My French Sojourn in Mumbai
Image Credit - IF India
S-Thala
The Mumbai edition of Bonjour India was launched with S-Thala, a poetic elegy to Marguerite Duras by Annette Leday. The artistic composition was a magical union of written word, spoken expressions and graceful gestures of ballet. The performance moulded a complete human figurine of Marguerite Duras, in a bold, bare and honest version.
Host of the soiree was His Excellency Monsieur Jean-Marc Sere-Charlet, Consul General of France in Mumbai and former deputy head of mission at French Embassy, New Delhi. Through the immeasurable courtesy of Mr Sere-Charlet, the guests were treated with a delicious reception of wine and cheese. The soiree blossomed into a beautiful oasis for connoisseurs of joie de vivre and paramours of savoir fair post a long-drawn lonely dessert of covid imposed lockdown. People realized what is was to meet someone for the first time, and form an encounter that compounds into a set of unforgettable conversations.
Other notable guests were Legion D’Honour Award winner Sheryn Mulla, Stephane Doutrelant (Director of Alliance Francaise Bombay), Phillipe, (Attache for Co-operation in French Language for 10 years) Deputy Consul General Sami Boukaze, Prash Palanimalai (Current Attache for Co-operation in French Language) and Manon (Attache De Presse of French Consulate) among others from Bombay Accueil Community.
This evening was a perfect milestone for my everlasting love story with France.
Belgian Rhapsody
The next stop was the iconic Belgian Rhapsody hosted by His Excellency Pierre Emmanuel Brusselman, the then Consul General of Belgium. The master performer Max Vandervorst solo-orchestrated a medley of sound frequencies emanated by glass instruments. The sonic penchant was accompanied by chirpy cheers of tiny tots bubbling with absolute enthusiasm. The hall was jam packed while the community of audience was very global. Many were parents of French International School including my friend Aurelija Dirgeliene who juggles her life between Mumbai and Lithuania. I also met a beautiful Moroccan lady blessed with charming curls and a warm smile. In the end, I couldn’t resist taking down autograph of Master Artist who wrote a kind note in French on a post card.
While the performer was terrific, most of my impressions remain with Mr Brusselman who in one of the later programmes, introduced me to his beautiful wife and daughters who resembled Disney fairies. His wife now residing in Spain through their latest posting, lived in Mumbai as a dedicated volunteer and a best friend to many of her Indian well-wishers. Their beautiful Belgian family helped me learn more about one of the most vivacious cultures on Europe producing world class quality chocolates and home to massive innovations in information-technology. In fact, many successful Indian engineers working in creamy jobs, owe their initial training to Belgian companies.
Romaine & Co.
Then the iterinery carried me back to G5A Foundation where I witnessed an electrifying ensemble Annalemma by Romain and Co. The visual spectacle involving bright light effects, echoing sound, was anchored by complex aerobic movements by trained artists and meditation practitioners who trace their roots to Auroville in Pondicherry: former colony of French settlers now famous as “Little France,” visited by ample tourists for its croissants, quaint streets, colorful decorative homes and the Kochi Biennale.
In this programme, I enjoyed bonding with Mrs Minh Doutrelant, a fashion designer and French speaking Vietnamese ex-pat accompanying her family through their cultural soujourn in Mumbai. Mrs Doutrelant kindly introduced me to one of her Vietnamese friends who is married to an Indian man. We discussed about India’s one and only Chinese temple while Minh promised to teach me more about little nuances of East Asian countries. I also shared a beautiful rendezvous with Mr Olivier Fudym (Attache for Scientific Co-operation at Institut Francaise).
Prithvi Theatre
Afterwards it was my turn to visit Prithvi Theatre for Strings Together by Shahnawaz Ahmed, Shahbaaz Khan, Cherif Soumano. The auditorium was jam-packed. We were warmly welcomed by H.E. Mr. Jean Marc Sere Charlet and Mr. Stephane Doutrelant who stood by the French ideals of attention to detail and top-notch hospitality by waiting at the door till all the guests received their respective seats. The hall then resonated with enigmatic fusion of classical Indo-Western music played with a mix of instruments as harmonium, table, flute and guitar. The symphony was so elevating, every member of the audience was lost in an inescapable transcendence for a whole one hundred and twenty minutes. The mesmerizing presentation purely revolved around the assembly of instruments. No vocals. Yet the artists were able to strike chords of heart and stir strings of Soul with smoothness.
Blanka Li
The final stop was Blanka Li at the Royal Opera House Mumbai. The crème de la crème of mega city Mumbai was star struck, as all eyes were hinged on the mesmerizing costumes, elaborate make-up and jaw dropping moves of the dance troupe Blanka Li, who are running a sell-out world tour. The event saw Alessandro Giuliani, British Deputy High Commissioner Alan Gemmell, Consul General of Italy Alessandro De Massi and his lovely wife and also was famous designer Vaishali Shadangule in attendance among a bunch of who’s who of arts field who were treated with exquisite French cocktails through the courtesy of H.E. Jean Marc Sere Charlet Consul General of France accompanied by Stephane Doutrelant of Alliance Fraincaise and rest of the dignitaries of French Consulate. A prime highlight involves my rendezvous with Mr Fabrice. He is taking care of French speaking ex-pats from France, Belgium and Canada as a part of Bombay Accuiel initiative.
Nunataq (Dharavi)
It’s worth remembering that Bonjour India also paid a tribute to contrasting shades of Mumbai by organizing a gully rap performance in the inner most nook of Dharavi: the epicenter of Mumbai’s working class.
Science Beyond Borders
As I write, Bonjour India is about to conclude with a final surprise that is Science Beyond Borders. The exhibition explores juxtaposition of science and people-to-people friendships.
It is astonishing to learn that India and France’s collaboration in the sectors of science and technology goes as far back as 1963. In this context, Science Beyond Borders sprouts at a transformative junction of time and space, where there remains an infinite scope for imagination and the incubation of ideas. For instance, our shared history of collaboration in mathematics, medicine, nuclear science, biodiversity, aviation, physics, visual analytics, locomotives, cartography, space show the world that when geographical boundaries are overcome, possibilities are limitless.
The exhibition is an effective way of making science more user-friendly and inclusive. The tour is also a great way to master fluency in French culture while learning about evolution of scientific temperament at the crossroads of Indian and French history.
The concept is so unique and fun, that the respective venues have irrevocably attracted quality visitors, at least one of whom is bound to travel to France and do research in the field of science.
Science Beyond Borders proved that there are no borders between science and the masses. That, mathematics, biology, and chemistry also has a sparkling story with human characters, exotic locations, dialogues and props i.e., scientific tools and inventions.
As I continue to further immerse myself in the enigma of France, I am excited to pick up pieces of its cultural repository in the form of books that are wealthy in life-changing perspectives, cinema that is rich in poignancy, food that is blessed with celebration and the fine wine that can drench you in never ending vortex of philosophy!
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