Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan was one of the most distinguished personalities and unparalleled scholars of our times. Of course, much has been written and published about her scholarship and wisdom; nevertheless I take the liberty of sharing a few thoughts about her since I have known her for over six decades.

I first met Kapila ji while she was still an under-secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Culture in New Delhi in 1958-59. This was the time when I was awarded that prestigious Government of India scholarship by the Ministry of Culture, New Delhi. I was 14 years old then. She had signed in the correspondence and the certificate. I was later given to understand that my scholarship award was challenged. The reason was that I was pursuing my schooling while training to become a Bharatanatyam artist. It was mandated that only students from traditional families were eligible for such scholarships. However, my scholarship was upheld and I was awarded the same as a special case. Kapila ji continued to keep in touch with me even after my marriage in 1965. She used to visit us in Chennai and has also stayed with us. She made it a point to get me butter (in the mud-pot) prasadam from Dwaraka whenever she went to the temple. She was a spiritual person and we have travelled to Kancheepuram to pay obeisance at the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

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