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print versionSAHMAT
8, Vithalbhai Patel House, Rafi Marg
New Delhi-110001
Telephone-23711276/ 23351424
e-mail: sahmat@vsnl.com
29.11.2008
The SAHMAT family is deeply shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of Sabina Sehgal Saikia in the horrible attack on the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. While the scale of the loss of lives and injuries is numbing, Sabina’s loss is more personal for the arts community, of which she was such a vibrant member.
A steadfast supporter of SAHMAT, Sabina was a driving force and inspiration behind the Artists Against Communalism events in Delhi in 1991 and in Shivaji Park in Mumbai in 1992. She travelled with us to the cities where the Anhad Garje – SAHMAT’s Sufi-Bhakti programme was held in the immediate aftermath of the Babri Masjid Demolition in January – March 1993. Mukt-Naad in Ayodhya in 1993 which was held under very difficult circumstances, was another event where some of the greatest classical musicians and dancers of India performed in defence of our secualr traditions, almost all under Sabina’s initiative. None could refuse Sabina, she was such a beloved enthusiast of all these artists.
Sabina was the founder secretary of SpicMacay and learnt classical music with Ustad’s Zahiruddin Dagar and Faiyazuddin Dagar. As a journalist with the Times of India, Sabina was closely involved with the arts initiatives of the newspaper too. Later, her interest in food led her to become a leading writer on food and cuisine, and she only recently released her cookbook of rice recipes from all over India.
We express our deepest condolences to her family. She will be sorely missed, but the memory of her lively personality will live in our hearts.
SAHMAT
