Impressions June 2011-117

Le magazine de l’Alliance Française de Bombay

No. 117 June/ Aug 11

Sommaire/Contents 62

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Directrice de la publication Anne DUBOURG

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OF PARTNERING WITH

Rédactrice en chef Clea CHAKRAVERTY

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Editorial Once more, the rains are coming to town… But this time, enjoy it fully indoors and outdoors with Alliance Française de Bombay special workshops called “Monsoon Projects” during July and August.

This quarterly, discover how the French are involved in the Indian economy: projects and initiatives seem to be booming. Last but not least, our regular readers would have noticed a slight change in their magazine: Impressions has evolved to become easier to read, more dynamic, and a bit longer, with 64 pages. Happy rains and see you in September!

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Retour Sur European Cinema

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Discovery Work out in France!

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On y était The Francophonie Week

AF du Monde 26 Alliance Française de Durban

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Rencontre avec…

Betty Argo

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Books The black book Voix d’hier : Maurice Leblanc De vive voix…Fred Vargas Notes de lecture

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Français en marche Actualités Des ateliers pour tous Français à Vivre

Campus France

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CINEMA Priceless Dvd Reviews

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Watch (Out) Fête de la musique Actualités

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France en Bref Holidays for all

Regards croisés 56 L’Association East-West

Illustration et photographie David CORDINA, Jean-Paul DULAU, Victoire GUENA, Gaëlle JOLY, Aykut TUGTEPE, ATOUT France, Consulat général de France Mumbai, MAEE, AF de Durban Ont collaboré à ce numéro Sumitra BADRINATHAN, David CORDINA, Sarah DOIGNON, Anne DUBOURG, Archana JAYAKUMAR, Gaëlle JOLY, Campus France Remerciements Déborah BENATTAR, Sarah DOIGNON- AF de Durban, Babu KARANI- Association EastWest, Consulat général de France à Mumbai, ATOUT France, Sébastien ANDRIEUX, Patrick MANON –UBIFRANCE Inde, Tirage 2500 ex

France Pratique 58 Sustainable Tourism

Buzz 59 Arrivées-départs

Calendar

FRENCH CORNER 62 Sophie Choudry

28-47 COVER STORY: The ECONOMY issue There are currently 750 French business establishments in India, and they generated 180,000 employments in 2010 including 52% of qualified jobs. Let’s have a closer look at those companies and entrepreneurs who “tried India”. Some are real barons, holding their grounds, pioneers in their fields, the “avant-gardistes” (P30) they often have been in India for many years. Others are “New wave” professionals, penetrating difficult sectors (P36), their success is marked by new stores opening, a broader spectrum of clients and recognition as major players. Last but not least, the French who love to have the last word when it comes to savoir-vivre prove that they can be as bold as they are beautiful as new realists (P40) with a series of unexpected and foreseeing initiatives. For our business-minded readers, check out the experts corner (P45).

2 Impressions June-Aug 2011

Maquette Neaha Nagpal, Yogesh Jadhav - Spenta Multimedia Impression Spenta Multimedia Traductions, Neha KUNTE, Sanjeev PRABHUDESAI

ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE BOMBAY http://bombay.afindia.org contact: mag.mumbai@afindia.org Theosophy Hall 40, New Marine Lines, Mumbai 400020 Tel: (91-22) 22 03 59 93 / (91-22) 22 03 61 87 Fax: (91-22) 22 06 61 57

June-Aug 2011 Impressions

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Retour Sur..

Retour Sur..

European Cinema

Ananda Devi met with students of French of Alliance Française de Bombay and in the Cercle littéraire Dinshaw Petit in Kala Ghoda, long term partner of the Alliance Française de Bombay.

Benoît-Jean Bernard, director of Québec office in Mumbai in conversation with Dominique Frin, linguistic attachée at the Consulate general of France in Mumbai.

Eve-Marie Gravier with guests at the cocktail.

The film presented by France at the European film festival was Copacabana, by Marc Fitoussi.

Gaëlle Joly and Ariane Ludinard attending the cocktail after the closure of the European film festival that took place last April at the Alliance Française de Bombay.

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Early March, pop-electro and rock musicians Wax Tailor and Fortune were grooving the Blue Frog.

A couple of weeks later started the Semaine de la Francophonie with distinguished guest of Alliance Française de Bombay and author Ananda Devi.

Two hundreds persons gathered to enjoy the performance of Mathieu Regnault in the Godrej Theater, NCPA, for the screening of the silent film Le Lion des Mogols by Jean Epstein. This Ciné-concert was a première in Mumbai.

Organized by Alliance Française de Bombay, in partnership with NCPA, Cinémathèque française and the Fonds Culturel Franco-Américain, the success of this event encouraged us in planning more rendez-vous.

June-Aug 2011 Impressions

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On y Était

On y Était

The Francophonie Week Danyel Waro, maloya singer and militant, changed the atmosphere during the special evening dedicated to the Reunion Island at Novotel Juhu. Accompanied by his musicians, he performed unexpectedly a beautiful maloya number, and brought the guests to dance. Also part of the evening was the exhibition by artist Stefan Barniche and the special dinner conceived by chef Franck Bayard both from the Reunion Island.

Gaëlle Joly, Sheryn Mulla, Franck Bayard and Anne Dubourg, Director AF de Bombay

The cozy corner at Novotel

Guests and Alliance Française students enjoying the evening at Novotel, Juhu

Sébastien Andrieux, Ubifrance, Sujata Patil, Fratelli Wines and Anne Dubourg

Blue Frog

Xavier Cappelut (right), Director of Novotel, Juhu with guests

Danyel Waro performing at Blue Frog

Danyel Waro performing impromtu maloya dance and song at the Novotel

A delicate buffet from the Island 6 Impressions June-Aug 2011

Sheryn Mulla, AF de Bombay, Nicolas Poussièlgue, incharge of the scientific pole at the French consulate, a friend

Departure of intern Eve-Marie Gravier, who stayed in Mumbai six months and collaborated with Alliance Française de Bombay on the cultural and communication pole.

June-Aug 2011 Impressions

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rencontre AVEC

rencontre AVEC

From the Swedish Good Samaritan to Mumbai’s rock scene: here comes Betty Argo Betty Argo is a young French rock band. They have been chosen by the Alliance Française network to tour India to celebrate the Fête de la Musique in June. Lena Roucaute and Arnaud Cabibel, the founders of the band, tell us more about this singular quartet in an e-mail interview.

Arnaud Cabibel: I began to play the piano at the age of 7. I got my first guitar at 14, and discovered Jimi Hendrix.

Music’s always been a true passion to me, but I didn’t look at it as a job and neither did my parents. So I played and played during my studies. But I have to say that I was much more interested in music rather than anything else. Now I live for music and it seems just right the way it is.

Why did you choose to call yourself Betty Argo?

Lena: It comes from a person we admired.

Her name was Betty Argo, she was a snow slide champion in the early 50’s in a small Swedish village. She used to help sad people by taking them for a tour with her slide to make them feel better.

We read an article about her life when she died in 2008 and were really moved by her generosity of spirit. We liked her story, its meaning and because I’m half Swedish, we thought it would be a great tribute to this singular woman to call our band after her.

We lived in south of France and realised we had to go to Paris to be in the heart of the music world. This was the first difficulty we had to face, coming to the capital without any social network.

Now time passed by and we’ve met a lot of musicians and we really enjoy the euphoria of Paris.

Where does you inspiration come from? Which musical universes do you want to explore?

Inspiration is everywhere: in the meetings, the travels… Everything that comes from the outside is a source of inspiration to us. I also use my dreams a lot. They are always full of crazy ideas that help us build Betty Argo’s universe.

What are your rhythmic and melodic influences?

universes created a nice mix. We saw him play music from Rajasthan with his band.

This was the first time we saw live Indian music. We really enjoyed that moment.

We also listen to Lakshmi Shankar and Shakti, which is a band where John Mc Laughlin blends Indian elements with true jazz impros.

Did you have a chance to come to India before? What are you expecting from this tour?

Betty Argo

Lena Roucaute: When I was little, my mum used to sing and listen to music all the time. I think that’s where my passion comes from. I don’t remember when I started singing but at the age of 17, I joined a gospel Choir. When I met Arnaud, he already played guitar. He made me sing and I began to write lyrics.

That’s when we created our firsts songs and it became obvious we wanted to do music for our living.

What were the difficulties you had to face when you started playing as a band?

It’s the first time we have the chance to come to India. We expect great cultural discoveries and musical, personal inspirations. It will also be a good opportunity to exchange with the Indian audience, which I’m sure is going to be completely different from the French. We plan to record our first album when we get back home and we know that this tour will build up our sound for the better.

Gaëlle Joly

We’ve listened roots Reggae music from the 70’s such as the Abyssinians, the Mighty Diamonds, the Viceroys. Reggae music inspired us a lot, especially because the chorus is mostly sung by men, sometimes in a high tune, the same way Arnaud does. Also Lenny Kravitz’s first’s albums were a major rock revelation.

Finally, Portishead is a solid reference as well as The Beatles.

• In 2003, after having studied Jazz for two years, Lena Roucaute and Arnaud Cabibel began to compose their first songs.

They performed as Lull in bars, and played on well known Parisian stages such as La Fleche d’Or, Le Divan du Monde, La Scène Bastille...

• In 2009, Lena and Arnaud decided to explore their Rock’ N Roll inclination and brought in two experienced musicians, a bass player and guitarist, Samuel Strouk, and a drummer, Jérémie Pontier. Thus, Lull’s acoustic pop evolved into a fresh dynamic sound with Rock and Reggae overtones, stamped with the “French touch”: Betty Argo was born.

Did you already perform with some Indian musical instruments?

As a duet, we happened to meet an Indian percussionist who played Kartal and Tabla with us for a while. It was a great experience. Gathering our different

Betty Argo

First of all, where does your passion for music come from?

• They just recorded an EP composed of four titles and shot in February 2010 a video clip, entitled Playground with the English director Ian Gamester.

• Their first album, composed of 12 titles, will be released at the end of the year!

Meanwhile you can see them at Blue Frog, on Thursday 23rd of June at 10 pm to celebrate with us the Fête de la Musique.

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June-Aug 2011 Impressions

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books

books

The black book, an all-time favourite Do you know that one out of four books sold in a bookshop in France is a thriller, detective or spy novel? Commonly called the “polar”, slang for detective stories, the genre is the favorite of the French.

Hold your breath.

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t’s summertime coming up in France and, whether you are a traveler, a tourist or a French resident going for a quick holiday, you are going to pick up a book for your journey. According to a survey published by the ministry of French Culture in 2008, there is a 39% chance that you pick up a “polar” or “roman noir”, a thriller or a spy novel. Indeed, as Christine Ferniot, a journalist with the weekly paper L’Express, wrote last year (08/06/2010, L’Express, Le polar n’a plus mauvais genre), far from a temporary enthusiasm movement, the “polar” or thriller genre has a constant increasing readership. One out of four bookshops sells one. Women readers contribute a lot to this trend, although, the journalist admits, they would read any novel, “white or black” (thriller or not). However, the classics like Agatha Christie or P.D James are not the only favorites: readers vouch for any new thriller authors too. According to Jean-Luc Ferré (see interview), journalist and polar expert, the readers became keen through the 20th century to follow strong characters (Sherlock Holmes of Conan Doyle, Hercule Poirot of Agatha Christie…), good stories with enigmas

and realistic background especially towards the 90’s. The genre itself stopped being considered as sub-literature.

