Sheela Verma

On September 7, 2024, Sheela Verma passed away peacefully at her home in Columbus, Ohio, surrounded by family. An avid educator, loving wife, beloved grandmother, aunt to nephews and nieces around the world, mentor to many students and friend to countless people, she was a woman who lit up the world with her heartfelt laugh and the witty turn of an apt phrase.

Sheela was born in Gaya, Bihar, India, in 1932, the youngest child of an illustrious and large family. Her father, Ishwari Nandan Prasad, was a renowned advocate and a founder of the Theosophical Society in Bihar. Her highly educated mother, Kamal Kamini Prasad, was the first female college graduate in the entire state of Bihar, and she founded one of the first schools for young women in Bihar. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Sheela attended Patna Women’s College, graduating with a Masters in English.

She married Prof. Manindra K. Verma in 1956. They were blessed with two children, Sunjay and Mona. She then joined her husband to continue with graduate coursework in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While dedicating her life to teaching, she also completed her Ph.D. As she worked to become a successful author, she also focused on building an enriching life for her family in Madison, WI. She created and continued to nurture deep connections with her circle of dear friends and colleagues.

In addition to other research, she wrote several textbooks to help students understand the syntax and structure of South Asian languages. These textbooks were used around the world. Her work was greatly influenced by her experiences growing up in India and her ability to speak and understand a variety of languages. Her final book was on the culture and role of folklore in the Magahi-speaking regions of India. She maintained a very special relationship with her students, many of whom continued to seek her out after her retirement.

Sheela took great pleasure in music, food, friends and family. She had studied classical Indian music through much of her youth and early adulthood, and continued to perform throughout her life in informal gatherings. Music had always been an important part of her life. Sheela also thoroughly enjoyed entertaining and cooking for others. She was known for a creative use of spices in her dishes. She loved to showcase new recipes that she invented through trial and error. Her grandchildren were especially fond of her Nani Puri, flaky samosas and Nizam Rolls. She loved to travel the world (in style). She also loved fashion and acquired an extensive collection of saris, salwar kameez, dresses and jackets from across the world.

Sheela was adored by her family and friends, and frankly, all that knew her. She will be greatly missed by all of them. She is survived by her son Sunjay, daughter Mona, daughter-in-law Pinki, son-in-law Anil Makhija, and grandchildren Nishant Makhija, Nikhil Makhija, Sarina Verma and Anika Verma. She leaves cherished family and friends throughout India, Europe and the United States.

In addition to her parents, Sheela was preceded in death by her husband and soulmate, Manindra Verma.