Pepita Seth | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | Suffolk, England |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, photographer |
| Spouse | Roshan Seth (div. 2004) |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Pepita Seth is a British-born writer and photographer. Her photography features the temple arts and rituals ofKerala and the captive elephant,Guruvayur Keshavan. TheGovernment of India honoured her, in 2012, with thePadma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her services to the field of art and culture.[1][2]
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 Kotcheff andStanley Donen.
"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]
Seth's life took a turn when she chanced upon the diary of her grandfather and decided to trace his trails with theBritish Army and 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 Board to relent and she remains the only foreigner to be granted entry to the Temple.[4][8]
She was married to the Indian born British actorRoshan Seth but was estranged from her husband in the late 80s. The couple formally divorced in 2004.[9]
Seth has extensively covered the rituals and temples of Kerala through her photographs. Her photographs of the elephant,Guruvayur Keshavan have been published in many magazines and journals including theNew York Times and 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]
Seth lives in Guruvayur.[8]
Seth'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.
Seth has authored two books on Kerala, with accounts and photographs.
Heaven on Earth: The Universe of Kerala’s Guruvayur Temple is a research study on theGuruvayur Temple and 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 photographs style 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]
The Divine Frenzy – Hindu Myths and Rituals of Kerala is 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]
Seth has written about Kerala, its rituals and its elephants.[4][5][6] She is working on a book onTheyyam, a ritualistic dance form of Kerala.[8]
Seth has written a novel The Edge of Another World (2015) Published by The Speaking Tiger in English and to be translated to Malayalam and published by Poorna Publications.[citation needed]
In recognition of her services to the fields of art and culture, theGovernment of India, in 2012, bestowed the civilian award ofPadma Shri on her.[1][2]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
