Dr. R. Sreedher Awarded Padma Shri (2026)

Dr. R. Sreedher, Professor Emeritus at Apeejay Stya University, has been conferred the Padma Shri (2026) by the Government of India in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to public service broadcasting, educational media, and community communication.

A visionary and distinguished leader in Indian broadcasting, Dr. Sreedher has been closely associated with Apeejay Education for the past 15 years. He serves as a member of the Board of Governors of the Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication and Apeejay School of Management, contributing significantly to media education and institutional development.

Dr. Sreedher established India’s first Internet radio, “Stya Vani,” featuring socially relevant content created by students from schools as well as higher education institutions of Apeejay Education.

In 2025, he further pioneered the launch of “Radio Stya Vani 88.4,” the community radio station of Apeejay Stya University, which has emerged as a vibrant voice for the surrounding villages and local communities.

He was until recently Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA).

Beginning his broadcasting career in 1972, he rose through major leadership roles in All India Radio (AIR), including Director of Programmes (Education), Station Director Bhopal, Director Farm & Home, and senior science broadcasting positions. He is especially remembered for pioneering programme formats and for conceptualising the world’s largest children’s radio serial on Human Evolution, broadcast in 18 languages over 144 weeks.

At Doordarshan, he held key executive roles such as Director, Doordarshan Kolkata; Chief Producer, Chennai; Controller of Programmes; and led the launch of DD Movie Channel and DD Bangla.

A trailblazer in educational broadcasting, he headed media centres at IGNOU, Anna University, and IIT Roorkee, where he helped launch 14 radio channels and four television channels, including Gyan Darshan and Gyan Vani. A foundational figure in India’s community radio movement, he helped establish the country’s first campus community radio station and mentored more than 80 stations nationwide.

He continues to contribute actively to academia by conducting workshops, teaching, and supervising PhD scholars at Apeejay Stya University and other institutions managed by Apeejay Education .

Dr. Sreedher has served on Prasar Bharati technical expert committees, national media innovation councils, and restructuring panels, and has consulted internationally for UNESCO, UNICEF, and the Commonwealth of Learning. He has also served on university syndicates, research councils, and national media education bodies. His honours include the National Award for Science Popularisation, five annual Akashvani Awards, and the Lifetime Achievement Award (2025) from the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcast Development, Cambodia.