WB Radio Club Secretary Wins International Humanitarian Award.
North East, Dec 05, 2025 : The West Bengal Amateur Radio Club, known for turning a hobby into a reliable lifeline during emergencies, has earned rare international recognition. Club secretary Ambarish Nag Biswas has been selected for the inaugural Amateur Radio Hero Award by HamCation 2026, one of the world’s largest amateur radio events held annually in Orlando, Florida.
The confirmation reached Biswas early Wednesday through an email from Mike Banigan, Awards Chairman of HamCation. The new award honours a ham operator who has gone above and beyond in providing communication support during disasters or moments of critical public need.Over the past decade, amateur radio in Bengal has grown far beyond antennas and call signs. Under the West Bengal Radio Club, it has become a crucial fallback communication system during cyclones, floods, missing-person cases, and other emergencies. Biswas has been a driving force behind this transformation.During Cyclone Amphan, Yaas, and repeated storms along the Bay coast, when mobile networks failed and towers collapsed, WBRC operators kept communication running between disaster-hit areas, control rooms, and rescue teams. Their work has also helped reunite hundreds of missing individuals, including children, with their families through a structured missing-person tracking protocol.
Banigan, in his email, praised the team’s commitment to community service through amateur radio. HamCation, backed by the Orlando Amateur Radio Club, is the second-largest ham radio show in the United States. Organizers have noted that a grassroots Indian radio club receiving such recognition is both rare and striking.
Research papers and academic presentations worldwide have highlighted WBRC’s work, documenting everything from their cyclone communication network to their support in emergency medical transport. The club is increasingly seen as a model of how volunteer radio can strengthen disaster management systems.
The award will be presented on February 14, 2026, at the HamCation banquet. A public announcement of the winners will be made on the programme Ham Nation at 9 PM EST on December 3, Thursday morning in India.
Speaking after the news, Biswas said the honour belongs to Bengal and its people. He added that ham radio has proved how a simple hobby, when used with purpose, can save lives. He thanked volunteers, government agencies, and citizens for their support, and said the club plans to expand training, cyclone-zone communication units, and student outreach.
At a time when technology often feels commercial and automated, this award serves as a reminder that simple radios, backed by skill and compassion, can still be a lifeline. And for many who follow the work of the West Bengal Radio Club, Wednesday’s announcement carried a quiet message that service to others can travel far beyond borders.