Small pocket formats are also disappearing, conceding a greater visual space for the roman noir. In France many book festivals have contributed to increase the passion for the genre and the various origins of authors help the diversification of the books, as, for instance, Swedish Millenium was a hit in France as well as in other countries.

According to the author of L’Express, the thriller genre in France has replaced the type of novel one would read in the 19th century France. Balzac, Zola, famous for their realism and description of contemporary societies were also masters of intrigue. Today, the roman noir helps to decrypt an “increasingly dark society” with its shares of violence and suspense.

Sources : L’homme masqué, le justicier et le détective, JeanClaude Vareille, presses universitaires de Lyon, disponible à la médiathèque, A l’ombre du polar- samedi 3 avril 2004 Enquête Pratiques culturelles des Français, 2008 - DEPS ministère de la Culture et de la Communication

Ce qui sans doute caractérise le plus le polar français, aujourd’hui comme hier, c’est sa dimension sociale Jean-Luc Ferré, l’un des animateurs du site A l'Ombre du Polar et par ailleurs journaliste au quotidien La Croix et collaborateur de l'hebdomadaire L'Express répond à quelques questions autour du « polar ».

Quelle est selon vous la spécificité du polar français avant et aprèsguerre, et en quoi se distingue t-il des romans policiers américains ou anglais ?

Ce qui sans doute caractérise le plus le polar français, aujourd’hui comme hier, c’est sa diwchez Simenon, Maigret enquêtant dans différents milieux et proposant ainsi un portrait de la société française des années 1930 à 1950, mais aussi chez Léo Mallet, le créateur de Nestor Burma en 1943, dont Les Nouveaux Mystères de Paris sont quasiment des reportages sur les quartiers de la capitale.

Cette veine sociale est plus tard au cœur du renouveau du polar français à partir des années 1970 avec ce qui fut appelé le « néopolar », qui se voulait en phase avec les combats politiques et les grands débats de société qui agitaient l’époque. Cette tendance permit à toute une génération d’auteurs talentueux d’émerger (JeanPatrick Manchette, Didier Daeninckx, Thierry Jonquet, Tonino Benacquista, Hugues Pagan, etc.), mais, a contrario, finit par figer le polar tricolore dans de méchantes habitudes, où le contexte social et le discours « engagé » allant de pair finirent par prendre le pas sur la qualité des personnages et des intrigues.

Ce n’est que depuis quelques années que de nouveaux auteurs français parviennent à s’extirper de cette pesante influence.

Le langage utilisé dans les polars français est souvent argotique, parfois daté par son époque, familier ou parlé. Existe-t-il des termes français ou francophones propres au polar français ?

Vous faîtes là référence à toute une période du polar d’après-guerre, correspondant notamment à l’émergence de la collection Série Noire avec des auteurs comme Albert Simonin ou Auguste Le Breton qui en rajoutèrent dans la verve argotique et la gouaille des voyous. Ce que l’on retrouve d’ailleurs dans le cinéma de l’époque avec les dialogues de Michel Audiard. Cette gouaille finit même par déteindre sur les auteurs américains traduits alors dans la Série Noire avec force expressions

argotiques franchouillardes très éloignées de la version originale ! Depuis, le langage employé dans les polars français est nettement moins « coloré ». Et c’est tant mieux.

Quels auteurs de policiers français conseillerez-vous à des apprenants de français pour se familiariser avec les contextes, les intrigues et la langue française ?

On ne peut que conseiller les romans de Georges Simenon avec son formidable Maigret, car la langue est assez neutre et très accessible. Même chose pour les romans à suspense du tandem Thomas Narcejac et Pierre Boileau. Pour des auteurs plus récents, on peut lire certains des animateurs du néopolar comme Frédéric Fajardie (style très sec) ou JeanPatrick Manchette.

Et quant aux plus récents?

En avant pour une courte évidemment non exhaustive:

liste

- Dominique Manotti (Nos fantastiques années fric, Lorraine Connection) - DOA : (Citoyens clandestins, Le Serpent aux mille coupures) - Antoine Chainas (Versus, Une histoire d’amour radioactive) - Hervé Le Corre (L’Homme aux lèvres de saphir, Les Cœurs déchiquetés) - Patrick Pécherot (Le Brouillard de la Butte, Tranchecaille) - Jean-Hugues Oppel (French tabloïd) - Antoine Bello (Eloge de la pierre manquante, Les Falsificateurs) Retrouvez les informations sur les auteurs et la plupart des livres mentionnés sur le très riche site www.polars.org

Plongez-vous dans les classiques A l’Alliance Française de Bombay, venez découvrir les grands classiques de la littérature policière française.

Frissons, secrets des petites villes provinciales et criminels au coeur tendre vous attendent.

Maurice Leblanc : De toute la série des Arsène Lupin, L’Aiguille creuse demeure peut-être le plus célèbre des titres du gentlemancambrioleur. Editions Boespflug-Leblanc et Omnibus, 2004 (lire page suivante).

Gaston Leroux : Le mystère de la chambre jaune, Editions Gallimard, 2003 Le jeune reporter Rouletabille est confronté à un cas bien étrange : on tente d’assassiner une jeune femme dans sa chambre mais lorsque les secours arrivent sur place, la pièce est vide, hormis la victime, et la porte fermée de l’intérieur.

Claude Simenon : Le chien jaune, Editions A. Fayard et Cie, 1936 Maigret est encore un jeune commissaire lorsqu’il est envoyé à Concarneau, cité reculée de Bretagne, afin de résoudre des crimes commis dans des circonstances très mystérieuses. Pour résoudre cette affaire, il lui faudra s’intégrer aux lieux en se mettant dans la peau d'un certain chien jaune.

Sébastien Japrisot : Un long dimanche de fiançailles, Editions Denoël, 1991 Dans ce roman haletant, Mathilde, jeune paralysée, voit Jean, son amour de jeunesse, envoyé sur le front lors de la Première Guerre mondiale. Porté mort à la fin du conflit, elle ne veut pas croire cette version officielle et met tout en œuvre pour le retrouver.

Exbrayat : Chant funèbre pour un gitan, Editions Librairie des Champs Elysées, 1968 Histoires de passion, de femmes, de toros. Et surtout, histoires de duperies... Chacun sait que les toréadors ont le sens de l'honneur, de l'absolu. Quand ils aiment, c'est jusqu'à la mort, sans concession. Peut-on imaginer que Felipe, Rafaël et Fernando seraient trahis dans leurs sentiments les plus intimes ?

Boileau-Narcejac : L’ingénieur aimait trop les chiffres, Editions Denoël, 1958 L’ingénieur chef Sourbier, spécialiste dans les recherches atomiques est tué dans son bureau d’un coup de revolver. Entendant la détonation, deux de ses collègues se précipitent mais l’assassin s’est volatilisé, emportant avec lui un tube d’uranium.

Paul Cezanne, Le Meurtre (The Murder)

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June-Aug 2011 Impressions 11

books

books

Voix d’Hier : Maurice Leblanc

De vive voix, Fred Vargas

Le génie de Maurice Leblanc s’est longtemps confondu avec celui de son double : l’insaisissable Arsène Lupin, le gentleman-cambrioleur le plus célèbre au monde. Suspense, stratagèmes diaboliques, ennemis invisibles, dénouements incroyables : Maurice Leblanc est le grand maître du genre. A lire absolument.

La reine du crime Made in France frappe encore.

de romans policiers et d'aventures.

Et Arsène Lupin, qui devait être le violon d'Ingres de Maurice Leblanc, occupe pleinement notre romancier :" Il me suit partout. Il n'est pas mon ombre, je suis son ombre. C'est lui qui s'assied à cette table quand j'écris. Je lui obéis. " Le soir, il imagine les péripéties d'Arsène dans le calme de son appartement parisien du 16ème, ou à Etretat, dans sa villa d'été, le "Clos Lupin". Le succès d'Arsène Lupin l'accompagnera toute sa vie, jusqu'à son décès en 1941, à Perpignan où il s'était réfugié pour fuir l'occupant allemand avec sa famille.

En 1885, il fait son entrée dans la capitale.

Il fréquente le Chat Noir à Montmartre et collabore à plusieurs journaux. Il côtoie des écrivains. Son grand plaisir est de parcourir les routes normandes à vélocipède. En 1905, tout bascule.

A l’occasion du premier numéro du magazine "Je Sais Tout", l’éditeur Pierre Lafitte demande à Maurice de lui écrire une nouvelle d'aventure, dans l'esprit de Sherlock Holmes qui vaut le succès au Strand Magazine anglais. "L'Arrestation d'Arsène Lupin" paraît dans le numéro daté du 6 juillet. Maurice Leblanc, qui voulait être " le romancier de la vie délicate des âmes " se retrouve du jour au lendemain écrivain populaire, auteur

(Sources: Arsenelupin.com, Wikipedia)

DR

But who is Lupin?

Lupin has many names, many faces. He loves to play and can escape any situation.

A strong personality, a mysterious childhood and origin, he makes himself known for his impressive burglaries and coups but he also acts as a vigilante when it comes to punish the villains. He defies the law, despises the traditional structures of power and makes fun of cops. His passion for beauty and women put him many times in delicate situations. In his adventures, one gets to know each time a little more about the character although, someone always tries to confront him and put before him new challenges.

Maurice Leblanc, sérigraphie pour Je sais tout

vibes. Anarchists, feel that social justice was not something that could be attained through the existing power structure, but instead had to be seized by the working classes. During the Belle-Epoque, France had seen too many social injustices and repression, especially towards the poor.

Numerous militant anarchists were imprisoned and faced the guillotine for attacking the structures of power, the authorities and their representents. Jacob made the headlines in France in 1905 during his trial. His ability for burglary, his phenomenal escapes and his wit and strong ideas made him a very decent gentleman cambrioleur.

du Clos Arsène Lupin, maison 12 Vue Impressions June-Aug 2011 de Maurice Leblanc à Etretat et musée.

Alexandre Jacob (1879–1954), known as Marius Jacob, was a French anarchist illegalist. A clever burglar equipped with a sharp sense of humour, capable of great generosity towards his victims, he used to be also a typographer, a profession known for its strong political inclinations and poignant rebellious

Credits : Clos Arsène Lupin

Credits : Clos Arsène Lupin

Focus on Marius Jacob The gentleman and anarchist who inspired the character of Arsène Lupin

M

Fred Vargas, alias Frédérique AudoinRouzeau, est née à Paris en 1957.

Archéozoologue, chercheuse au CNRS, elle se fait accordéoniste à ses heures perdues. Mais c’est l’écriture qui l’a sacrée reine du roman policier français (Le Figaro). Elle est aujourd’hui tout aussi prisée en France que de l’autre côté de la Manche (The Guardian). En 1986 elle écrit Les Jeux de l’amour et de la mort. En 1992 elle signe avec la maison d’éditions Viviane Hamy, depuis, son éditeur attitré. Elle a vendu plus de 5 millions de livres, publiés dans plus de quarante pays, et le cinéma comme la télévision s'intéressent à l'adaptation de ses ouvrages.

