With traditional songs and health tips, a Telangana radio station run by Dalit women strikes a chord

As twilight settles over Sangareddy district in Telangana, the airwaves crackle to life. It is the voice of Masanagari Narsamma, a 45-year-old Dalit woman, who has spent the last two decades transforming the lives of women, farmers and children in nearby villages.

“This is our weapon,” she says, gripping the microphone at the radio station. “With this, we speak our truth.”

Narsamma, affectionately called “General” by her community for her strong leadership and unwavering determination, is not alone in this mission. By her side is 44-year-old Algole Narsamma, her colleague and confidante.

Supported by the Deccan Development Society, a non-profit organisation that works with rural women, the duo – both high school graduates with no formal training in media or broadcasting – have built what has become a cornerstone of their community: Sangham Radio, named after the grassroots collectives in rural areas.

Established in 2008 in Machnoor village, 115 km north-west of Hyderabad, as India’s first all-female community radio station and run entirely by Dalit women, Sangham Radio crafts programmes that resonate deeply with their listeners.

“We talk about everything – from farming techniques to women’s rights, from local folklore to health tips,” says Algole, while Narsamma adds: “We speak because we know our people’s lives. We live their struggles.”

Sangham Radio…

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