History of Hamfest In India
'HAMFEST' is a festival of HAMs, the largest gathering of Indian HAMs in one place, conducted every year in different cities of India since 1991. The main objective is to create an awareness of HAM RADIO along with the the new technological skills in the field of communication.
Looking back at the history of HAMFEST, it was started in a very small way at 'Kuttikkanam', Kottayam, Kerala in 1991 by Joseph Mattappally (VU2JIM) and he was declared the HAM of the year. The idea of organizing a get-together of needy and helpless HAMs, called 'HAMFEST' wherein all HAMs would come individually irrespective of their club or society and collectively work for the HAMFEST and with the spirit of the hobby. The whole process started during 1990 – 91 with the HI Net (Ham Information Net) which was regularly conducted on all Sundays on 7040. VU2JIM, OM Jim from Kottayam used to write to a lot of SWLs where many of them were asking technical questions. VU2RDN, VU2JLX and VU2JKV and a few others were supporting this net. The energy level was so high, and when the number of SWLs and Hams participating in HI Net crossed 200, a sudden urge was naturally developed to meet at one location for an eye ball.
The get together at ‘Kuttikkanam’ happened in 1991. All participants were happy and enjoyed the two days technical sessions. During the evening of the first day, a meeting was held to elect the office bearers of the “Club”. But instead of electing a permanent governing body, based on a suggestion from VU2RDN, there was a general consensus to conduct the event at different locations in the coming years by clubs or group of Radio Amateurs. This model was successful and helped Hamfest to sustain all these years.
| Year | Location | General Convener | Call Sign |
| 1991 | Kuttikkanam | OM.Joseph Mattapally | VU2JIM |
| 1992 | Alwaye | OM.K.N. Gopinathan | VU2EGM |
| 1993 | Salem | OM.K.Premchand | VU2RPC |
| 1994 | Mysore | OM.K.R.Madhukar | VU2MUD |
| 1995 | Mumbai | OM.Adolf Shepherd | VU2AF |
| 1996 | Calcutta | OM.Avinash Misra | VU2EM |
| 1997 | Kochi | OM.S.Suresh | VU2SUO |
| 1998 | Bangalore | OM.R.Ramachandra | VU2RCR |
| 1999 | Mysore | OM.M.T.Kesari | VU2MTK |
| 2000 | Hyderabad | OM.Chalam Chivukula | VU2CLM |
| 2001 | Nagpur | OM.Shrikant Jichkar | VU2SJA |
| 2002 | Chennai | OM.M.Saravanan | VU2MSS |
| 2003 | GandhiNagar | OM.S.K.Nanda I.A.S | SWL |
| 2004 | Mumbai | OM.Nilesh Rathod | VU2NLF |
| 2005 | Not Held | ||
| 2006 | Kollam | OM.K.G.Nadarajan | VU2KGN |
| 2007 | Guntur | OM.R.Sarath Bab | VU3RSB |
| 2008 | GandhiNagar | OM.Praveen | VU2CPV |
| 2009 | Bangalore | OM.M.R Sampath Kumar | VU2YZ |
| 2010 | Pollachi | OM.Vijayan | VU2WDP |
During the last 20 years, Hamfest India has helped to create a platform for Radio Amateurs to meet and exchange ideas and share technologies. Hamfest has been a friendly event for eyeball QSO for many friends who have met only on radio band. Hamfests have always been a recharging venue for Radio Amateurs and SWLs. So let us all hold hands together and take this wonderful Festival of Hams called the HAMFEST around to all regions of India, spreading the wonderful hobby of Ham Radio.
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