to be confirmed by AIR news, during its shows in the morning and evening.” Dr. Rao retired from the Maharaja Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), Viziangaram, a few years ago.

“We used to stay at Wireless Colony (Railway Colony), near Visakhapatnam railway station. Radio was a reliable source of information at that time. Mikes (public address systems) used to be installed at parks and public places to enable the general public to listen to regional and national news bulletins,” recalls Kota Prabhakara Rao, a retired railway employee.

“A blackout used to be observed with lights switched off after dusk. Citizens of Visakhapatnam used to stock candles and kerosene oil,” said Vijjeswarapu Edward Paul, a history enthusiast and native of Vizag.

Mr. Paul told The Hindu that the control of shipping movements at the Port was taken over by the Indian Navy. Fishermen were sensitised by the Navy personnel against the movement of strangers. “Vice Admiral N. Krishnan, the then Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, was said to have lured the PNS Ghazi to the Visakhapatnam coast, in search of INS Vikrant, and the Pakistani submarine was sunk off Visakhapatnam coast,” he said.