Gitanjali Aiyar, one of the first English news presenters on Doordarshan and who presented news on the national broadcaster for over three decades, died on Wednesday, June 7.
She joined Doordarshan in 1971 and received the best anchor award four times in her illustrious career. She also presented the popular English songs request programme - A Date With You, on Friday nights on All India Radio.
Gitanjali Aiyar passes away
Gitanjali graduated from Kolkata's Loreto College and holds a diploma from the National School of Drama. She also won the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for Outstanding Women in 1989.
She ventured into corporate communications, government liaison and marketing after having a long career in the news industry. Gitanjali was also featured in Sridhar Kshirsagar’s TV drama ‘Khandaan’; and also featured as a model for everything from Solidaire to Marmite.
Several industry veterans took to Twitter to share tributes for Gitanjali
Senior Journalist Sheela Bhatt wrote, "Gitanjali Aiyar, India’s one of the best tv newsreaders, warm and elegant person and woman of immense substance passed away today. Deepest condolences to her family."
Sagarika Ghose called her a household name of the 1980s.
"She will always be remembered as a newsreader with impeccable English diction and pronunciation," wrote Anu Sehgal.
“We fondly remember the days when Gitanjali Aiyar ji graced our TV screens, leaving an indelible mark on our news-watching experiences. Saddened by her untimely demise, my heartfelt condolences to her loved ones. May she find eternal peace,” Congress leader Netta D'Souza said.
A Twitter user called her a 'picture of grace', while another said she was one the 'finest' news readers. "In the early 80s, when Doordarshan had a monopoly over English TV media in India, she captivated viewers with her distinguished style of presentation," one user wrote on Twitter.
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