Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi’s Book Launches

August 9, 2016 · by · in City Parties

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

The party secrets.

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]

One person almost always seen at Delhi’s book launches is novelist Vikram Seth’s mother, Leila Seth. A retired High Court justice as well as a memoirist, this graceful woman is always given a front row seat. The author of the evening as well as the publishing house editors would make it a point to greet her.

Any Vikram Seth fanatic can tell you that Ms Seth was the inspiration behind Lata Mehra, the spunky heroine of Vikram Seth’s celebrated novel A Suitable Boy.

The Delhi Walla has been stalking Ms Seth for many years. I even photographed her the day author Khushwant Singh died—she was standing outside his residence with her novelist son, and was in a lovely pink saree (check out that dress on the second-last photo below).

There’s a book launch this evening, too. Of course, I’m going there to again gaze upon at Ms Seth.

See you, this evening, too, Ms Seth

1.

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

2. (with author Mark Tully)

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

3.

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

4. (with son author Vikram Seth)

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

5. (with author Amitav Ghosh)

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

6. (with author Siddhartha Mukherjee)

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

7. (with daughter filmmaker Aradhana Seth)

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

8. (outside author Khushwant Singh’s house)

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

9.

Netherfield Ball – Retired Chief Justice Leila Seth, The Empress of Delhi's Book Launches

Related posts:

  1. Netherfield Ball – Vinod Mehta’s Book Launch, Lodi The Garden Restaurant
  2. Netherfield Ball – Zac O’Yeah’s Book Reception, Swedish Ambassador’s Residence, Nyaya Marg
  3. Netherfield Ball – Amitav Ghosh’s Book Launch, India Habitat Center
  4. Netherfield Ball – Barkha Dutt’s Book Reception, The Taj Mahal Hotel
  5. Netherfield Ball – Late Khushwant Singh’s Book Reception, The Park