Gitanjali Aiyar was an award-winning journalist and news anchor who passed away yesterday. According to an article published by the Economic Times, Aiyar collapsed after she came home from a walk. The article also cited a close friend who said that the pioneering woman was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and that she had been on medications for the same. Many renowned figures were seen mourning the loss of this extraordinary woman.
Gitanjali Aiyar Passes Away At 71
Sad to hear of the passing away of Gitanjali Aiyar. From An age where there were news readers who just read the news without any noise or fuss. No debate, no opinion. Remember Tejeshwar Singh, Salma Sultan, Rini Simon, Luke Sanyal and many more. Gitanjali always so poised and… pic.twitter.com/QTe35d0XqF
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 7, 2023
Gitanjali Aiyar was 71 years old when she passed away, as per multiple news sources. According to Hindustan Times, she joined Doordarshan in 1971. Since then, she managed to win the award for best anchor a total of four times.
She was also bestowed with the honour of being the winner of Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Award for Outstanding Women in the year 1989. She was a graduate from the Loreto College in Kolkata before joining Doordarshan. Apart from her anchoring career, she was also featured in several print-media advertisements.
If that isn’t enough to impress you, she also had a brief tryst with acting when she performed in a famous television drama back in the day called ‘Khandaan,’ by Sridhar Kshirsagar. She also happened to have a diploma from the National School of Drama or NSD in New Delhi. Clearly, she had many feathers in her cap.
Also Read: German & Sri Lankan Men Swap Boarding Passes At Mum Airport; Land In Diff Countries. Arrested!
Many Prominent Figures Express Their Condolences
RIP Gitanjali Aiyar, well known news reader from the DD days. https://t.co/3cf27eSdAG
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) June 7, 2023
Many television personalities, journalists, news anchors, and even political figures took to Twitter to express their condolences. Rajdeep Sardesai, a prominent Indian journalist, expressed his anguish over the loss of such a remarkable woman.
Sumanth Raman, another prominent news anchor, also expressed his condolences. And so did Sheela Bhatt. She called Aiyar one of India’s best newsreaders and said that she was a warm and elegant person.
Aiyar has been survived by a son and a daughter. Pallavi Aiyar, the daughter, is also a prominent name in the news industry as she has taken after her mother and is now also an award-winning journalist.
Also Read: Sarabhai vs Sarabhai Actor Vaibhavi Upadhyaya Passes Away In Tragic Car Accident In Himachal
Did you ever have the absolute privilege and treat to watch her on television? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Credits: @Sheela2010/Twitter