My Obituary

This is to announce the death of Ms. Sonali Sokhal, at age 45; in her stately mansion in Eros Garden, Charmwood Village, Faridabad. The cause of death, though still to be ascertained seems to be the result of ‘mindless consumerism’.

The founder of the Shopaholics Club Anonymous and lifetime shopping achievement award winner from both 1 MG and 2 MG road, Sonali Sokhal also held a job as a half-hearted PR consultant. The author of the ‘Ragpickers guide to a Galaxy of Shopping’, Sonali Sokhal, achieved instant stardom and fame with her one day makeover sessions and the Shopping Olympiad.

A true pioneer of the consumer spirit in India, Sonali Sokhal was one of those rare dazzling human beings who made a lifetime’s vocation out of a secret passion and hobby. Though this rare and exuberant side of the deceased did not manifest itself in the early years of her life, Sonali showed an inclination towards consumerism with her initial professional experience. A freelance journalist and columnist, Sonali was among the quirky young professionals, to throw aside the pen for the computer, a sari and diligent status reports, when she joined an upcoming lifestyle boutique PR agency. This could really be called the beginning of the journey for the pioneering spirit, where she received the right exposure to fame, glamour and money and how to run after them, even if none were really hers.

The pinnacle of her success came when a motley group of grateful friends encouraged her to author her first book, and the DT Mall in Gurgaon hired her services as a part time guide for hard-core shopping expeditions. This was the start of a stellar career. The first Shopping Olympiad held at the Regal Mall at Vasant Kunj, in 2007, was the hallmark of a brilliant start with close to 805 shoppers spending close to Rs.5 crore in a two day shopping extravaganza.

Known for her well co-ordinated look, and her favourite matching bags and shoes, Ms. Sokhal was truly an inspiration to the new generation of high spenders and consumers. Brand India was taken to leaps and bounds of spending power thanks to tireless efforts of Ms. Sokhal.

The last six months of her life were plagued by ill health, as Ms. Sokhal had started suffering from severe respiratory problems, due to an allergy to packaging paper. Her knees had also given way, thanks to the countless up and down walks in malls, and an incident of inadequate product variants at a duty free shop in Dubai, had been a personal setback for this giant shopper.

A small diminutive woman, the smart click of Ms. Sokhal’s latest pair of heels had been known to strike both terror and extreme joy in the hearts of store mangers. A regular lecturer at the Indian School of Retail, Ms. Sokhal was certainly looking to scale new heights in the Shopping industry. Her many wardrobes have been put on exhibition and will be thereafter placed on sale by well-meaning friends and relatives. Her shoes will be buried with her, as per the dying lady’s last request.

Ms. Sokhal was married and is survived by son, Aryaman Raj, who at the tender age of 18, is already a big name in the rock music scene of the country.