NEW DELHI: The Urdu service in All India Radio’s External Services has completed fifty years. Connoisseurs of ghazal music was treated to a feast of the best in ghazal singing by renowned singers Chandan Das and Radhika Chopra in an evening, ‘Mausiqui ke rang – Urdu Service ke sang’, to mark the occasion at Teen Murti Bhavan in the capital.

AIR director general F Sheheryar said, "The Urdu service has completed half century in the Indian subcontinent and is beamed terrestrially through internet for audiences across the globe. It gives pristine entertainment, focuses on sanctity of heritage and carries as well as transmits Indian point of view on contentious issues. It has its lovers in the areas that are catered by no private operator in India”.

Both artistes presented around ten ghazals each and held the audience spell-bound for close to two hours. Chandan Das started the celebrations with the rendition of ‘Khuda ka zikr karein ya tumhari baat karein’.

Then, melodious ghazals were sung by Radhika Chopra who enthralled all with her ‘Meri sadgi dekh kya chahta hoon, tera samne tumhe chahta hoon’.

The Urdu service of the External Services Division was started in 24 October 1965 and was initially a half-hour service.

At present, the service has grown into a round-the-clock programming of news, current affairs, music, plays, discussions and special features for women and children.

Though the channel has a dedicated listenership in Pakistan, it is also heard in other countries where people of Indian or Pakistani origin live.

The service also has its own website.