Question

Which was the first television soap opera to be telecast on Doordarshan?

• A. Tamas
• B. Buniyaad
• C. Karamchand
• D. Hum Log

Hint:

For questions on media history, remember the key milestones. "Hum Log" is a foundational name in Indian television history, marking the beginning of sponsored programming and the soap opera genre in the country.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question requires knowledge of the history of Indian television, specifically the first soap opera broadcast on the national channel, Doordarshan.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's examine the options and their broadcast history:
- Hum Log (1984-1985): This series, which began on July 7, 1984, is widely considered to be the first-ever soap opera or sponsored serial on Indian television. It revolved around the daily struggles and aspirations of a middle-class family and was immensely popular.
- Karamchand (1985-1988): This was a popular detective series, not a soap opera.
- Buniyaad (1986-1987): This was another landmark drama serial dealing with the Partition of India, but it was telecast after Hum Log had already established the format of the long-running family drama.
- Tamas (1988): This was a critically acclaimed television film or miniseries based on the novel by Bhisham Sahni. It was not a soap opera.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Chronologically, "Hum Log" was the first among these to be telecast and is credited as India's first television soap opera. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.