By — Dilip Guha
Doordarshan, India’s iconic public service broadcaster, celebrated its 67th Foundation Day with a vibrant evening of music, dance and entertainment at Doordarshan Bhawan, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi.
The celebrations, themed “Doordarshan@67 – Kal Bhi Apna, Aaj Bhi Apna”, commemorated Doordarshan’s remarkable journey of over six decades and its enduring connect with generations of Indians on 15th Sept,2026.
Doordarshan marked its glorious journey from an experimental service in 1959 to one of the world’s leading broadcasting organisations.
India’s public service broadcaster Doordarshan marked its inception in 1959 as an experimental television service under All India Radio. Over the decades, it has grown into a vital platform for information dissemination, cultural preservation, and national integration, reaching nearly 100 per cent of the population through satellite and Direct to Home services.
Established on 15th September 1959, Doordarshan marked the beginning of India’s broadcasting era. The then President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, inaugurated the first broadcast on that day. Until 1975, it was a part of All India Radio. A pivotal moment came with the separation from All India Radio on 1st April, 1976, granting Doordarshan operational autonomy to expand its reach.
The introduction of colour television in 1982, coinciding with the Asian Games in Delhi, transformed Doordarshan’s visual appeal and viewership. The establishment of Prasar Bharati as an autonomous corporation on 23rd September, 1997, under the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, further professionalised Doordarshan, integrating it with All India Radio under a unified public broadcasting framework. With a network of 35 satellite channels and 66 Studio Centres, Doordarshan serves diverse linguistic and cultural communities by delivering content in over 24 languages and various dialects.
Addressing the gathering, Rina Sonowal Kouli, Director General, Doordarshan, welcomed all guests and dignitaries and thanked the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CEO Prasar Bharati, Principal DG PIB and other Director Generals for attending the ceremony despite their busy schedules.
“Doordarshan has a long and glorious history. With the motto of ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram‘, it has now entered its 67th year. We are all witnesses to this glorious history,” she said.
Recalling Doordarshan’s contribution to nation-building, she said, “Whether it is educational programmes or our epic serials like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Doordarshan has played an important role in binding the country together. Even during the Covid pandemic, Doordarshan kept people connected through its programmes.”
Giving details about the network’s growth, the DG informed that Doordarshan started as an experimental service on 15th September 1959 and today has a bouquet of 35 national and international channels. There are 65 programme production centres and studio setups across various states and Union Territories producing content for these channels.
She highlighted that Doordarshan is keeping pace with new technology in broadcasting. Modern OB vans, 4K cameras, and new graphics and video editing machines are now being used. At present, 13 out of 35 channels are being telecast in High Definition along with Standard Definition.
In this era of OTT, smartphones and smart TVs, the DG said that Prasar Bharati launched its OTT platform ‘Waves’ in 2024, where all Doordarshan channels and its iconic old serials are available for viewers.
On this occasion, the popular star cast of upcoming shows ‘Sanskar’ and ‘ Suraag 2.0 ‘, starting from September 21, was also present. The DG welcomed K. C. Bokadia, Mahesh Thakur, Aman Verma, Darshan Jariwala, Pankaj Berry, Sudesh Berry, Sai Ketan Rao, Jigyasa Singh and Rehan Shahrukh Mirzabeig, and other artists.
She concluded by thanking the Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Chairman Prasar Bharati, CEO Prasar Bharati, all officers, staff and retired family members of Doordarshan for attending the 67th Foundation Day celebration.
Prasoon Joshi, Chairman Prasar Bharati, mentioned that the major challenge is distraction. Screens have increasingly turned distraction into an addiction, with people sometimes seeking distraction simply for its own sake. Referring to the widely cited claim about shrinking attention spans, he noted that in advertising, there is a common belief that if a message is not conveyed within the first few seconds, the audience has already moved on.
However, he said he continued to believe that despite the proliferation of screens, the “inner flame” and “inner light” within human beings continue to guide them.
Speaking about the age of Artificial Intelligence, he said AI could reproduce what had already been expressed, but humans possessed something that remained unexpressed and yet to be said. “That unexpressed, that avyakta, lives within us,” he said, adding that “the most beautiful song is yet to be written.”
Gaurav Dwivedi, Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, reflected on Doordarshan’s remarkable journey. He noted that the broadcaster began as a series of educational experiments, gradually expanding its scope to encompass news, entertainment, sports, agriculture, music, art, and culture.
“Today, Doordarshan has become a platform where you can talk about any subject,” Dwivedi said. “It has undertaken the responsibility of disseminating information from across the country to the country—bringing diverse voices, knowledge, and experiences into the homes of millions.”
The evening featured a special musical performance by renowned singer Jyoti Nooran, which enthralled the audience with her powerful and soulful rendition. The celebrations also witnessed a spectacular ‘Rhythm Without Borders’ fusion dance performance by Shikha Khare and her group.
Adding to the evening was an engaging interaction with prominent artists associated with Doordarshan’s upcoming television serials ‘Sanskar’ and ‘Suraag 2.0’. Trailers of these shows were also launched on the occasion.
The interaction featured K. C. Bokadia, Mahesh Thakur, Aman Verma, Darshan Jariwala, Pankaj Berry, Sudesh Berry, Sai Ketan Rao, Jigyasa Singh and Rehan Shahrukh Mirzabeig.
The celebrations were hosted by Namitaa Sachdeva and Ali Asgar, who kept the audience engaged throughout the evening while celebrating Doordarshan’s rich legacy and continued relevance in India’s evolving media landscape.
For over six decades, Doordarshan has remained an integral part of India’s social and cultural fabric. From becoming a household presence across generations to embracing new platforms and technologies, Doordarshan continues to evolve while retaining its unique identity and public service mandate.
The Doordarshan Foundation Day Celebrations 2026 brought together artists, television personalities and members of the Doordarshan fraternity in a celebration of its glorious past, vibrant present and promising future.