Dans la vraie vie, Fred Vargas et Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau ne se rencontrent pas.

Peut-être est ce pour protéger leurs vies privées à toutes deux qu’elles répondent assez peu aux demandes des journalistes, comme a pu le constater Impressions.

Mais entre les pages, Fred Vargas ajoute son vécu d’historienne et son talent de narratrice hors pair, mêlant paranormal, magie et documentation fouillée. Tout comme son écriture aiguisée, tranchante et vigoureuse, l’auteur ne cache pas non plus ses positions ni ne mâche ses mots lorsqu’il s’agit de s’attaquer à des causes qu’elle estime justes. Son combat peutêtre le plus acharné, téméraire et virulent a été de défendre notamment Cesare Battisti.

Parmi les romans les plus acclamés :

DR

M

aurice Leblanc est né à Rouen le 11 novembre 1864. Elevé au sein d'une famille bourgeoise, il poursuit de brillantes études au lycée Corneille. Doté d'une imagination vive, fervent admirateur de Flaubert et de Maupassant, le jeune homme se sent habité par la vocation d'écrivain. A l’insu de son père il écrit en cachette. Il obtient finalement l'accord de ce dernier pour tenter l'aventure littéraire à Paris et entamer des études de droit.

ystérieuse, elle l’est forcément.

Lunaire, peut-être.

Cultivée, certainement. Il faut bien ces trois belles qualités pour réussir à tenir en haleine son lecteur, dans des romans où se promène une équipe de la police judiciaire parisienne excentrique, menée tambour battant par le commissaire Adamsberg, aux digressions étranges, et flanqué d’un commandant de police, Danglard, qui pratique le grec ancien en buvant du vin blanc en cachette.

Disponible à la bibliothèque de l’Alliance Française de Bombay Dans les bois éternels. Éditions V i v i a n e Hamy 2006, collection Chemins.

En mêlant des cerfs, des Normands, des individus instables aux personnalités «dissociées », des cercueils ouverts et une vieille revanche de jeunesse, Fred Vargas fournit tous les éléments pour retenir l’haleine du lecteur, le perdre suffisamment pour le rattraper par quelques pirouettes vertigineuses.

• Les Jeux de l’amour et de la mort. Éditions originales, 1986 / Le Masque, 1997. (Prix du festival de Cognac) • Ceux qui vont mourir te saluent. Éditions originales Viviane Hamy, 1987. / J’ai lu, 2001.

• L’Homme à l’envers. Éditions originales Viviane Hamy, 1999. / J’ai lu, 2002. (Grand Prix du roman noir de Cognac 2000) • Pars vite et reviens tard. Éditions Viviane Hamy, 2001. (Prix des libraires) • Un lieu incertain. Éditions. Viviane Hamy, 2008

Actualité Le 18 mai 2011, Fred Vargas remet le commissaire Adamsberg au goût du jour après un long silence de trois ans. Intitulé l’Armée furieuse, le roman est ainsi présenté par les éditions Viviane Hamy : «Une petite dame âgée attend le commissaire sur le trottoir, elle vient de Normandie.

Ils n’ont pas rendez-vous, mais il n’y a qu’à Adamsberg qu’elle veut parler.

Une nuit, dans son village, sa fille a vu "l’Armée furieuse", c’est-à-dire une cohorte de morts vivants qui vient enlever les mauvaises personnes des environs. Le commissaire Adamsberg doit se plonger dans les mythes et légendes des terres normandes avec l’aide de son fils Zerk, un personnage que Fred Vargas avait déjà introduit dans Un lieu incertain.

Le saviez-vous ?

Cesare Battisti : Cet ex-militant italien d’extrême gauche s’était reconverti comme auteur de polar en France, suite à une faveur présidentielle dans les années 1990. En 2004, suite à une décision (polémique) de la France de l’extrader pour l’Italie (qui l’a reconnu coupable par contumace de meurtre) il s’échappe mais est arrêté à nouveau au Brésil en 2007, où l’on n’a toujours pas statué sur son cas.

Détail du musée : dans le cabinet de travail de Maurice Leblanc June-Aug 2011 Impressions 13

books

Notes de lecture

books Niveau de lecture: facile moyen

difficile

Jules Barbey d’Aurevilly, Une vieille maîtresse, Editions Folio.

Jean Giono, Un roi sans divertissement, Editions Folio.

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Ryno de Marigny, vicomte et libertin, peint comme un Valmont de la Restauration par l’auteur, lui-même tour à tour romantique et dandy lettré du XIXe siècle, épouse son aimée, la belle Hemangarde, aristocrate germanopratine. Cependant le passé de Ryno rattrape les heureux époux et ressurgit « la vieille maîtresse » du vicomte, toujours aussi éprise et guère oubliée. Dans ce drame romantique, situé entre Paris et la Normandie, dans un climat où la monarchie vit ses derniers jours, Barbey D’Aurevilly peint une intrigue dramatique, dans un langage chargé et intense.

Philippe Francq, Jean Van Hamme - Largo Winch, II. Le Groupe W, Editions Dupuis.

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Avec ce roman, Giono vous emporte loin de Mumbai et de son agitation permanente pour vous plonger dans la vie d’un petit village des Alpes, coupé du monde par l’hiver et la neige. C’est dans ce cadre isolé et oppressant que le capitaine de gendarmerie Langlois arrive, pour tenter de résoudre le mystère de la disparition et l’agression de villageois.

Beaucoup ont d’ailleurs vu dans le titre du roman une référence directe au philosophe Pascal qui déclarait dans ses Pensées qu’ « Un roi sans divertissement est un homme plein de misères » qui essaie désespérément d’échapper à l’absurde et à la mort par tous les moyens. A travers cette enquête haletante, Giono propose avec beaucoup d’humour une réflexion profonde sur l’homme et sa condition face à l’ennui.

La série des Largo Winch plonge le lecteur dans un univers réaliste où aventures, intrigues géopolitiques et financières s’enchainent à partir d’une énigme : un jeune homme de 26 ans, Largo, est soudainement promu à la tête d’une puissante holding américaine et d’une fortune de dix milliards de dollars. Dans le Groupe W, Largo doit prouver ses origines en retrouvant les parts du groupe léguées par son père adoptif.

Mais quelqu’un cherche à s’en emparer avant.

Avec la série Le Triangle Secret, Didier Convard, personnalité incontournable du monde de la bande dessinée inventait un genre nouveau : le thriller historique, mêlant avec talent intrigues religieuses et ésotérisme.

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Didier Convard, Denis Falque, Pierre Wachs-Paul I.N.R.I, Le suaire, Editions Glénat.

En s’appuyant sur une documentation solide, Convard nous offre dans cette ce premier tome un scénario implacable, allié a un graphisme exceptionnel qui vous tiendra en haleine.

14 Impressions June-Aug 2011

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Cette nouvelle série, se déroulant au Moyen Age, rassemble les mêmes personnages, le même style de narration mélangeant récits du passé, thriller actuel et quête de la vérité.

Le Tome 1, intitulé Le Suaire s’ouvre sur l’agression sauvage dont est victime le cardinal Montespa. Un homme mystérieux n’hésite pas à lui couper l’avant-bras à la hache pour lui voler sa bague, bague dont le secret va constituer le cœur de la suite de l’album. Les énigmes métaphysiques sont bien sur au rendez-vous: découverte du secret du Christ, résurrection éternelle, fondation du dogme, jeux de pouvoirs.

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 15

CINEMA

CINEMA

Priceless, a romantic comedy in the heart of France

Dvd reviews, available at the library

actor, able to slip on a great variety of roles, acting both in popular successful comedies (Chouchou, The valet), and in dramas (The round up).

Gaëlle Joly

L’histoire se déroule autour de Pierre (Romain Duris), un danseur professionnel atteint d’une maladie du coeur. En attendant de recevoir le coup de téléphone fatidique, qui l’informera d’un possible donneur pour une greffe, il observe les Parisiens de son balcon tandis que sa sœur (Juliette Binoche) déménage chez lui avec ses enfants, pour être plus près. Angoisses familiales, pensées suicidaires, analyses de la vie de tous les jours, Pierre nous fait vivre Paris différemment. On retrouve la patte de Klapish dans ce film émouvant et triste, un brin blasé et las, peut-être, mais qui donne toujours autant envie de redécouvrir la capitale française.

The actors’ performances in the film are quite impressive, in particular Audrey Tautou which has to play a self-centered, sexually confident gold-digger.

Focus on…

Audrey Tautou counts amongst the most talented actresses of her generation. After having the privilege of acting alongside Nathalie Baye, she won the César for “Most Promising Actress”. She was then known to worldwide audiences as the title character in the award-winning French film Amélie by Jean Pierre Jeunet.

From that point, her career took off and she appeared in major French movies. Among them: A very Long Engagement, Ensemble c’est tout along with Guillaume Canet, The Da Vinci Code, Coco before Chanel …

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`Don Salluste de Bazan (Louis de Funès) is a horrible, egoistical caricature of the rich and the powerful in the court of the lords of Spain, somewhere in the 16th century.

Greedy, manipulative and ready to do anything to get what he wants, usually money and recognition, Don Salluste, a tax collector, uses and misuses the kindness of his servant, Blaze (Yves Montand). Fired by his king, he cons his servant into a plot to get his situation back. However, Blaze is sharper than one thinks. Hilarious as ever, Louis de Funès carries away the story, well seconded by Montand. A must watch amongst French classical comedy.

Le mystère de la chambre jaune, by Bruno Podalydès, 2003

Unifrance

Gad Elmaleh followed a different path.

He was revealed as a standup comedian.

Like Audrey Tautou, he is a former student of “Le cours Laurent”, one of France’s most prestigious drama schools.

After years of writing about his personal experiences and about his FrancoMoroccan roots, he came up with a one man show that brought him national success. With his third spectacle l’Autre

La folie des grandeurs, by Gérard Oury, with Louis de Funès, Yves Montand (1971)

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Paris, de Cédric Klapish, avec Romain Duris, Juliette Binoche (2008)

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c’est moi, in 2005, he gained international recognition and was staged in USA and in Canada. In 2007 he was elected “the funniest personality of France”. At the same time he puts his hands on cinema and revealed himself to be a talented

This adaptation of the novel by Gaston Leroux (see P11) was quite a refreshing movie that year with Denis Podalydès as Rouletablille, funny and clever, Pierre Arditi and Sabine Azéma. This version comes after many others (since 1913!) from the movies to the television series. Joseph Rouletabille, a young reporter tries to solve the mysterious murder attempt on Miss Mathilde Stangerson. The actors manage to play with an absurd humour, a strong narrative and a whimsical direction which gives a different overall tone to the story.

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n the film, which takes place in the beautiful Riviera coastline, Jean (Gad Elmaleh), a shy penniless bartender, is mistaken for a millionaire by a beautiful opportunist named Irene (Audrey Tautou). When Irene discovers his true identity, she abandons him, only to find that Jean has no intention of letting her get away. Jean’s comical attempts to gain her affections gradually evolve into setting himself up as a gigolo at a luxury hotel until Irene finally starts to warm to her persistent, persuasive suitor.

