Remembering Sarla Maheshwari, the Doordarshan Newsreader of the 80s and 90s Who Kept India Hooked on the News

Doordarshan newsreader Sarla Maheshwari is no more. She was 71. Sarla belonged to the era of newsreaders, before the concept of a news anchor became common. She began her career in 1976 with Doordarshan as a news announcer while pursuing her PhD. Eventually, she applied for the post of newsreader and worked with Doordarshan until 1984. She was part of the cohort of newsreaders who are remembered as the “Golden Age” of television in India. A calm and beautiful face would greet viewers, delivering the news with utmost professionalism and capturing the attention of millions glued to their TV sets. Each newsreader was remembered for their distinctive style.Shammi Narang, former news anchor of DD, shared on X: "I feel utmost grief in announcing the sad

demise of my ex co-news anchor at Doordarshan, Sarla Maheshwari. She was the embodiment of grace and courtesy. Beautiful not just in appearance but even more so at heart, she had a remarkable command over language and was a reservoir of knowledge. Her presence on the Doordarshan screen had a unique aura. She respected everyone and uplifted every space she was part of."In 1986, Sarla moved to the United Kingdom, returning to India in 1988 and rejoining Doordarshan. Her grace was unmatched. She delivered the news in the most poised manner, with no theatrics, yet she commanded a fan following of millions.

She was admired not only for her voice and presence on TV but also for her sartorial style. Doordarshan would receive fan letters about her outfits from across the country. Some were passionate, expressing how her simple yet elegant sarees made an impression. In a YouTube video by Dream Traders Films, one letter read:"Jab Sarla Ji saadgi ke saath seedha pallu ki saree pehen kar parde par aati hai, toh aisa ehsaas hota hai jaise kadakti hui dhoop mein koi thandi lassi pila de." (Translated: When Sarla Ji appears on screen in a simple saree, draped modestly over her head, it feels like someone offering you a glass of cold lassi on a scorching, sun-drenched day.)Her Gujarati sarees were even copied by actresses in the Hindi film industry. She credited her mother for her distinctive style of draping a saree. This was also an era without teleprompters, and newsreaders had to rely entirely on their memory. In an interview with Doordarshan, Sarla said: "This was a job of immense responsibility and you needed to have a certain amount of maturity to do this well."Here’s to Sarla Maheshwari – a face, a voice, and a presence that will remain etched in the memory of Indian television forever.