Veteran Doordarshan Anchor Sarla Maheshwari Passes Away at 71

"On behalf of the Doordarshan family, we pay our heartfelt tribute to Mrs Sarla Maheshwari. She was a respected and revered Doordarshan newsreader, who carved a special place in the Indian news world with her gentle voice, precise pronunciation, and dignified delivery. Her simplicity, restraint, and personality instilled a deep trust in her viewers," the post on X read.

Veteran news anchor and Maheshwari's ex-colleague, Shammi Narang, also expressed grief as he shared the news of the death of his ex-co-anchor.

"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," Narang wrote in a social media post.

"She respected everyone and uplifted every space she was part of. I pray that God grants her soul eternal peace and gives strength to the Maheshwari family," he added

The Mahila Congress described Maheshwari's death as the "end of a golden era of television journalism".

"Her credibility and decency will always be an inspiration for generations to come," the organisation added.

Maheshwari began her career with Doordarshan in 1976 as a news announcer while pursuing her PhD at Delhi University. She later became among the earliest anchors to read news live on Indian television, at a time when Doordarshan served as the country's primary news platform.

She worked with Doordarshan until 1984 before moving to the United Kingdom, where she served as a newsreader with the BBC till 1986.

After returning to India, she rejoined Doordarshan in 1988 and continued with the broadcaster for several more years.

Over a career spanning nearly three decades, Maheshwari became a familiar and trusted face in Indian households, especially during the era of black-and-white and early colour television. She was widely known for her calm, formal and composed style of presentation.

- IANS