Le scaphandre et le papillon is the story of former Elle editor-in-chief Jean- Dominique Bauby’s life post a stroke that left him almost completely paralysed and in locked- in syndrome. Based on its bestselling namesake book, this is no ordinary film as it goes one step ahead of the others. Matthieu Almaric as Bauby and the rest of the supporting cast play their parts to the hilt of perfection. The film entraps you and amidst the feeling of helplessness you are made to feel, you also witness the lighter moments within the tragic story. At the Cannes 2007, director Julian Schnabel meritoriously won the prize for the best mise-en-scène, while Ronald Harwood received a BAFTA for best adapted screenplay. With so much acclaim to its name, be it the cinema critics or the regular movie buff searching for something tangible- Le scaphandre et le papillon is, by all means- a must watch.

Unifrance

Le scaphandre et le papillon, 2007, by Julian Schnabel

This charming romantic comedy by Pierre Salvadori has been screened in most of the International French Films Festivals around the world and is said to be the French version of Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Audrey Hepburn.

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 17

watch OUT

La Fête de la Musique…Let’s bring it to Mumbai!

In partnership with Blue Frog, Novotel, French Embassy in India, Fondation Alliance Française and Fête de la Musique.

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Thursday 23rd, 10pm,Blue Frog

Betty Argo, the emerging band of the French scene will be the hightlight of the day!

Their acoustic pop evolved into a fresh dynamic sound with Rock and Reggae overtones, stamped with the “French touch”: Betty Argo was born in 2009 and you just can’t miss it.

Did you know?

Watch out this July for the launch of Titi Robin new album and concert at the Blue Frog! In 2011, Titi Robin continues his musical journey with the project called “les Rives” (The banks). In 2010 he had recorded the Indian and Maroccan albums, and last January he was in Istanbul for the Turkish one. Each of these cds will be released independently through 2011 while the whole box set will be ready end 2011.

Betty Argo

he Fête de la Musique, was created in June 21st 1982 at the initiative of Jack Lang, French Minister of Culture, who wanted to develop integration and exchange among young people. This event became quickly an unavoidable popular success gathering French people around a free musical night, celebrating the coming back of spring. Today, the World Music Day’s concept spun off and takes place in more than a hundred and ten countries, on the 5 continents.

Theatre

She directed on stage students Niralee Solanki, Vaidehi Palishkar, ex-students of Alliance Française de Bombay, MA in French Mumbai University and Rashida Karachiwala, B2. They did a great job enacting various characters and drastically improved their French!

They come back on the 17th of June at your auditorium, do not miss it!

Waiting for Godot is an absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly and in vain for someone named Godot to arrive. Godot’s absence, as well as numerous other aspects of the play, have led to many different interpretations since the play’s premiere. It was voted “the most significant English language play of the 20th century”. Waiting for

Titi Robin

En attendant Godot was successfully played at the auditorium of Alliance Française de Bombay last April by the theatre workshop guided by Alexandra Catzeflis.

Godot is Beckett’s translation of his own original French version, En attendant Godot, and is subtitled (in English only) “a tragicomedy in two acts”.The original

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 19

watch OUT

watch OUT

French text was composed between 9 October 1948 and 29 January 1949.

The première was on 5 January 1953 in the Théâtre de Babylone, Paris. The production was directed by Roger Blin, who also played the role of Pozzo.

50 minutes pour attendre Godot, 7 pm, Auditorium Alliance Française de Bombay, 17th June

Niralee Solanki, Vaidehi Palishkar and Rashida Karachiwala

The Monsoon Project What is there to do in Mumbai in July and August during the Monsoon?

While it might get difficult to organize your cultural agenda contingent on the rain’s whims, the Alliance Française de Bombay saves you the trouble by devising an exciting program that should keep you busy during those uncertain times.

enjoy inside presentations, art history visits will be planned, in French, in some of the most renowned cultural places this city holds. Eventually you’ll get a chance to attend some musical meetings!

More information on these thrilling activities is to come very soon. Keep an eye on the program and on our website!

Dates to be confirmed, see leaflet

Along with the regular cultural Rendezvous, The Monsoon project’s events will make sure you have plenty of things to do: contest to participate to, workshops to attend, cultural visit to follow…

It starts with a photographic contest where one should walk through Mumbai, trying to catch a glimpse of women in their everyday life and culture.

The winner should have the chance to be exhibited on the first floor of newly opened Attic shop in Colaba and maybe win a journey to Paris!

Then a great numbers of workshops shall also take place, for every taste, in several French places. From the Jean-Claude Biguine salon in Colaba to the brand new restaurant Suzette, you’ll be introduced to gastronomy, design, fashion, beauty care…Well everything that makes the French Touch!

And if you are not afraid of the rain, slip into your boots because we shall be offering outside guided tours, especially organized for this season. If you’d rather 20 Impressions June-Aug 2011

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 21

FRANCE EN BREF

FRANCE EN BREF

Holidays for all

To evaluate the relevance of the standards for this new label a sixmonth experimentation period was decided. Thus, several territories of different nature, littoral and mountain areas, urban and rural areas, have been selected last November by a national commission. Among the twenty one candidates, six territories, which already presented a great offer, were considered: Angers, Balaruc-les-Bains, Bordeaux, Le Parc naturel régional du Morvan, Le Pays Cathare : Canal du midi et de la Robine, Saint-Gilles Croix de vie.

ATOUT FRANCE/Jose Ruiz Camillo

As summer is getting closer, we all think of the place we are going to get away for a few days or a few weeks. We depend on it so much that being on holidays is often a great source of stress as we want those moments to be perfect. This is far worse for disabled people.

At this stage, the territories are still exchanging and discussing the standard with the national authorities to make sure that the label answers the main goal: encouraging disabled people in total autonomy to go for holidays.

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ATOUT FRANCE/Michel Angot

tourist actors (hotel, restaurant, railways stations, leisure centers…) tourist packages suitable for disabled people.

In France, public and privates initiatives, encouraged by the regulatory context are starting to move things around. Several labeling programs are progressively creating a vast network on which disabled people can rely. The latest initiative is a labeling project called “Destination pour tous”- (Destination for everyone). After an experimental period that ends in June, the project will give a label to the cities creating, in partnership with the

22 Impressions June-Aug 2011

ATOUT FRANCE/Aquashot

or them, travelling is a race and exhaustion against travel barriers such as transport difficulties, inaccessible destinations, unadapted amenities and shortage of people willing to help.

Since February 2005, regulatory context reinforces requirements regarding the accessibility of all public facilities. This law on equality of chances, imposes that all amenities and sites, opened to the public must be accessible for everyone

by January 2015. This law really favored initiatives and already made general tourism sites in France more suitable to disabled people. Those initiatives include architectural changes, appropriate signage and equipment (like appropriate toilet facility, parking seat preferences for disabled people), and making additional human assistance available where necessary.

So far such measures have been supported by local, regional and national authorities in particular through the introduction of various labeling programs that identify sites and activities that are accessible to disabled people.

One of the best acknowledged labels is the national quality program “Tourisme et Handicap” launched in 2001. This association supports the tourism industry with infrastructure and technical

advices, audits and check-up, to see if the law has been properly implemented.

This label materializes different types of disability, in recognition that mental, physical, hearing and visual disabilities present different challenges with regard to accessibility. Thanks to the label, the tourism structures can also approach its region for subvention and financial help.

So far, 4200 sites and tourist equipments received the label, thus constituting a good data basis. Even if this figure is encouraging, it represents a very small percentage of tourism structures in France.

The government considers it a major social issue and hence has created a real global offer at the level of territories.

In July 2008, the two State secretaries in charge of the disabled people and tourism, Mrs Nadine Morano et Mr. Hervé Novelli launched the label « Destination pour tous » completing the “Tourisme et Handicap” Label.

The value added of this new label encourages the development of destinations where the accessibility process concerns both tourist sites and all the environment of the services attached to it.

This summer, the initiative should be more widely implemented, as the initiative is already very popular amongst the population!

Gaëlle Joly

Did you know?

The situation in India India counts for 70 million disabled.

Far from thinking about how to go on holidays, disabled people in India are fighting everyday to find a way to live a normal life as only 2% are educated and 1% employed. So the struggle here seems to be on another level. However, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) recently witnessed a significant change. They say they noticed more awareness and acceptance from society and that disabled people are starting to be considered as “differently abled citizens with rights and entitlements”.

The government has made some efforts to make access to tourist sites easier for physically challenged and elderly persons.

The Indian Tourism Ministry even requested that all tourist facilities, created with Central Government financial assistance, should be barrier-free.

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 23

DISCOVERY

DISCOVERY

In the hills…

If adventure and history fascinates you, a trip to the Pyrenees for speleology might just be what you are looking for.

Go caving in the Pyrenees in the Grottes de Niaux, Grottes de Bedeilhac, Grottes de Lombrives, and explore a forgotten world lost in time. The visits are strictly regulated in order to maintain an even temperature of 12 degrees Celsius and thus preserve the wall drawings.

The Pyrenees, Rhone-Alpes, Jura, have plenty of rivers suitable for river sports such as canoeing, hydrospeed, kayaking.

Hydrospeed involves jumping into a violent current whilst wearing a wet suit and clinging onto a sort of floating toboggan and Day- Glo coloured buoyancy jacket. You may look funny but when you are plunging through waterfalls and whirlpools all is forgotten!

Dangerous nonetheless great fun, if you are a novice, you can even avail of the various beginners’ sessions available at various points for these adventure river sports.

The adventurous will also love parapente, a grand blend of hand- gliding and parachuting. You take off by running or skiing down a slope until you get enough lift (in 1000m of descent you might cover a distance of 4- 6 km). Rock climbing and mountaineering are also popular sports in France. If you like skiing you also can visit many regions of France and enjoy this sport. It doesn’t matter if you 24 Impressions June-Aug 2011

are a beginner or a professional, as you can take classes on location. However if you just love to splurge in the snow, why not go for a classic toboggan ride?

In Villard-de-Lans & Corrençon, the Colline des Bains has developed into a dedicated “toboggan park.” The whole area is perfectly safe and provides wonderful family fun to the backdrop of the stunning Massif du Vercors. In Orcières, try the snake gliss - the more the merrier! A special feature of this sunny ski resort in the Hautes-Alpes is the “luge train,” a serpent-like articulated toboggan made up of between 2 and 20 seats that hurtles down the slopes in snake-like fashion, with fun and laughter all along the way!

Close to the sea…

France has beautiful beaches and river beaches. Surfing is best around Biarritz, and many people love the Canal du Midi, around Paris, for boating. Britanny offer splendid coasts to sail, or to experiment various eco-friendly sea sports like parasailing. Water is best warm to swim, so dive around the Cassis in South of France or appreciate the farniente on

the shores of French lakes like the Lac d’Annecy.

Everywhere in France:

Cycling: French love it! Tour de France is a good example of what has been a historical and cultural hobby! Even you can ride, not for the tour, but maybe on the same roads, through the country.

There are nearly 2,600 km of safe, marked routes on little country lanes, making up around forty dedicated cycle routes the Voies vertes (Green Routes) – aimed exclusively at family bike excursions covering 20 to 50 km. Ideal for a daytrip or longer, without stress – no car traffic – and fatigue-free: flat terrain through beautiful nature. This “cycle-tourism” specialist offers twenty holidays, itinerant or not, with destinations including the Canal du Midi, the Périgord and South Brittany.

For players, France has over 500 golf courses and still more are being designed.

