Kickstarter

Jan. 28, 2011 ---
What a great feeling to see that there is enough faith and support for Dabba Radio to make it to $5000. Today is a great day indeed. BUT WAIT! If you are visiting this page for the first time and are looking to donate, don't let the fact that I have reached my goal fool you. Dabba Radio is still in search of underwriting for its shows and large investments to make this venture sustainable. Point being, a donation above and beyond the five grand is still very welcome. So, as the clock winds down on this Kickstarter campaign, please feel free to keep on giving. More money just means we can produce better shows. Thanks for the support!

About Dabba Radio ---

Did you know that news and current events are banned on private radio in India? Doesn't have that democratic ring to it, does it? TiffinTalk was created because I wanted an NPR-like show for the local train ride to work, but now it has moved beyond a selfish remedy for commuter boredom and is becoming a movement to open up radio to the people of India.

Dabba Radio is that movement. The name comes from the well known Dabbawallahs of Mumbai who deliver tens of thousands of tiffin lunches daily - regardless of whether it is monsoon or scorching heat - without making a mistake. We take our inspiration from them. We want to deliver reliable and accurate programs for all Indians regardless of their position in society.

This project is the creation of pilots for three new shows in Mumbai. I need money for equipment, the temporary hiring of production staff, and marketing. Producing a successful pilot will allow us to move forward with the concept and grow, ideally making the shows regular.

Knowledge is a precious commodity, we believe it should be free.

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Show 1: Jalebi Speak Jalebi Ink is a great organization that puts the journalist's pen in the hands of youth. We are working with them to create a show hosted by youth and for youth.

Show 2: Dharavi Radio Dharavi used to be the largest slum in Asia. Now it is #2 after a slum in Pakistan edged it out. We have partnered with the ACORN Foundation and potentially another partner to create a show written and produced by Dharavi residents. It is likely this show will be produced in Hindi.

Show 3: Mumbai Student Radio Mumbai University Student Radio (MUST) already has some great programming on their community radio station. We are partnering with them to bring their hosts a wider audience and greater creative freedom. The enthusiasm of these students is unparalleled, so this may very well up being more than a one show collaboration. For the purposes of Kickstarter, though, we are focusing on creating one pilot to begin with.

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Some may say that radio is a form of "old media," but NPR still catches 26.4 million listeners weekly, according to an article in Fast Company, and that is in a nation that is dominated by people connected to the "new media" grid. Then there is India, a nation where 1/3 of the population is illiterate and $30 cell phones carry the vox populi. While we are currently only distributing on the Internet, our plans down the road include cell phone distribution and a high amount of interactivity between the listeners and the medium.

Creating a vibrant ecosystem of news, culture, current events, art, music, politics, and all the rest strengthens an important pillar of democracy: an open press. Connecting people with the world around them means a more engaged citizenry and breathes fresh air into discourse on India.
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