Kamal Ghorui
Some people visit a place, click a few photos, and move on. Others land somewhere and quietly realise, “Yeah… this feels like home.” Pepita Seth is very much in the second category.Born and brought up in the UK, Pepita came to India years ago with nothing more than curiosity and a sense of adventure. She didn’t arrive with a plan to settle down. But somewhere along her travels, Kerala got under her skin — the people, the traditions, the colours, the everyday life. What started as a trip slowly turned into a lifelong love story. More than 50 years later, at 84, she’s officially become an Indian citizen – a moment many in Kerala feel was long overdue.Pepita has lived in the state for decades, mostly in Thrissur, which she now calls home in every sense of the word. She applied for Indian citizenship in 2024, and in February 2026, she was finally handed her naturalisation certificate by District Collector Arjun Pandian. He called the moment rare and meaningful, especially given how much she’s done to take Kerala’s culture to the world.For Pepita, this wasn’t just paperwork. Becoming Indian was a long-time wish. People in Kerala lovingly call her the state’s “adopted daughter”, and honestly, it fits. She didn’t just live here – she became part of the place.Her connection to Kerala goes way beyond being a tourist. Over the years, she travelled across the state, watching Kathakali, experiencing Theyyam in north Kerala, attending temple festivals, melams, and all the beautiful chaos that comes with them. Slowly, she began documenting what she saw – through photographs and writing. Elephants at festivals, sacred groves, rituals, everyday moments – she captured it all with genuine curiosity and care.Some of her photographs gained attention far beyond India, and her work on Theyyam (also known as Kaliyattam) helped introduce this powerful ritual tradition to people around the world. In 2012, she was honoured with the Padma Shri for her contribution to art and culture.What’s lovely is that her bond with India began even before she visited – sparked by her grandfather’s diary from his time in the British Army. That small window into India grew into a lifetime of work celebrating Kerala’s traditions.Now, with her Indian citizenship finally official, it feels like a full-circle moment. After spending most of her life calling Kerala home in her heart, the country has finally said, “You belong here.”