In Île-de-France the courses are tucked away among the most beautiful sites and most are accessible whatever your handicap. In the West, visit verdant golf courses in Normandy next to Deauville luxurious hotels. In the east, enjoy the view over the eternal snows of Mont

Blanc or the aroma of lavender and the song of the cicadas in Provence. In the North, Champagne’s pride sparkles throughout its cellars. Alsace draws you in with its authentic architecture and its folk traditions. Burgundy cultivates its exceptional historical heritage and its gastronomic excellence. So, where are you going to play?

Last but not least, for those who still enjoy best the most traditional sport, walking and hiking, there are in France 65,000 km of national and regional footpaths (Sentiers de Grande Randonnée, or GR®, and Grande Randonnée de Pays, or GR de Pays®) and 115,000 km of local

A short directory on the web: Biking: http://www.velo-bien-etre.fr/ http://www.af3v.org/ http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com Hiking : http://www.vagabondages.com/ http://www.ffrandonnee.fr/ Sailing : http://www.nautisme.com/ General : www.franceguide.com

footpaths (Sentiers de Promenade et Randonnée, or PR).

Focus…

Will Indians bat in France?

Since 2005, Stéphane Audry has fallen in love with India. A sportsman and a marketing individual, he decided to open his own sport consulting company since then, and to bring Indian sportsmen to France.

ATOUT FRANCE/CDT Calvados

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his special sojourn in France is for you. A country of sportsmen and sportswomen, France offer a wide range of amazing and fun sports to discover and practice, in a couple, with friend or the whole family.

ATOUT FRANCE/Jean-François Tripelon-Jarry

You love French food but you are too scared to put on weight? You fear being bored in museums?

You don’t know what to do with the kids while site-seeing?

ATOUT FRANCE/CDT Calvados

ATOUT FRANCE/Jose Ruiz Camillo

Workout in France

“France has a large set of infrastructures to accommodate sportsmen from all over the world, and India lacks those. Because of that, the performances also suffer”.

According to Audry, basic needs are missing in India such as good coaching, information on various fields of sports, partners and sponsors, sport complexes and scientific preparation around sports.

“France is great in technology, knowhow and structures. So I decided to try and put both together”. In association with France Sport, a charitable trust funded by regions and French cities, Stéphane Audry’s company will try to get the best sportsmen and women, to prepare the Olympic Games of London in France. “In regions like Pas-de-Calais or Normandy we are well equipped and supported”. Sports he is looking at are all in the Olympic fields: hence no cricket yet in France!

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 25

AF du Monde

AF du Monde

Le français, connexion africaine

accueillant une dizaine de concerts de musiciens français, congolais, burundais, rwandais, mauriciens, indiens, réunionnais et sud-africains. Une grande après-midi hip hop nous a permis d’accueillir des dizaines de jeunes zoulous présentant leur beat-box unique en isizulu, cette étonnante langue à clic, et leurs groupes de danse KRUMP, autour d’une compétition de graffittis sur canevas qui a donné lieu à une exposition originale sur leur vision de la France.

L’Alliance Française de Durban, établie en 1936 fut la première d’Afrique du Sud. Après un déclin significatif, cette Alliance Française reprend aujourd’hui peu à peu une place de choix au sein du paysage culturel sud-africain.

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a ville de Durban, capitale de la province du Kwazulu Natal est une agglomération d’environ 1,5 millions d’habitants.

Elle est passée dans les années 90 deuxième plus grande ville d’Afrique du Sud après Johannesburg et devant Le Cap. Depuis une décennie, Durban a considérablement développé son accueil de grands congrès mondiaux. Elle accueillera en juillet 2011 la Commission d’élection des Jeux olympiques 2018, en novembre le Sommet sur les changements climatiques, COP 17, et en juillet 2012, le Congrès International des professeurs de français FIPF (voir encadré).

La population de Durban est constituée à 70% de zoulous, 20% d’originaires indiens dont les premiers, arrivés il y a 150 ans, ont constitué la main d’œuvre des champs de canne à sucre, et une minorité de sudafricains blancs d’origines diverses, pour la plupart britanniques.

La population française est faible, environ 1000 inscrits sur les listes consulaires. En revanche la population francophone, difficile à chiffrer, est relativement importante, constituée d’une forte communauté mauricienne et de diverses communautés africaines francophones, dont de nombreux réfugiés de la République Démocratique du Congo.

Le français a longtemps été enseigné aux seules populations blanches, aisées et souvent féminines de la ville. Délaissé dans les milieux éducatifs dans la période postapartheid aux profits des onze langues nationales, il revient néanmoins dans les priorités linguistiques nationales, étant un outil privilégié de communication avec l’Afrique francophone.

Installée depuis 1991 dans un large bâtiment dont elle est propriétaire, l’Alliance Française de Durban est située dans le quartier résidentiel de 26 Impressions June-Aug 2011

Morningside, au cœur d’un quartier animé, historiquement blanc mais désormais d’une grande mixité sociale.

Les bâtiments, très accueillants, couvrent une surface de 574 m2 sur deux niveaux.

L’étage abritant sept salles et le rezde- chaussée regroupant 4 bureaux, un espace d’accueil, une salle bar-restaurant avec une large cuisine et une petite médiathèque. L’espace extérieur regroupe une grande terrasse et un jardin.

Une Alliance en pleine reconstruction

L’Alliance Française de Durban a, pour diverses raisons, décliné de manière significative ces dernières années, avec une baisse considérable d’activités, d’étudiants et de partenariats extérieurs.

Il s’agit donc de relever le défi de lui réinsuffler de la vie et des revenus !

Ces efforts ont pu être engagés dès mon arrivée en septembre grâce à la

mobilisation active d’un nouveau comité, des étudiants, d’un petit groupe de membres et de partenaires locaux… Des personnes sympathiques et dynamiques comme peuvent l’être les Sud-Africains, de nombreux francophiles pour qui l’Alliance Française est un espace d’échange de savoirs et de rencontres conviviales presque unique dans la ville de Durban qui sort lentement d’un lourd passé de séparation des communautés.

Nous avons pu très vite ‘rafraichir’ les locaux et le jardin grâce à l’aide de bénévoles et de partenariats et mettre en gérance le café-restaurant qui a ouvert en janvier.

Sur un concept ‘eco-friendly’, le ‘FAT CROISSANT’ propose non seulement les viennoiseries françaises mais aussi de délicieux plats agrémentés des produits de notre potager dans un cadre agréable au cœur de la ville. Ouvert à tous, il permet d’offrir un espace de convivialité

toute la journée où l’on peut discuter dans toutes les langues ou lire les journaux de notre médiathèque.

Le samedi matin, nous avons lancé les rendez-vous “pétanque” accompagnés d’un groupe local de jazz/ blues pour des Brunch amicaux franco-sud africains.

Le Kwazulu-Natal étant un grand vivier de musiciens de qualité, nous avons lancé les concerts du vendredi soir sous le label ‘DURBAN LOVES MOI’, une plate-forme musicale sponsorisée par le fournisseur d’équipement technique Prosound et qui permet à de nombreux groupes de venir se produire sur notre scène extérieure.

Le succès de ces soirées a été immédiat auprès du public et de la presse, et l’AF est devenue ‘LE’ nouveau lieu culturel de Durban ouvert à tous les styles et toutes les communautés.

Mad in French

En Mars, nous avons organisé le festival francophone ‘MAD IN FRENCH’,

En Juin, nous organisons à l’occasion du COP 17, une ‘GREEN WEEK’ accueillant une projection de documentaires, des débats sur le thème de l’eau avec la municipalité et des ONGS locales, des ateliers de jardinage avec le Jardin Botanique, des spectacles de théâtre et marionnettes recyclées et des repas écologiques.

Pour aller plus loin dans son implication sur les questions environnementales, l’Alliance Française va peu à peu équiper son bâtiment de panneaux solaires et récupérateurs d’eaux de pluie grâce à des sponsoring d’entreprises françaises et sud-africaines, et devenir un des nouveaux premiers points de recyclage de la ville de Durban ainsi qu’un relai sur son projet de pistes cyclables urbaines.

La relance d’une nouvelle offre de cours de qualité est par ailleurs au cœur de notre travail afin de retrouver des étudiants de divers horizons. Nous offrons désormais des cours pour adultes mais aussi pour lycéens, et jeune public, cours pour entreprises en FOS, cours de conversation, cours de cuisine française et des cours de zoulou, la langue locale.

Le public durbanite, réputé très ‘relax’ dans tout le pays, s’il est fort sympathique, est difficile à mobiliser : certains évoquent la trop belle qualité de vie en bord de mer sous le climat sub-

tropical qui incite plus à flâner sur les plages ou se retrouver dans les grands jardins autour de l’incontournable Braii (barbecue sud-africain) avec les amis qu’à sortir ou étudier en sortant du travail.

Par ailleurs, des difficultés d’accès se posent pour de nombreuses personnes, dans une ville extrêmement étendue et dépourvue de transports en commun, où de nombreuses personnes possédant un véhicule hésitent encore à circuler à partir de 18h, à la nuit tombée par crainte des agressions. L’Alliance parvient donc à attirer un public de proximité mais plus difficilement les jeunes des communautés plus éloignées. A nous de venir à eux et de mettre en place des systèmes de covoiturages ou bus pour les véhiculer jusqu’à nos locaux !

Sarah Doignon, directrice de l’Alliance Française de Durba, (ancienne collaboratrice de l’Alliance Française de Bombay).

Congrès FIPF Le grand rendez-vous francophone sera le Congrès international des professeurs de français FIPF du 23 au 27 juillet 2012, se tenant pour la première fois sur le continent africain, et dont l’Alliance Française de Durban est le pilote culturel.

Nous espérons qu’à cette occasion 2012 enseignants de français pourront échanger sur leurs pratiques, s’informer, s’entretenir et débattre de l’enseignement de notre langue dans tous les contextes.

Une journée de visites variées est aménagée au cours du Congrès afin que les participants puissent aussi profiter d’une découverte touristique de la région et de programmes culturels de nos deux pays, notamment dans le cadre du Festival International du Film de Durban qui sera marqué par une programmation francophone.

S.D. Info et inscriptions pour le Congrès FIPF 2012 : http//fipf.org Informations sur l’Alliance Française de Durban www.alliance.org.za Devenir notre ami sur Facebook : Alliance Française de Durban

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 27

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The Economy Issue France and India are keen to strengthen their diplomatic and economic ties: the current French investments in India may increase ten-fold over the next couple of years, and France has become Europe’s thirdlargest recipient of Indian investments.

The exchanges between France and India considerably augmented in 2010. The volume of the Indo-French bilateral trade increased by 27,5% over the 8 first months of the year as compared to the same period of the previous year. If this trend persists, bilateral exchanges should exceed €10 billion by 2012, according to several Indian news agency following the French presidential visit in December 2010.

There are currently 750 French business establishments in India, and they generated 180,000 employments in 2010 including 52% of qualified jobs. In the same way, the growing significance of India at the international level goes together with an increasing presence in France, where there are currently 90 establishments (45 in 2005) for a total of 8,000 jobs.

French are more and more present on the Indian markets, perceived as growing, fast and voluminous but not easy to access. Let’s have a closer look at those companies and entrepreneurs who “tried India”.

