Vikram Seth stumbles in emotional tribute to mother

New Delhi: Recalling his mother's life, left author Vikram Seth in tears on Tuesday at a memorial held for Justice Leila Seth, in what was a befitting tribute to a woman whose life and values continue to inspire people. The novelist was so emotionally overwhelmed, he was unable to read  from the 1990 collection, 'All you who sleep tonight', the poem he had dedicated to her. He choked as he read out the first line of the poem, and as he tried to regain his composure, choked again, and was soon reduced to tears. The poem was finally recited by his younger brother Shantum.

Seth was the first woman chief justice of a high court in the country. The eminent jurist, was one of three members of the Justice Verma Committee, constituted after the December 16, 2012 gang rape in Delhi that recommended amendments for quicker trials and enhanced punishments for rapists.