Pepita Seth
Pepita Seth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Suffolk,England |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, photographer |
| Spouse | Roshan Seth(div. 2004) |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Pepita Sethis a British-born writer and photographer, known for her accounts of the temple arts and rituals ofKeralaand her photographs of the widely celebrated captive elephant,Guruvayur Keshavan.TheGovernment of Indiahonoured her, in 2012, with thePadma Shri,the fourth highest civilian award, for her services to the field of art and culture.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]"Oh, he was not an animal. I still remember the look he gave me as I positioned my camera… it was divine, as though he sensed that it was the beginning of my bond with the temple." says Pepitha Seth onGuruvayur Keshavan[3]
Pepita Seth was born inSuffolk,East of England,in a family of farmers. Pepita's maternal great grandfather was a soldier who served in the army in theBritish India.As was the custom during those days, Pepita, being a girl, did not have any formal education.[3]She, choosing a career in films, studied film editing and got opportunities to work under film directors likeTed KotcheffandStanley Donen.However, Pepita's life took a turn when she chanced upon the diary of her grandfather and decided to trace his trails with theBritish Armyand document the movements and landed inKolkata,in 1970.[3][4][5][6]
The journey from Kolkata ended in Guruvayur where she became fascinated by the temple arts and rituals of Kerala. For the next nine years, she visited Kerala several times and, in 1979, she found a home and settled in Guruvayur.[6][7]Though, at first, she was denied entry to theGuruvayur Temple,her persistence made theGuruvayur Devaswom Boardto relent and she remains the only foreigner to be granted entry to the Temple.[4][8]
Pepita was married to the Indian born British actorRoshan Sethbut was estranged from her husband in the late 80s. The couple formally divorced in 2004.[9]
Pepita Seth has extensively covered the rituals and temples of Kerala through her photographs. Her photographs of the elephant,Guruvayur Keshavanhave been published in many magazines and journals including theNew York Timesand theGuardian.[6]It is generally considered that Pepita's photographs of the rituals and temple arts of Kerala have helped promote the image of Kerala as a tourist destination.[6]
Pepita Seth lives in Guruvayur.[8]
Books and articles
[edit]Pepita's most recent boonIn God's Mirror: The Theyyams of Malabar,documents the extraordinary 2,000 year-old ritual of worship, Theyyam, found only in India's south- western state of Kerala.
- Pepita Seth (2023).In God's Mirror: The Theyyams of Malabar.London: Scala.ISBN9781785514111.
Pepita Seth has authored two books on Kerala, with accounts and photographs.
Heaven on Earth: The Universe of Kerala’s Guruvayur Templeis a research study on theGuruvayur Templeand the life, traditions, beliefs, myths and rituals associated with the place. It also covers the elephants fostered by the temple, especiallyGuruvayur Keshavan,widely regarded as the most famous of them all. The book follows anaccount with photographsstyle and has represented the information gathered from various sources, including the priests at the temple.[7][8]The book is regarded as the first such attempt on the Guruvayur Temple. It consists of 17 chapters and 215 images and covers the history of the 5000-year-old idol, made out of blackbismuth,of the temple, and the rituals andpoojas,in detail.[8]
- Pepita Seth (16 February 2013).Heaven on Earth: The Universe of Kerala's Guruvayur Temple.Kerala: Niyogi Books.ISBN9789381523278.
The Divine Frenzy – Hindu Myths and Rituals of Keralais an account of the spiritual and practical relationship of the people of Kerala with the deities. It attempts to depict, with text and images, the various rituals associated with Hinduism in Kerala.[10]
- Pepita Seth (March 2001).The Divine Frenzy – Hindu Myths and Rituals of Kerala.United Kingdom: Westzone Publishing. p. 208.ISBN978-1-903391-14-3.
Pepita Seth has written extensively about Kerala, its rituals and its elephants.[4][5][6]She is working on a book onTheyyam,a ritualistic dance form of Kerala.[8]
- Pepita Seth (3 March 2014)."One Mirroring the Other".Web article.Lila Interactions.Retrieved22 August2014.
Pepita Seth has written a novel The Edge of Another World (2015) Published by The Speaking Tiger in English and soon to be translated to Malayalam and published by Poorna Publications.
Awards and recognitions
[edit]In recognition of her services to the fields of art and culture, theGovernment of India,in 2012, bestowed the civilian award ofPadma Shrion her.[1][2]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Padma".Government of India. 25 January 2011.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^ab"President confers Padma Awards".The India Awaaz. 23 March 2012.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^abcGeetha Venkitaraman (10 February 2012)."Crowning glory".The Hindu.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^abc"Lila Interactions Article".Lila Interactions. 3 March 2014.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^abPenguin Books (2006).The Penguin Book of New Writing from India, Volume 2.Delhi: Penguin India. pp. 134 of 308.ISBN9780144001071.
- ^abcde"Marunadan Malayalee".Marunadan Malayalee. 29 January 2012.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^ab"From the Blurb".The Hindu.7 December 2008.Retrieved23 August2014.
- ^abcde"Heaven on Earth".The Hindu.2013.Retrieved23 August2014.
- ^"Roshan Seth".Veethi. 2014.Retrieved22 August2014.
- ^"The Divine Frenzy".Westzone. 2001.Retrieved23 August2014.
External links
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