Some are real barons, holding their grounds, pioneers in their fields, the “avant-gardistes” they often have been in India for many years. Others are “New wave” professionals, penetrating difficult sectors, their success is marked by new stores opening, a broader spectrum of clients and recognition as major players. Last but not least, the French who love to have the last word when it comes to savoir-vivre prove that they can be as bold as they are beautiful as new realists with a series of unexpected and foreseeing initiatives.

28 Impressions June-Aug 2011

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The avant-gardistes

After years of closed-economy, the country has been opening various sectors to foreign direct investments (FDI) though, still limited on some sectors. In the infrastructures, finance, pharmaceuticals, telecoms and equipment segments, the market has been booming and profitable to foreign companies as well.

“India teaches you to be patient” Total has been in India since 1993. The company has entered the market with the lubricant sector. Yves Jassaud, CEO of Lubricants Division of Total Oil India Private Limited explains to us why India is important for the French group.

The lubricant sector is our way to enter a new market. In India, we have been very active in the retail segment. Our Lubricants business is dominated by our distributors’ network, however, we do direct business with channels like workshops and industries under Total and Elf brands. Through TotalGaz we are engaged in importation, storage and distribution of LPG, and we have set up an importation state of art facility in Mangalore. We also have a presence on the bitumen sector thanks to our JV Total Vinergy, with a plant in Rajasthan. We plan to have a network of strategically located modified bitumen products required for construction of roads. The bitumen products are highend and innovative, which is part of our global strategy in India. We also market special fluids, with range of products of specialized application like, paints, drilling fluids, printing inks, cosmetic, and crop protection, among others.

Total is a multiactivities energy player, we do have various activities to service Indian customer, such as, Lubmarine,

The group in India employs 1000 people.

We have a network of plants and R&D center to support our multi-activities in India. Regarding the lubricants activities for instance, we have a lubricant plant in Navi Mumbai. Because of our diversity in the market, and the significant growth of our lubricants sub sectors activities, we are going faster than the overall market which is around 3 to 4% growth according to our internal estimates.

The biggest challenge for Total in India is to ensure that we create good awareness of our brands & company in line with the type of product innovation and services we bring for Indian consumer. We made a huge TV and Internet campaign in 2010 on the Total Quartz product for cars. Hence we made a communication campaign on the Elf brand on the bike segment with the endorsement of the celebrity Shahid Kapor.

About the lubricants, we have to focus on the innovations. Total has a great R&D in Europe, and we are launching a Technical Center in India by end of 2011. Most of our products portfolio for India is manufactured in India,.

We want to develop the fuel economy segment, in fact, some fuel economy

How have you seen the sector and the company evolve in India?

Total has a multipresence…

lubricants are already marketed for bikes, cars, and trucks. This innovative strategy is also true for other sectors, where we try every time to market top end products.

What is the core strategy of Total in India?

What are your main challenges?

Other challenge for fast developing economy like India is to ensure that we attract and retain good talent for assuring that Total as a company can fulfill its growth objectives. In this perspective we develop and offer international and national mobility and personal development training to employees. French if not necessary is always an advantage so we recommend and help them to learn it especially for mobility programs in France as we send teams in R&D. One also needs to manage the complex administrative and tax system in India .In 2012, there should be a tax homogenization, but yet, we are seen a very complicated repartition of our stocks of products through the country.

Any advice for foreign or French companies?

Yves Jassaud

I

n the INFRASTRUCTURE of the $4.8 trillion increase in output segment one can count today by 2020”. Spending on construction in projects that reached 140 billions India will overtake Japan, which faces of euros in 2010. According to the lowest construction growth among the Ubifrance agency the growth in developed nations, by 2018, when India that segment should reach 10% on the will become the world’s third-largest 2010- 2015 frame. A substantial increase construction market, PwC said. of 53 % of construction vehicles and mining equipment should be seen as In February, the French cement group well. According to a document from the Lafarge forecast a 3 to 6 % rise in 2011 French agency the Indian Minister of demand led by expanding economies Railways has grand projects to modernize in China, India, Indonesia, Turkey and the railways (220 billion of euros) by Brazil - where it has 70 percent of its 2020. The urban population being capacity. The group is launching soon constantly increasing, the government is a new project in Chennai. The cement also planning to invest 1,5 billions euros major’s research arm, Lafarge Research in monorail in main cities which are Centre, and IIT-M last year signed a already planning this transport by 2014.

Memorandum of Understanding, under As much as 17 cities should which the IIT’s civil “ Opportunities engineering department see a major development of their local trains and set up a laboratory to for French buses as well. Opportunities carry out joint research companies are for French companies are programs.

Lafarge many, especially if serious Research Centre has many, especially innovations are poured funded the laboratory if serious in. Systra, Thales, Veolia to the tune of Rs.1.5 Transport, Alstom, Vossloh, over a period of innovations are crore Egis, Cogifer, AREP are three years. The French already on the market. poured in.” group has four cement plants in India - two The Bauma Conexpo show in Chhattisgarh, and (BC India) held last February 2011 at one grinding plant each in Jharkhand the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, and West Bengal. Lafarge has also set saw more than 22,000 visitors from 69 up a gypsum plasterboard plant at countries. The event, a joint venture Khushkhera in Rajasthan. between Messe München International (MMI) and the Association of Equipment The ENERGY challenge is another Manufacturers (AEM) was the first decisive segment for India: from 1990 to international fair of infrastructures and 2008, India’s population grew from 850 equipment in India, and a huge success. million to over 1.1 billion while energy consumption grew more than twice CONSTRUCTION should be indeed as fast. Some 400 million Indians still another segment to watch closely. have no access to electricity and carbon According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers emissions are growing dramatically.

(PwC) report published in March 2011, The oil and gas industry has been “global construction will outpace GDP instrumental in fuelling the rapid growth growth over the next 10 years, with China of the Indian economy. India has total and India accounting for 38 percent reserves (proved & indicated) of 1,201

Oil and Gaz through Hazira facilities for the import activities (liquid gas) Atotech on derivative products from petrochemicals, Cray Valley Coatings resins and additives, and Bostik for adhesives and sealants.…

Well, one has to keep in mind that although India has huge potential market with 1.2 billion people whatever is the segment, they have to assess the real capacity to penetrate the market.

The company has also helped us understand the country with crosscultural training programs applied to business and management field. One needs to be conscious of the cultural differences to overcome them. Last but not least to have a long term strategy, because India teaches you to be patient.

 million

metric tonnes (MMT) of crude oil and 1,437 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas as on April 1, 2010, according to the basic statistics released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The crude oil imports accounted for 75% in 2006 (which 60% are from Middle East), underlying a strong need to find innovative resources and sources.

The domestic production of crude oil has been in the range of 32-34 MMT over the past few years.

The country exported 50.974 MMT of petroleum products during 2009-10.

The latest India Oil & Gas Report from BMI (Business Monitor International) forecasts that the country will account for 13.21% of Asia Pacific regional oil demand by 2015, while providing 10.41% of supply.

Oil imports are growing rapidly, because demand growth is outstripping the pace of supply expansion. However, as M.Yves Jassaud, CEO of Total Oil Lubricants explains (see interview), the Indian market is “voluminous but hard to access”.

Availability of natural gas, including imported LNG, is also likely to increase in the country by over 52 per cent to 271.92 million cubic meters a day by 2013-14.

Foreign presence will be felt strongly: the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) will provide US$ 100 million in financing for the US$ 300 million South Asia Energy Fund, part of the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

The South Asia Energy Fund will invest in solar, wind, hydropower, advanced biofuels and natural gas projects, with focus on Indian investment.

Hence, the government has been taking many progressive measures to create conducive policy and regulatory framework for attracting investments.

FDI are allowed up to 100 per cent under the automatic route in exploration activities of oil and natural gas fields, infrastructure related to marketing of petroleum products, actual trading and marketing of petroleum products, petroleum product pipelines, natural gas

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Vision-2015, a policy document approved in 2009, for the oil sector, will focus on expanding the marketing network as well as quality of the products and services to customers covering four broad areas of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), kerosene, auto fuels and compressed natural gas/ piped natural gas.

PHARMACEUTICAL sector in India is another huge challenge. One of the fastestgrowing pharmaceutical markets in the world, with a market size that has nearly doubled since 2005, the India market is expected to reach US$ 20 billion by 2015.

According to an Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) study India , accounts for 8 per cent of global pharmaceutical production. Indian firms produce about 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories. In addition, Indian firms manufacture approximately 500 different active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Manufacturing costs in India are approximately 35 to 40 per cent of those in the US due to low installation and manufacturing costs.

Moreover, according to an Ernst & Young and industry body study, the increasing population of the higher-income group in the country, will open a potential US$ 8 billion market for multinational companies selling costly drugs by 2015.

As 100 % FDI are allowed in this sector, India might see more and more foreign companies entering this segment in a very near future, to consolidate the market or to take part of this immense growth.

Further, IMS Health India, which tracks drug sales in the country through a network of nationwide drug distributors, estimates the healthcare market in India to reach US$ 31.59 billion by 2020. In an altogether different but prosperous sector, BANKING has been doing well for the French. As the CEO of BNP Paribas, M. Jacques Michel points out, India is a fast developing economy to watch for closely (see interview). Indeed, BNP Paribas has been later on followed 32 Impressions June-Aug 2011

“India accounts for 8 per cent of global pharmaceutical production.

Indian firms produce about 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories”.

by Societe Generale CIB who established its presence in India in 1978, first with a representative office in New Delhi and then with a branch office in Mumbai India’s financial centre - as from 1985.

SG CIB opened a second branch in New Delhi in 1993.

Last but not least, India remains a TECHNOLOGY driven economy.

National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM)—the apex body for software services in India— has recently released in the publicationStrategic Review 2011, that the IT-BPO sector’s revenue as a proportion of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown from 1.2 per cent in 1998-99 to an estimated 6.4 per cent in 2010-11.

Further, NASSCOM predicts that the Indian IT-BPO revenues may touch US$ 225 billion by 2020.

Further, as per NASSCOM, within exports, IT Services segment was the fastest growing segment, growing by 22.7 per cent over FY2010, and aggregating export revenues of US$ 33.5 billion, accounting for 57 per cent of total exports.

Domestic BPO segment is expected to grow by 16.9 per cent in 2010-11, to reach US$ 2.8 billion, driven by demand from voice based services, in addition to adoption from emerging verticals, new customer segments, and value based transformational outsourcing platforms.

According to NASSCOM, by 2014-15, the Indian IT-BPO industry is expected to contribute about 7 per cent to global annual GDP and create about 14.3 million employment opportunities (direct and indirect). By 2020, new segments (SMBs), new verticals (Public sector and Defence,

A global and French success story: Capgemini

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, enables its clients to transform and perform through technologies.

India who joined the company in 2000 and was part of the core team that initiated and setup the offshore capabilities in India. Training is a major strength in the company that provides facilities such as its own training center in Hyderabad, in house teachers coming from all over the world, and a particular accent put on the mix of nationalities during the sessions. “At any entry level, employees have to go for training. We add a language component as well since most of our clients are based in European countries, not all English speaking”.

Healthcare, Utilities, Printing and Publishing) and new geographies (BRIC) will account for 50-55 per cent growth in the addressable market. India supply base is well placed to tap this potential, with their two decade long experience, mature service capabilities, presence in almost all verticals, global footprint and an abundant talent pool.

