India, Feb. 13 -- For generations of television viewers in the 1970s and 80s, hers was the face that launched the news each evening.

As the familiar strains of Doordarshan's signature tune faded and the camera settled on the studio desk, Sarla Maheshwari would appear on screens across the country, delivering the day's developments in a calm, precise voice with unhurried authority. Her understated elegance and composed demeanour made her stand apart in an era when news presentation was defined by clarity and restraint. On Thursday, Maheshwari - one of Doordarshan's most recognisable newsreaders - died at 71, closing a chapter in Indian television journalism.

She was cremated at Nigambodh Ghat at 4pm the same day, with colleagues, former ...