Before cable TV and OTT platforms, there was Doordarshan — India’s first national broadcaster that brought the nation together through a single screen.
Launched on 15th September 1959, Doordarshan began as an experimental service in Delhi with only 180 television sets. It aired educational programs twice a week — simple, slow, and sincere.
In 1982, India watched history unfold as Doordarshan introduced colour television during the Asian Games in New Delhi. From black-and-white classrooms to colour sports fields, Doordarshan changed the way India saw itself.
The 1980s and 90s became its golden era. Shows like Ramayan, Mahabharat, Hum Log, Fauji, and Byomkesh Bakshi weren’t just TV shows — they were nationwide events. Streets emptied during airings, and families planned weekends around them.
Its signature tune, composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan, became the morning anthem of Indian households. Simple visuals and strong messages made Doordarshan a symbol of public trust.
Even its news bulletins, delivered in a calm, unbiased tone, were considered the voice of the nation.
With liberalisation in the 1990s and the rise of private channels, Doordarshan’s popularity declined. But its impact remains unmatched.
In an age of digital noise, Doordarshan is remembered as the channel that told stories without drama, shared news without chaos, and gave India a common screen to dream on.
