Netherfield Ball – Spotting Retired Justice Leila Seth in Her Memorial Meeting, India International Center
The party secrets.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
The women were dressed in subdued but elegant saris. The men, too, looked dignified. There were many famous faces.
One evening The Delhi Walla attended the memorial meeting of Retired Justice Leila Seth at the Multipurpose Hall in India International Center The evening’s most important people were members of Ms Seth’s immediate family– husband Prem, sons Vikram and Shantum, daughter Aradhna, daughter-in-law, Gitanjali, and grand-daughters Nandini and Anamikamaitri.
Even so, I declare the occasion was extremely puzzling. Apparently, Ms Seth passed away in her 80s a few weeks ago. But I spotted her more than once in the gathering–there she was, and there, and there, as always. You don’t believe me? See below.
The world of Justice Seth
1. (Prem Seth)
2. (Leila Seth)
3. (Vikram Seth)
3a.
4. (Shantum Seth)
5. (Aradhana Seth)
5a.
6. (Gitanjali Seth, left)
7. (Anamikamaitri and Nandini Seth)
7a.
8. (Dayanita Singh)
9. (Laila Tyabji)
10.
10a.
11. (Arun Shourie)
12. (Soli Sorabjee)
13.
13a.
14.
15.
15a.
16.
17.
17a.
18.
19.
20.
20a.
21.
22.
23.
24. (Sheila Dikshit)
25.
26.
27.
What kind of sorcery is this ,soofi ?
Have u mixed some images from past visits ?
You could’ve remained silent but you chose to speak out for the Indian LGBT community. Thank you, Leila.
RIP Justice Leila Seth. To see her in your blog photos, up and about after a heart attack was really inspiring. But the light of life burns out for us one day. May she find even better worlds to live in. God bless her!
And this is a very nice post Mayank. A hard working person, who has influenced others’ life in many ways small and big, is indeed present everywhere even after death.
There was a dialouge in the Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. Batman’s Guru turned villain finished off by Batman in a previous movie visits him as his delusion and tells our confused hero, “Oh! There are many forms of immortality”
If you learn something from someone, then they are immortalised in your knowledge. Maybe you have also knowingly or unknowingly learnt something and got inspired from her to be able to write so nicely about her.
Leila Seth will remain in the minds of all who knew her as towering figure of beauty, curiousity, wisdom, compassion, and grace. She dignified every topic she spoke about, and everyone she spoke to, and she was dedicated to her granchildren Anamika and Nandini.
I will never forget seeing her in the late 80’s for the first time at the IIC as I sat behind her at a concert. I found myself staring at the beautiful flower in her hair– and wondering about her strong presence. At the end of the concert, she gave me a smile, sweet as it was brief. Soon after I arrived at my friend Shantum’s house. And a little later, this lovely person walked into the kitchen with her husband, and laughed. “I told Prem you were Shantum’s brother! It was one of many magical moments with Leila Seth. I celebrate the extraordinary life of Leila Seth!