Of gossip and air kisses

A scion of the Dalmiya family, 24-year-old, Himani Dalmiya, granddaughter of pioneering industrialist R K Dalmiya has indeed taken a bold step.

The Oxford graduate has written a book (Life Is Perfect) that holds a mirror to many of the ‘imperfections’ that prevail among the high society crowd of Central Delhi.

Himani is candid enough to confess, “Living life on the other side of the fence can often make you see life with rose-tinted glasses. Life seems perfect in many ways when you have money, luxury and the best of things at your disposal.”

Himani lifts the curtains on the superficialities that come hand-in-hand with society people who often become the victims of the pg.3 culture. While Himani herself is part of the willy-nilly that comes with the ‘tag,’ she tries to construe the dual-persona syndrome that socialites suffer from. She explains, “All the attention you get makes you want to package yourself differently. It is impossible to be yourself!”

Very much a part of the crowd that she bares unpleasant truths about, Himani chooses to interpret Delhi society life in her own terms, “Delhi society has a unique relationship with power. It is an extremely political city and it reflects in all the rich and the famous. When the who’s-who get together at dinners or parties, there is always an effort to out-do the other.”

With the traditional system of joint families, was it difficult at all to pursue her own dreams rather than the usual course of joining the family business? After a brief pause, Himani goes into a contemplative mode, “Being born among high society families nudges you into an ‘indulgent’ mode. You have all the time and money, have the means to travel and I decided to make the most of it.” Though Himani has been a part of the family business for two years, she always felt the need to try something different. She says, “Though I am who I am, I still prefer to climb the success ladder by myself.”