Leela Sekhar, aged 93, well-known music and dance aficionado of Chennai, passed away on January 18 close to midnight. Daughter of freedom fighter and Congress worker S. Manjubhashini, Leela Sekhar was introduced to Mahatma Gandhi at a young age and has served at his ashram in Gujarat on a couple of occassions. Conversations with her were peppered with references to the time she spent there and learning from him, say her friends and family.
Leela Sekhar has promoted the arts and culture in Chennai city for many years and encouraged many a young talent, most of whom are noted dancers and musicians world over today. She was the founder president of the India chapter of International Dance Alliance (IDA), vice president of Bharat Scouts and Guides and has been associated with many initiatives, both cultural and social, such as Bala Mandir, which was started by her mother. She was a lover of art and a talented painter, expert at cooking and health-related home remedies.
She is survived by her son P. C. Ramakrishna, well-known theatre artist and a popular MC at city events and his wife Hyma, daughter Uma Ganesan, and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Her family can be contacted at 24358825 / 9840080697 or at D13, Aashiana Apartments, 9 Venus Colony, 2nd Cross Street, Alwarpet.
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Ranging from being a name to be respected, be weary of and to be inspired by, mami has always been synonymous with the dance field. Her vision manifested in the polular IDA festival which is a benchmark in the annual dance calendar. Beyond anything , mami was a strong yet caring, kind individual who could engage across generations. She was an inspiring role model and an icon of a generation now gone. May her soul rest in peace and the family find strength in her values that she inspired.