Radio Mirchi RJ Sayema Rahman sees her radio show as a way to build tolerant community when she shares the stories of listeners in trouble. She encourages listeners to show kindness and respect to others and offer help when possible. She proudly tells of the times she had shared the stories of listeners in trouble and how her audience has helped improve the circumstances of total strangers.
Her program is a safe space where listeners from any background, age, religion, gender or sexual preference can tell your story, not be judged and be helped. She helps by offering a listening ear and listeners help by offering whatever they can to improve someone’s situation.
Sayema believes in constantly working on her own self improvement. She holds herself to high ideals because that’s what she expects from her audience.
Rahman has been a radio jockey (RJ) on Mirchi for over 20 years. Starting in community radio and a youth program on All India Radio, she later studied social work and joined Radio Mirchi. Her rapport and connection with the audience were soon recognised and she got an on air presenting role.
She now hosts a Bollywood music show and an afternoon talk show where she ‘listens to her listeners’ and builds a supportive community. She has a massive following on social media, over 3.5 million followers (Instagram, Facebook and X). The show is now also heard internationally, beyond Radio Mirchi in Delhi where the program originates.
As International Women’s Day approaches, Sayema is a good example of this year’s theme ‘Accelerate the Action.’
She spoke to radioinfo’s Serena Ahern at last year’s RadioDays Asia conference about her career and the philosophy behind her program.
Sayema’s Program Philosophy
“The afternoon show that I do in Delhi right now is based on the magic only radio as a medium can create. It’s about anonymity and the personal, intimate conversation that a radio jockey can have with a listener without even meeting him or her.
“On radio, you’re anonymous and you do not have the fear of being seen, being judged. If the host can give you that comfort, the listener will open up in more ways than one. My radio afternoon show is all about how we swap places, you talk and I listen.
“Here is a medium where I will not ask your name, nor will you be seen on radio, but let’s just talk about what you want to talk about. The honest conversations are decorating the airwaves on the show. The confessions, the willingness to help each other, the empathy, the compassion, the kindness. The will to make it a better society, the will to admit that we did something wrong. It’s as human as it gets.
“That’s why those real conversations are so precious, because we seldom see them around. Either we are listening to a whole lot of opinions or we are giving one without even thinking about our own. There is no introspection.”
“He said I lost my best friend because he did not survive, now I’m under a lot of debt I have two kids I’m unable to support their education. What do I do? Should I end my life?
“I put his story out on radio and it was unbelievable. Within a minute, there was a person who perhaps was listening to radio for the first time ever. He called me and he said, ‘I’ve just got into a cab and I was listening to the story of this young man who is under debt and is actually contemplating to end his life because of that. Can I please help him.’
“He gave him the money, but he took a promise from the driver saying, you promise that at your own pace, you will collect this money so that whenever there is somebody else who’s in need, you will be able to help him in the same way that I have been able to help you.”
Career Journey
“I’ve completed almost 29 years in radio. I started radio when I was in school with volunteer radio, and then joined the private FM station Radio Mirchi. I have been there ever since.”
Sayema Rahman speaking at RadioDays Asia
Serena Ahern is a reporter and manager for radioinfo.