Akashvani (Ākāśavāni), आकाशवाणी, is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning "celestial announcement", or "voice from the sky/heaven". Elements of the word: * Aksah: आकाश (ākāśa) "sky" * vani: वाणि (vāṇi) "voice, speech" "Akashvani" was first used in the context of radio by M. V. Gopalaswamy after setting up the nation’s first private radio station in his residence, "Vittal Vihar" in 1936. All India Radio, India's public radio broadcaster, adopted Akashvani as its on-air name in 1956; it was felt that the term was more than appropriate for a broadcaster.