World Amateur Radio Day observed on 18 April 2013

18 April: World Amateur Radio Day, theme for 2013 is Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications.

World Amateur Radio Day was observed across the World on 18 April 2013. This day is observed to celebrate the beginning of the IARU-the International Amateur Radio Union - back in 1925. The theme for 2013 is Amateur Radio: Entering Its Second Century of Disaster Communications. The theme commemorates to the first known use of Amateur Radio in a disaster situation by Herbert V. Akerberg -- a 15-year-old from Hilltop, Ohio, USA. He is believed to be the first person to use an Amateur Radio to call for help during a disaster.

International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was founded on 18 April 1925 and is also known as the Ham Radio. In making this Ham Radio operational licensed participants operate the communication equipment in form of a service and a hobby.

Hams get involved in the Amateur radio because of their basic knowledge of radio technology and principles of operation. They need to pass an examination for getting a license to operate on radio frequencies known as Amateur Bands.

Amateur is a term that is used for specifying persons interested in radio technique with a personal aim and without direct financial interest, and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting. These are generally recognized for the contributions that they make at times of disaster to the relief workers, where communication is minimal or not at all.

Amateur Radio played a major role in India during the Tsunami that struck India in 2004 and during the earthquake that struck Gujarat in 2001, when all the major means of communication failed out. Amateur radio was the only means of communication at such a time of disaster in India.