New Delhi, February 12 Sarla Maheshwari, a former Doordarshan newsreader who was one of the most recognizable faces on television in the 1980s and 90s, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday. She was 71.
Maheshwari was a familiar face on TV news from 1976 until 2005, alongside Salma Sultan, Minu Talwar, Shammi Narang, Geetanjali Aiyer, Neeti Ravindran, and others. Her name alone evoked nostalgia for India's broadcasting and its transition from black and white to color. She was known for her calm and composed demeanor, a stark contrast to the often-chaotic nature of televised news bulletins.
Her death, first announced by her colleague and friend, Shammi Narang, was mourned by her colleagues, friends, and viewers. Narang described her as "a beautiful person, not just in appearance, but especially in her heart. She had a remarkable command over language and possessed a wealth of knowledge. Her presence on Doordarshan was truly unique."
Doordarshan National praised her as "a respected and esteemed newsreader who carved a special place for herself in the Indian news world. Her gentle voice, precise pronunciation, and dignified presentation earned her the trust and respect of viewers."
In February of last year, Maheshwari arrived at a polling booth in an ambulance and spoke about the importance of voting.
"I believe that voting is a right that belongs to all of us. Every citizen should step forward and exercise their right to vote," she said.
Details about her personal life and health were scarce.
Her colleague and friend, Rini Simon Khanna, said, "Rest in peace, Sarla. You suffered too long."
Khanna described Maheshwari as "the very epitome of quiet excellence. An icon of class, elegance, and simplicity, she carried herself with grace, never seeking attention, yet always commanding respect. Her strong academic foundation and unwavering commitment to integrity made her a rare and reassuring figure in the media world."
Sanjeev Upadhyay, another colleague and co-anchor at Doordarshan, recalled her extraordinary screen presence and ability to connect with viewers.
"She was the epitome of grace. Her clear pronunciation and news reading style were truly remarkable. She was also very caring and dignified. Her presence on screen was reassuring," Upadhyay said.
Maheshwari was also remembered for her distinctive sari and dressing style.
Her co-anchor on DD, Ghazala Amin, recalled their discussions about saris and colors before delivering the news.
"Since we wore our own saris for the news, Sarla would often ask, 'Ghazala, what color saree are you wearing? We need to coordinate our outfits so that we look good on screen'," Amin said.
She also added that their audience would often comment on their coordinated outfits.
Other tributes came from Sheila Chaman, who remembered their "long chats and happy times at DD," and journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, who described her as "an enduring face of Doordarshan, with a soothing voice."
Journalist Sonal Kalra remembered her for her "simple grace and poise."
Another user, Amar Barwe, highlighted her strength in "simplicity and calmness" and her voice that "soothed, informed, and stayed with you."
Barwe also noted that she represented a time when news had dignity, with no ad breaks or noise.
The Kerala Congress credited her with bringing "dignity, clarity, and quiet confidence to the screen."
"...For an entire generation that grew up watching the evening bulletin, her composed presence and simple grace became a part of daily life. May she rest in peace," the party wrote on X.
The All India Mahila Congress also posted on X, saying that "her demise marks the end of a golden era of television journalism."
Maheshwari was also remembered for her teaching career at Delhi University's Hansraj College in the late 1970s.
V Krishnaswamy, a sports writer and former student, recalled her as a "very patient teacher."
"Around 1979, she taught Hindi at Hansraj College. Although I didn't have much personal contact with her, I remember that she was a very pleasant and friendly person. There were many students who struggled with Hindi, but she was very patient with them. You could simply approach her and talk to her," he said.