For India’s top technology firms focused on the markets of US and Europe, the country’s US$ 15-billion-plus domestic market for IT services is the latest battleground. In a year when top markets for software exports are recovering and expected to grow at less than 5 per cent, India’s domestic market for IT is set to grow three times faster, mainly on the back of higher government spending on IT and new outsourcing projects from local banks.

Among French companies however, the drive is set by leaders such as Cap Gemini (read interview). Indeed, in July 2010, a consortium between Mahindra Satyam, the brand identity of Satyam Computer Services Ltd, a leading global consulting and IT services provider and Morpho (Safran group), the world leader in biometric technologies and identification solutions, were selected as one of the key partners to implement and deliver the Aadhaar program by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The joint program aims at delivering over 600 million identity numbers over the next four years.

“The smart cards, like the SIM cards, the chips, security devices, and all the related technology are definitely going to offer huge opportunities for foreign companies. That’s why we strongly advice innovative start-ups to come with a strong project and solid strategy to enter the Indian market” explains M. Commeau, expert, from the Ubifrance office in Bangalore.

Capgemini

LNG pipelines, market study and formulation and petroleum refining in the private sector.

UIDAI

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Present in 40 countries, Capgemini reported 2010 global revenues of EUR 8.7 billion and employs around 110,000 people worldwide and 32 000 in India alone, while the Mumbai office counts 10,000 employees.

Set across 7 cities (Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Pune and Delhi), Capgemini is a pioneer in the IT industry and one of the first company to understand and value the strength of the Indian market, which is today a major segment of the activity of the group.

Growing rapidly, the company is hiring every year. “We hired around 17 000 people last year and we are looking at increasing the workforce by 10 000 more this year and 50 000 in a couple of years” says Aruna Jayanthi, CEO Capgemini

Alliance Française de Bombay has been providing certified French tuitions to the staff. The business growth of the company is also determined by the strong position Capgemini is taking in the Business Process Management (BPM) market. There is rising demand for BPM as organizations seek to be increasingly agile to adapt to rapidly evolving, competitive market conditions including global competition, changing legislation, and economic pressures with the need to speed up time-to-market, increase business value and lower costs.

At the same time, BPM technologies are quickly developing to provide true, measurable value in enabling business process improvement. According to Gartner, the BPMS (business process management suite) market size in 2009 was valued at $1.9 billion growing to $3.4 billion by 2014, a compound annual growth rate of 12.2%.

“We hired around 17 000 people last year and we are looking at increasing the workforce by 10 000 more this year and 50 000 in a couple of years” Aruna Jayanthi CEO Capgemini, India Indeed Capgemini is enforcing its local BMP resources and innovative process to provide better and more specific services to clients. “India is growing to become a world techno hub and as it one of our major market today, it has turned into a real strength” indicates Aruna Jayanthi.

Neha S. Kunte, former student of Alliance Française de Bombay, joined Capgemini in December 2008 as an interpretertranslator. Within Capgemini, Neha is working with a team of around twenty on a SAP project (SAP is an Enterprise Resource Planning software implemented worldwide). Within this service line, she is the link between the French client, and the members of her team who are SAP experts.

French, Neha says, has always be a great part of her life. Today, she feels she has a great advantage working with Capgemini since it gives her the chance to combine two passions of hers: the French language and technology.

Her future plans are to present Capgemini’s French language capabilities to French clients by assisting in pre-sales activities & presentations.

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 33

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COVER STORY How important a role does HR play in the bank?

We are aware that India has a large pool of talent, not only for BNP Paribas in India but also in the Group. There are strong opportunities for mobility within the company for our employees. Training is extremely important and so is hiring.

Depending on needs and requirements, we offer language courses such French, Mandarin and Japanese to name a few.

We also work closely with reputed Indian institutes such as IIM and IIT and to facilitate exchange programs with French business schools. Last year, with the support of the French Embassy in India, we sponsored 17 students from IIM to Essec in Cergy Pontoise. One problem we face like other companies, is the high attrition rate in India although given our strong corporate values, it tends to be lower at BNP Paribas.

The banking sector is doing well, although the retail segment is yet not open. However that is not the main objectives of foreign banks as developing and building strong assets in India dominate.

Meet Jacques Michel, CEO of BNP Paribas, a bank associated with India since 1860, the second oldest in the country (read box) and partner of Alliance Française de Bombay.

How does BNP Paribas perceive the Indian market?

What is the bank’s forte in India? What is the impact of being French?

We have a longstanding presence in our corporate and investment banking franchise. In addition to our eight branches in India, we also operate through three subsidiaries and eight JVs and employ 11,000 Indian employees directly and indirectly. As for being French, I would say that BNP Paribas is an international bank with a French origin. Having said that, we only have 34 expats employed by the bank in India out of which 12 are French. Therefore, the mindset and work culture is very much Indian and international. Given our French origin, we often participate in cultural and social work with French organizations such as Alliance Française, for example. I am also President of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a French Foreign Trade Advisor (CCEF).

34 Impressions June-Aug 2011

BNP

India is one of the most attractive business destinations in the world today and offers a multitude of opportunities to foreign firms who are looking at expanding their businesses internationally. We are extremely committed to India and out of 85 countries where BNP Paribas has a presence, only very few countries have been designated by our top management as being of strategic importance, and India is one of them.

How do you explain it?

I feel that the bank’s strong corporate culture contributes to creating a sense of belongingness among our employees.

We also pay attention to smaller gestures such as recognizing family emergencies and providing medical insurance. I believe money is not the only driving force, other factors such as good working relationships with colleagues and management and potential for growth within the company also make a difference.

What is your take on the markets in India and what can you tell us about the bank’s strategy?

Given the growth momentum in India at present, our aim is to double the size of our Indian business by 2015. As of today, India’s contribution to the Group’s global revenue 1% and we aim to double this in the next few years. We see this growth coming from our Corporate and Investment Banking business by adding lines like debt capital markets, equity capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. This will be complemented by an increased presence in asset gathering activities, through Wealth Management and Asset Management as well as our joint ventures, notably Geojit.

In 1860, the BNP bank then called the Comptoir d’Ecompte, decided to set up an office in Calcutta and then in Bombay. They thought that the bank had to participate in the growth of a country which was already a major player in international business.

The office in Bombay resisted and developed itself, even through the crisis and wars that shacked the country and the world. At that time, they were doing business exporting cotton and gold from time to time, sizing every opportunity the market was offering. At the end of the Second World War and shortly after the independence, the growth of the offices was symbolized by the necessity to find larger premises.

Thus, a new office in Bombay opened in the French Bank Building in 1953.

Then this expansion continued and today, BNP India has a network of eight branches across the major cities of the country: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. The group’s expansion in India will be pursued either through existing businesses or by developing new activities taking advantage of its experience in the country.

G.J Read : The History of BNP Paribas in India: 1860-2010, BNP Paribas

The New Wave

Interestingly, for the French, the “savoir-faire” and excellence, especially in R&D can meet with the expectations of the Indian market.

F

rench are good as innovators, a particularly true statement as per energies are concerned (read feature on Akuo energies.).

However, one needs to create himself a niche in the more traditional sectors. For instance, India is a particularly difficult market for the food and agriculture sector. As Jérome Desquiens from the Ubifrance concern department puts it, “usually France exports mainly wine and liquors, transformed products and products from the agricultural sector. In India is the reverse phenomenon that we observe”. Indeed the laws in India are still restricting the access to the market, as custom duty and taxations are the main barriers for alcohol. “I just told one of my client, a Champagne producer, not to come, as he was too small and the market too restrictive right now. But he was a bit adamant and after realizing by himself the situation, he was quite disappointed” explains Germain Araud, from the the French consulting firm Altios, in Delhi.

“The market will be interesting in 3 or 4 years, providing that the regulations change” underlines Jérome Desquiens.

Indeed the European Union and India are negotiating free trade agreements in 2011, amongst them, the sensitive wine questions. “However, balances Jérome Desquiens, even if the custom barriers are lifted, each Indian state is still allowed to rethink and revise their own local taxations accordingly” which neans, that the perspective scenario on the market are still pretty gloomy. Yet, France is leader on imported products with 38% of the imported market dedicated to wines.

Apart from the major players, such as Pernod-Ricard, not only importing but also producing local whiskies (9 Hills), few small companies have been successful.

India is also a difficult destination for food products. But the French could be

of help regarding equipment as India lacks infrastructures and knowledge on cold chains for example as on other conservation techniques and means to increase agricultural productivity. The Serap group for instance has started a milk tank processing unit in Gujarat, after initially exporting their equipment to India. “Everything is to set up in India.

But even for experts, they will need to go through a local partner. Besides the agricultural sector is always a bit politically or administratively sensitive so one needs to know the market very well” recommends Jérome Desquiens.

Another active and prospering segment is the retail sector. According to the Business Monitor International study on the second quarter of 2011, the total retail sales for India will grow from 395,96 billion US dollars to 785,12 billion US dollars. The report highlights new opportunities for smaller cities and points out that overall, the annual retail sales growth should grow at 12,2%. Another aspect of retail is mass grocery retail. The sales are expected to increase by 218% and reach 27,67 billion dollars by 2015.

Presence of foreign players is still limited, as they can only have a say on the mass market and, also, not on the multi-brands. However, companies like Carrefour need that first foot to enter the market. “We believe an opening will come with certain conditions for FDIs. For example, they will have to keep local products or work with local partners. There are opportunities, again in the infrastructures and equipement required. Meanwhile monobrands, like L’Occitane, are doing well” sums-up Jérome Desquiens.

Louis Vuitton, la marque des Maharajahs

Les liens entre la Maison Louis Vuitton et l’Inde remontent aux années 1920, lorsque le malletier imagina des bagages exceptionnels pour les plus grandes familles de Maharajahs.

Avec l’ouverture de magasins en Inde : New Delhi, inauguré en 2003 suivi par Mumbai en 2004, Louis Vuitton souhaite, plus que jamais célébrer sa longue histoire avec l’Inde.

Aussi, quand l’Espace Louis Vuitton, lieu d’expression artistique et culturel, ouvre ses portes sur les Champs Elysées, l’Inde est un des tous premiers pays à y être célébré à travers l’exposition : L’Inde dans tous les sens, où des artistes d’art contemporain furent invités à aborder l’Inde contemporaine sur des registres très divers.

Plus près de nous, la maison Louis Vuitton a participé en Janvier 2010 à la rétrospective sur Albert Kahn intitulée The Albert Kahn Collection- Journeys to India à la National Gallery of Modern Art de Mumbai. Pour rendre hommage au célèbre mécène et à sa démarche, la maison Louis Vuitton y exposa des malles utilisées par les photographes d’Albert Kahn lors de leurs périples à travers l’Inde entre 1910 et 1920.

G.J

Indeed, high end brands are another segment the French are looking at in a expanding sector.

DR

BNP Paribas

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COVER STORY the exhibition Other Masters of India.

