Indian man with passion for history gathers world's largest collection of radios

A history buff with a passion for preserving artefacts has gathered together the world’s largest collection of radios.

Ram Singh Bouddh (India) has 1,257 unique models in his possession, blowing the previous record of 625 out of the water.

This all began when the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, started his radio programme, Mann Ki Baat.

Ram said: “Because India is a very diverse country in culture, language and traditions, he urged Indians to create museums of different types, whatsoever in their own capacity to make India a cultural repository for the whole world.”

Modi has even praised Ram for his collection with a mention on his show.

Ram’s museum of radios is housed in a big hall at Siddharth Inter College, which he runs with his children, who work as teachers.

The 70-year-old retired government worker has been collecting antiques since he was a child.

The history graduate says he’s collected everything from coins and stamps to newspapers covering stories of national and international importance and any historical letters he's been able to get his hands on.

Ram has worked for 10 years to build his collection of radios, often facing criticism from his peers who felt it wasn’t a worthwhile way for him to spend his time.

He’s also suffered three heart attacks and financial setbacks, but says he’s feeling the love from his country after becoming a record breaker.

He said: “Now everyone feels proud that I really made a dent, done an undaunted task. [I’ve] made my country, family and people around me proud.”

Ram added: “The Prime Minister praised my museum in his podcast. This was before the record and actually inspired me to increase my collection to this level.”

That’s also what encouraged him to apply for the record.

He’s also been interviewed by international media about his impressive collection.

Ram’s dream is to have the Prime Minister come to visit his museum one day.

He said: “This museum is a standalone complete history of mass communication, many students of journalism from various universities visits it for research and project works about films, radio and television media.”

He added that his museum tells a story of how technology has evolved over the years.

When asked if he’ll ever stop collecting, Ram said: “No, never. I am really addicted now. I am still buying radios.”

Ram carries a small Sony pocket radio with him everywhere he goes, but his favourite in his collection is one gifted to him by the family of a doctor who used it to listen to news of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.

“This makes it very unique,” he said.

He also has radios used by people during both world wars, enigma machines, and radios used for communication on board submarines and ships.

Ram is thrilled his collection is now record-breaking, admitting it brings tears to his eyes.