Who Was Sarla Maheshwari? The Voice That Defined An Era Of Doordarshan

Sarla Maheshwari, the veteran Doordarshan news anchor, widely remembered for her calm delivery and dignified on-screen presence, has died on February 12, 2026, at the age of 71. (Image: X)

Doordarshan National confirmed her passing in a social media post, calling her a respected and esteemed newsreader who created a special place in the Indian news landscape with her “gentle voice, precise pronunciation, and dignified presentation.” Doordarshan National wrote on X, "A heartfelt tribute from the Doordarshan family to Smt. Sarla Maheshwari. She was a respected and esteemed newsreader of Doordarshan, who carved out a special place in the Indian news world with her gentle voice, precise pronunciation, and dignified presentation. Her simplicity, restraint, and personality established deep trust in the hearts of viewers," (Image: X)

Sarla Maheshwari served as Doordarshan news anchor from 1976 to 2005. She joined Doordarshan after auditioning while pursuing her PhD at Delhi University. (Image: X)

She began her journey as an announcer before moving into news reading. Over the years, she witnessed Indian television transition from black and white to colour broadcasts. (Image: X)

She became the regular face of national news bulletins during Doordarshan’s peak years and remained a notable voice before private news channels came into existence. (Image: X)

Sarla Maheshwari also had a stint as a Hindi lecturer at Hans Raj College, Delhi University.  (Image: X)