Salma Sultan

Salma Sultan Biography

Salma Sultan is one of the earliest news readers and anchors of India’s first television channel, Doordarshan. She read English news in Doordarshan during the period, 1967-1997 and one of the most popular news readers of the country. She always appears on television screen with a rose tucked behind her ear. So, it’s easy to recollect from memories during the period early 1970s to next two or three decades, when Doordarshan was the sole source of Indian entertainment except All India radio. She also draped the border of her sari around her neck in a modern yet traditional way. She has been a household name in Indian families during 1980’s, when televisions became popular in the middle class families. She now resides in Jangpura area in South Delhi.

Salma Sultan was born on March 16, 1947. She was born as second child to scholar and secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Mohammed Asghar Ansari. Her mother was a Moghul homemaker. Her elder sister Maimoona Sultan was a noted politician who has served as the Member of Parliament from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency. She has been an Indian national congress candidate and won four times. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Shah Shuja of Afghanistan. Salma did her schooling from Sultanpur and completed graduation from Bhopal. Later she completed PG in English from Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi. Almost at the same time, she gave audition for an announcer for Doordarshan and got selected. She was 23 when she joined Doordarshan.

Pratima Puri and Gopal Kaul were regular faces then in Doordarshan when Salma joined. Also, news bulletins were only 5-10 minutes in those days. After her retirement, Salma Sultan moved to directing serials on social topics for Doordarshan, Panchtantra Se, Suno Kahani, Swar Mere Tumhare and Jalte Sawal being the most popular ones.

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Updated: February 11, 2014