Civics lessons from Vikram Seth’s mother

Civics lessons may never be the same again if all schools adopt Justice Leila Seth’s We, the Children of India: The Preamble to Our Constitution as a reference resource, or so the author hopes.

The book aims to demystify the Preamble and make it more accessible to children while retaining and expanding its core values.

Seth, who is in the city today to talk about her book and to preside at an event organised by the NGO Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA), was prompted to write this book after a conversation with her eight-year-old granddaughter. “I was trying to tell her something about what it means to be a citizen of India when she asked me what a citizen meant,” says the author, mother of celebrated writer Vikram Seth, Buddhist teacher Shantum Seth and filmmaker Aradhana Seth.

Seth, India’s first woman Chief Justice of a state, last ventured into writing when she penned her autobiography On Balance, which was published in 2003. The Hindi translation of this popular autobiography, titled Ghar Aur Adalat, was recently released by publishers Penguin. 

“I thought writing this book would be easy, but once I got down to it I realised how tough it is to explain to children the meaning of concepts such as justice, equality and fraternity,” says Seth. “I had to explain them in very simple words while making sure the meaning or importance doesn’t get diluted.”

Explaining how she did her research for this book, Seth says she spoke to students ranging between the ages of six and 10 and borrowed many ideas from them. Seth also maintains that the book’s appeal has been enhanced by artist Bindia Thapar’s rich and colourful illustrations, which she believes will make it attractive to all children.

Why is knowing and understanding the Preamble important? Seth feels, “If every child in India knows the essence of the Preamble and follows it to some extent, we will have a better country. They need to inculcate these ideas for us to finally do something about some of our ills like corruption and communalism.”

Seth feels while it may be too late to change adults’ minds, we need to start with our children. “Children sometimes convert adults too. For instance, one of my grandchildren pointed out to me that it was wasteful of me to use the shower; to save water, I should use a bucket and that’s what I do now,” says Seth with a hint of pride in her voice. 

Being referred to as ‘Vikram Seth’s mother’ is not something that bothers her, she says. “I am immensely proud of all my three children, and of my husband who has always given me great encouragement and strength,” says the former chief justice.

Leila Seth will talk about the book today at 6.00 pm at Crossword, Mass Complex, Site No 74, Sarakki Industrial Area, 15th Cross JP Nagar