Vanita Mehta

"If tears could create a river to heaven, I'd float by to wish you a happy birthday"

Close now thine eyes and rest secure; Thy soul is safe enough, thy body sure; He that loves thee, He that keeps And guards thee, never slumbers, never sleeps. The smiling conscience in a sleeping breast Has only peace, has only rest; The music and the mirth of kings Are all but very discords, when she sings; Then close thine eyes and rest secure; No sleep so sweet as thine, no rest so sure. — Francis Quarles I am still finding it hard to reconcile to the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Vanita Mehta. It was an honour and a privilege to work closely with Vanita for almost a decade. When I think of Vanita, I think of her with gratitude: I am grateful for her beautiful smile. I am grateful for her heart of pure gold. I am grateful that she was not just a wonderful colleague but also a wonderful friend. I am grateful for all the ups and downs we shared in our careers. I am grateful for her unflinching support in all matters related to the work we did. I am grateful that I saw her in a saree on every Thursday of the week, for many years and that she became the inspiration for a collective movement called “Saree Thursday”. I am grateful to Vanita for being my inspiration for wearing sarees. I know I speak for many of us standing here today when I say, Vanita has left a gap that will be hard to fill. Rest in peace, dear Vanita! You will live in so many hearts forever.

I knew Vanita since she joined the Appeals Unit in 1999. Always graceful, with a pleasant personality, friendly smile, and the mesmerizing way she carried herself in a sari. Even if Vanita didn't know you and you happened to meet her in the corridor, and exchanged smiles, she would always be the one to go a step further and ask you how you were doing. One of the many evidences a person leaves behind about their character, legacy and identity, is their family – their partner and children. I’m sure all of us are highly appreciative of the achievements that Vanita’s children Damini, Mishti and Rohit have made, and that is in itself indicative of the awesome upbringing that Vanita and her spouse Rakesh have given them. Vanita carried herself very well during her last days. We were praying and hopeful that she would recover and come back to office soon. We did get to see her back in office for a short time. Unfortunately, that happy situation could not continue as it seems that Fate had other plans. I want to end with a couple of quotes. The first one is by the Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami: “Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.” The second is by George Eliot, the English author: “Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them.” Vanita: We shall remember you for a long time to come.

The word "gracious" is the first one that comes to mind in remembering Vanita. She always had a glimmer of a smile, a warm gaze, and a kind word. We are so very sorry to hear she had been ill and is no more -- surely a star shines brighter because of her presence in the universe. Sadly no longer with us at the High Commission, we can only imagine how bereft her family is without her. Rest peacefully, dear Vanita. You are very much cherished and missed.

Very shocked to hear this news. Vanita was such a beautiful, polite and positive person. The pride with which she shared her family’s accomplishments, was so heartwarming. May her soul rest in peace. I pray for strength to her family to bear this irreparable loss.

My deepest sympathies to Vanita’s family. I first met Vanity on my 1st time in Delhi in 2011. I was impressed her good spirits, her infectious smile and the elegance of her colorful saris. When I returned to Delhi in March 2022, she was so welcoming. She was very proud and joyful to share photos of her newborn grand-daughter. She was so proud of her now grown up children. Her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Vanita was a very special person who will be deeply missed. Blair and I were very lucky to have known her for over 20 years. She was always serene, smiling and gracious to everyone. Vanita was a cherished member of the HCC team, and was so very proud of her own family and their accomplishments. May it offer some comfort to know that many people around the world share in this tragic loss.

Very shocking news. My deepest condolences to Vanita's family.