Ex-Doordarshan newsreader, Sarla Maheshwari, dies at 71
NEW DELHI, Feb 12: Former Doordarshan newsreader Sarla Maheshwari, one of the most recognisable faces of Indian television from the late 1970s to 2005, passed away at the age of 71. Renowned for her calm and composed screen presence, precise diction, and signature ‘seedha palla’ sari, she embodied a style of news reading that exuded dignity and trust, contrasting sharply with today’s fast-paced, noisy broadcasts. Maheshwari, along with contemporaries like Shammi Narang, Salma Sultan, and Minu Talwar, helped shape a generation’s experience of television news, bringing clarity and poise to the medium. Colleagues and friends paid heartfelt tributes. Shammi Narang called her “beautiful at heart” with a “remarkable command over language,” while Rini Simon Khanna remembered her as an “epitome of class, elegance, and simplicity.” Co-anchor Ghazala Amin recalled Maheshwari’s attention to detail, even coordinating sari colours for broadcasts, reflecting her professionalism and grace. Apart from her television career, Maheshwari taught Hindi at Delhi University’s Hansraj College in the late 1970s, remembered by students for her patience and approachability. Her passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind a legacy of quiet excellence and a benchmark for integrity, poise, and trust in Indian news broadcasting. (PTI)
