Creativity in every sense is her forte

By Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

[email protected]

‘Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort’ and so it has been for vivacious and spirited Indian fashion icon, reputed journalist and author; an incredible feminine persona whose stride of six decades and six children are contemporaneous with India’s 60th Independence.

In Colombo last week, having been invited to showcase her collection at the prestigious ‘Colombo Vogue Lifestyles Weekend’; the attractive and effervescent internationally acclaimed Shobaa De made a strikingly impressive appearance giving her aficionados a chance to view her spectacular niche line of ‘Cocktail sarees and her newest, ‘Queen of the Nile’ collection: customary attire closest to the heart of most Asian women.

The extravaganza held the audience spellbound while dynamic Shobaa De’s debut appearance kept them even more enthraled establishing that age is no barrier as she signed mementos and posed for photographs at the Galadari Hotel.

The Colombo Vogue Lifestyles Weekend’ was held in collaboration with The Sri Lanka Tourism Board (SLTB) and the Rotary Club of Colombo Regency to showcase to the world Sri Lanka’s appreciation of talent, beauty and virtuosity in music with a view to promoting destination Sri Lanka to tourists; an experience with a difference while promoting the Rotary’s Green Cover’ project under Sri Lanka tourism’s Earth Lung, to establish a Carbon Clean Sri Lanka: an initiative to plant 10 million trees within the next five years to add allure to destination Sri Lanka.

Shobaa De’s fashions together with other eminent designers Sathya Paul, Rana Gill, Bibi Russell, Hermant Sagar, Natalie Ozier and Noemie Dieudonne took the ramp showcasing diverse segments of designer wear taking fashion to its global echelons while reigning Miss India for Miss World, Miss India for Miss Earth, Miss Israel, Miss Netherlands and Bollywood star and former Miss India Neha Dupia were among the celebrities to grace the event: an endeavour for the world to see Colombo also as a fashion hub of vibrant people pursuing a passion for beauty, culture and conservation; a land like no other.

With much focus was on Shobaa De and her explicit saree collection, the much awaited superstar herself very promptly obliged to give Sunday Observer an interview.

A delighted encounter it was with a woman of so much creativity who dared to be different; right from the inception of her journalistic career having embarked on incisive subjects from politics, to economy, business and commerce to intensely candid writings on life and romance: a cliche of many personal experiences as in some of her work ‘Spouse’, ‘The Truth About Marriage’, ‘Starry Nights’, ‘Second Thoughts’ and many others which authenticates her ingenuousness as a journalist who trusted in her passion and her instincts and had a factual relationship with her creativity and took time and care to cultivate her potential: a socialite of much integrity.

Her column ‘Stardust’ was one with a tremendous impact which perhaps contributed to her progress into contemporary and constructive criticism which sustained her resonance, voice and charisma as a woman with an ability to work beyond barriers. Her appointment as an Editor at the age of 23 and an internationally acclaimed readership today with even the universities using her work as course material substantiates this fact.

Unpretentiously she says there are over hundred doctorate thesis’ and dissertations on her work which are available in libraries around the world.’ I am dogmatic and guileless and I will not change. That is how I am’ Shobaa expresses as she continues to make the best of her passion and innate talent; writing intensely.

Her fiftieth book ‘Superstar India’ distributed by Gardner Books was released at Vijitha Yapa Bookshoop, Crescat Boulevard last Sunday. However, this is a departure from all her other work.

It is compassion, a confession and trajectory of India’s sixty years of Independence with the truism of her life against the backdrop of the changing times and life of the people of India; its historical glories and failings and how Indians seek greener pastures in the west while fighting hard to cling irrationally to tradition.

But at the same time Shobaa De attempts to convince the reader that India is not about to lose its glow. She answers the question ‘Does India really deserve to congratulate itself? An interesting piece of reading by the Indian born superstar in Mumbai.

Books apart, yet amazingly agile, Shobaa the extrovert at sixty looks stunningly beautiful and says the answer is ‘eat smart and live smart. Frankly, I do not have time to exercise but this is basically what I adopt’.

Not withstanding her numerous role models and complacency, Shobaa De during her thirty five year journalistic career has authored fifteen books; the last seven being non fiction titles.

An avid traveller, Shobaa loves music, dancing and travel writing. ‘Travelling to China in particular was an eye opener. China is huge and fascinating. My husband Dilip is very supportive, which makes life much easier’: a vital component of her success story with one of her daughters following in her footsteps: she is an accomplished fashion editor of the ‘Hello’ magazine.

Speaking of the talent and creativity of Sri Lankan designers and up market designer wear she said that she had seen much creativity at Barefoot Gallery in particular, a promoter of locally designed fabric in women’s and men’s wear and all household items, popular for its kaleidoscope of colours.

‘The craft skills in Sri Lanka too are very sophisticated and of a very high standard.’ Being contented with the outcome of the Colombo Vogue Lifestyles Weekend’ Shobaa De is bent on showcasing her work at next year’s Colombo Fashion Week too: Sri Lanka has much to offer, she says.