About Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI
Dayton Hamvention 2015 – Dayton, Ohio
Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, is one of the most recognized and respected amateur radio operators in India — and indeed across the world. With a passion for the hobby spanning over three decades, she has devoted herself to DX-peditions, emergency communications, humanitarian service, and the promotion of amateur radio among students and communities across India.
A founding member of the National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) since 1985, Bharathi has been central to shaping India's amateur radio community. She is widely known as India's Ambassador on the Air — a title earned through extraordinary service and global recognition.
"Welcome to my world of Amateur Radio. My name is Bharathi Prasad, known by my callsign VU2RBI. With a passion that spans over three decades, I've devoted myself to diverse facets of this realm, from leading DX-peditions to coordinating essential disaster relief communications." — Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI — from vu2rbi.com
Meeting at Dayton Hamvention 2015
Dayton Hamvention 2015 – Dayton, Ohio, USA
The Dayton Hamvention in Dayton, Ohio is the world's largest and most celebrated amateur radio convention — and it has a long tradition of bringing together operators from every corner of the globe. In 2015, Ted Lee, VE7LEE of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, had the pleasure of meeting Bharathi in person at the event.
For any amateur radio operator, crossing paths with VU2RBI at Hamvention is a memorable moment. Bharathi's reputation for warmth, generosity, and dedication to the hobby precedes her wherever she goes. The meeting is a small reflection of what amateur radio does best — bridging continents and building friendships that last long after the radios are switched off.
Operating Profile
| Callsign | VU2RBI |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| Organization | National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), Hyderabad |
| Active Since | 1985 (NIAR founding member) |
| Specialties | DX-peditions, Emergency Communications, Training & Education |
| Website | vu2rbi.com |
| QRZ | qrz.com/db/VU2RBI |
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Service
Bharathi's most defining moments have come during times of crisis. Her work during major disasters demonstrated the life-saving power of amateur radio when infrastructure fails.
During the 1999 Orissa Cyclone and the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, she helped coordinate emergency radio communications when conventional systems were overwhelmed. Most notably, during the 2004 Tsunami in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, her DX-pedition team swiftly pivoted their operation into a full emergency communications service — an effort that caught the attention of CNN International, which featured their work in a documentary on the role of amateur radio in disaster response.
This selfless service earned her the 2005 ARRL International Humanitarian Award — one of the most prestigious honours in the global amateur radio community.
Awards and Honours
Over more than three decades, Bharathi has received recognition from amateur radio organizations, governments, and humanitarian bodies around the world.
In March 2010, Bharathi was invited by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), London to read a testimony at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Observance Day — in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and ambassadors of Commonwealth nations. She also received awards from JARL (Japan), DARC (Germany), RSGB (United Kingdom), and many others.
Links and References
- VU2RBI Official Website – vu2rbi.com
- VU2RBI on QRZ.com
- VU2RBI on QSL.net
- National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR), India
- VE7LEE Main Site – ve7lee.tedlee.ca
- VE7LEE Radio Page
Content on this page is based on publicly available information from vu2rbi.com and the amateur radio community. No copyright infringement intended. This is a personal tribute page.