Organized by the Paris’ Musée du Quai Branly, the exhibition focuses on craftsmanship by the Indian Adivasi tribals. The Foundation also recently

The Hermes-India connection

A clear example of this liaison is the scarf ‘ La Danse du cheval Marwari’ (Dance of the Marwari horse) which has been specially reedited in limited edition to support the renovation of the Asiatic Library of Mumbai. Designed by Annie Faivre, in the centre of this scarf is positioned a beautiful white Marwari steed, the preferred colour of the Rajputs. The tips of the horse’s ear, his most salient feature, are turned towards one another in the shape of a crown. The other horses look at him, waiting for their turn to execute dressage. They are all sumptuously adorned in jewels and brocades, as precious as those of their riders.

Hermès recognition for the values of Indian craftsmanship goes further than product inspiration, as the Fondation d’Entreprise Hermès has sponsored

According to a 2010 report from Merrill Lynch Cap Gemini, the number of high networth individuals (HNIs, with financial assets of over 1 million dollars) has more than doubled compare to 2003, reaching today 127,000 people in India. The market is yet untapped, reports Mint in its special luxury edition (26/03/2011).

 From page 35

McKinsey India, states that the luxury market weights around 4 billion euros today but should reach 16 billion by 2015, defining a growth between 20 and 30%.

India has 4.5 million wealthy households, which earn more than $14,000 (R 6.3 lakh) a year and consume luxury products

36 Impressions June-Aug 2011

credits: Hermès

This year, after New Delhi and Pune, Hermès will open its third store in India, at Horniman Circle in Mumbai.

For Hermès, India has always been a source of great inspiration. The sights, sounds and colours of India have been translated into various Hermès products, from fragrances to fashion to scarves.

commissioned an art-fiction movie made by Nikhil Chopra, a contemporary Mumbai based artist well-known to Alliance Française de Bombay.

Scarf “ La Danse du cheval marwari” (The dance of the Marwari horse) by Annie Faivre / Hermès

and services. About 42% of this market is concentrated in Mumbai and Delhi.

The top eight Indian cities account for 60% of these households. However, the market is not consolidated yet. “In India, the high-end means something different from the French high-end” remarks Sébastien Andrieux, Ubifrance’s head in Mumbai and luxury expert. Some retail brands such as Promod or Celio can be considered like luxury in India while a Chanel or a Dior would be an even more luxurious products.

“The car’s market is tapping on these consumers too with brands such as BMW, Porsche, Rolls Royce… Yet we

believe in Ubifrance that there is a strong niche market in the decoration and house segment, as we observe Indian families living differently from their parents: young, hip, urban and nuclear families are those who are going to buy home products. We estimate the demand to grow from 20 to 30% per year” says M.Andrieux who reminds that for the first time the Art de vivre à la française exhibition will be held in New Delhi in July.

The automotive sector is also booming.

Despite the unsuccessful JV with Mahindra in 2010 (the Logan sales had dropped drastically), the French company Renault is all set to make a big

come-back. Indeed the company expects Indian clients vehicles that are adapted India to gain 20 places to become its 11th to their expectations”. largest market by 2013, “McKinsey India, by which time it will The group has stated sell six locally produced its objective to achieve states that the models.

50 % of its sales outside luxury market Europe in 2015, against “Let us look at how our 39% in 2010. It’s a new weights around growth is shaping up challenge for the Lion4 billion euros in our key emerging headed car company markets -Brazil, as Peugeot had to exit today but should Russia and India... As the Indian market in for India, with sales 1997 after a commercial reach 16 billion growing nine-fold in failure. by 2015, defining three years, it is set to gain 20 spots to become In the HOSPITALITY a growth between 11th in our ranking,” segment, many see the 20 and 30%”.

Renault Chairman and Indian market ready to CEO Carlos Ghosn expand dramatically. said while laying down the company’s New opportunities are laid out as foreign roadmap till 2016 reported the daily investors are now keen on running Mint (28/03/2011). themselves the properties (even acquiring them) rather than given their hotels The company has set a target to sell over on contract leases. “The hotel industry three million vehicles in 2013 globally, in India will see investments of about compared to 2.6 million units in 2010. $10.3 billion by 2015, doubling the room In India, it currently does not sell any capacity (of branded hotels) to 125,000” car. “In India, until now, we did not writes Dawn magazine (April 2011). The have vehicles adapted for the market industry is expected to balloon from and locally produced. In Chennai, we Rs150 billion at present to R 260 billion will launch production of Koleos and by 2015.

Fluence in 2011. We will localize a SUV in 2012, as well as small vehicles based on It’s high time for international players a Nissan platform, specifically designed (read the interview with Sofitel) to bring for India,” Ghosn said. fresh elements to seize their share of the market.

Is a real car race coming up? It seems that The Indian economy experienced Peugeot is also making its come-back tremendous growth over the past into the market. According to the website several years. For the Indian economy to rediff.com “Peugeot Citroen chairman continue this trajectory and to support Philippe Varin, along with a contingent its future growth, India is turning to of his top officials visited Andhra Pradesh renewable energies. and Tamil Nadu to meet the heads of both the state governments besides Renewable energy is indeed a key checking out the site for its proposed challenge for the country. On June 2010, car manufacturing plant in India. The India was one of the world leaders in company is planning a two-million unit installed renewable energy capacity, with capacity plant for an investment of about a total capacity of 17,594 MW (utility $1 billion.” Peugeot member of direction and non-utility), which represents and Asia director Grégoire Olivier approximately 10% of India’s total announced in an official press release installed electric generating capacity. from Paris that “India is a strategic market and this new implantation replies WIND POWER In 2009, India had to our ambition of being a more global the fifth largest installed wind capacity group. Like in China, we will offer to

“Everything is to set up in India. But even for experts, they will need to go through a local partner”. globally, only behind the United States, China, Germany, and Spain. India’s wind capacity totalled 12,009 MW at the end of June 2010 which represents 70% of India’s total renewable energy capacity.

SOLAR POWER is an important, although currently underutilized, energy resource in India. With 300 sunny days per year, the India Energy Portal estimates that around 12.5% of India’s land mass, or 413,000 km2, could be used for harnessing solar energy.

HYDRO ENERGY. The potential for hydro energy power in India is one of the greatest in the world. In 2008 it was the 7th largest producer of hydroelectric power after Norway.

BIOENERGY comes from organic material. In India, the use is focused on waste materials such as municipal, agricultural, or forest residues. Biomass is generally divided into three categories: biogas, solid biomass, and liquid bio fuels. Let’s hope India will tap on those developing sectors to provide clean energy to the world.

Harshad Sharma

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The New face of hospitality

Akuo energy, the bio-entrepreneur

The Sofitel Mumbai BKC is located in the new Central Business District of Mumbai – The Bandra Kurla Complex.

Even in your internal communication you are using a lot of French words, why is that?

At the core of our business is hospitality and what better way to show it than to blend two great cultures together to create a memorable experience for our guests. While we inject French in our communication, we have with great delight adopted ‘Namaskar’ into our vocabulary. Each guest at the hotel will be greeted by ‘Bonjour Namaskar’ to show our commitment to India and our roots in France.

What are the main challenges for Sofitel in India?

Sofitel is a collection of 130 ‘unique addresses’ worldwide, focusing on delivering Luxury experiences to our customers. Setting up a new business unit is challenging anywhere in the world as there are always regulations and particularities specific to each destination. In India, we have the wonderful opportunity to launch our brand in one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest growing economies. India is still in the early stages of its own growth potential and we are very excited to be a part of this journey.

Sofitel and its Ambassadors connect the world to French elegance through its collection of addresses, offering customers and partners personalised service that evokes emotion, performance and excellence. Working with renowned designers who share our vision, the design focus for Sofitel Mumbai BKC was to create a blend between France and India to offer our unique image of

38 Impressions June-Aug 2011

Sofitel Mumbai

How do you work on it? Do you adjust it for India?

How is it going to reflect on the training?

Sofitel Mumbai BKC will have almost 600 Ambassadors working in the hotel and our commitment to training them is paramount. As a brand, we offer training in knowledge of luxury, customer relations and operational expertise. We have over 20 dedicated training modules and access to 500 certified internal trainers around the world to develop our people in delivering the highest level of personalised services to our guests. These development opportunities will be further enhanced by our ongoing partnership with L’Alliance Francaise network in India to initiate our Ambassadors to French culture and language.

Newreka Passionate about nature, chemical engineers from IIT Mumbai, got together in 1997 to create Newreka Green Synth Technologies Pvt Ltd. New (Nature’s Enthusiasts’ World) combined with Eureka for the Vision To Reduce The Chemical Industrial Effluent.

Akuo

elegance and luxury in a completely new setting; a marriage of East and West and of cultures….very much like India itself.

With easy access to all major highways and tourist attractions in Mumbai, the hotel also provides convenient access to both Domestic and International Airports. Bandra Kurla Complex is the fastest developing financial hub in India due to the presence of major domestic and international financial institutions and banks, the National Stock Exchange, Bharat Diamond Bourse, Consulates of France and other countries and various new developments in the pipe line.

Bernd Schneider – Area General Manager, Sofitel India, gives Impressions a first glance into a brand that is synonymous with luxury and elegance, the French way.

Akuo Energy, a French company dedicated to development of renewable energies projects is a pioneer on the booming energy market in India.

Windmill park in Tamil Nadu

A l e x a n d r e Leymarie is not a fresher in India. A former investment banker, he was associated with Kotak bank for a couple of years in the country.

However, he always wanted to do things differently. “I have been interested by ecology, alternative energies for a while, and Akuo Energy seemed to me a good way to conciliate business and convictions”. The Akuo group, based in Paris has a network of offices across the globe. Akuo Energy in India is developing for the last 3 years, through its liaison office headed by Alexandre Leymarie. The company aims at finding sites and projects fit for developing renewable energies and propose them to investors for funding. Acting as an intermediary, the major difficulty is to gain the interest of suitable funders. “It is a very slow sector, and as pioneer it is very challenging. We spend a lot of time talking to the main actors in this market, to inform them, to educate them to what we do” explains M.Leymarie.

In India, to capitalize the acquisition and development of renewable energy projects, Akuo brings a new approach, the non-recourse financing which is

basically a loan where the lending bank is only entitled to repayment from the profits of the project the loan is funding, not from other assets of the borrower.

And most of these energy projects have a life time of over 20 years since the sector takes usually a long time to become profitable. “The wind power market is more successful because of a move from the Indian government a few years ago, which provided tax incentives to companies who invested in windmill parks. However it is not necessary that those sites are well kept or efficient. So we also need to assess them” underlines M.Leymarie. Besides there are not yet incentives for FDI in the sector and finding investors is a hard task since “most of them prefer a market that compensate faster and better”. However, Alexandre Leymarie is confident and relies on his local network of finance experts, energy specialists and his flair in targeting the right projects and investors to take on the market. “One needs to know how to convince a bank and in the same time deal with a head of a renewable energy company” he advices. “We are observing a slow change in the mentalities. The country is heavily energy deficient and I really believe the market will boom. And we can be the bridge between the Indian and the foreign funds right now”.

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This company focuses on reducing pollution generated in Chemistry intensive sectors such as Pharmaceuticals, dyes and pigments, agro-based. All of which require water as a key raw material and generate hazardous aqueous effluent streams.

Besides this, to create awareness in common man, industry and academic institutes they also formed a foundation named Green ChemisTree Foundation, under which they organize various activities to sensitize the Chemical community towards the magnitude of the environmental challenge.

They are also the investigator of a global platform - Industrial Green Chemistry World (IGCW), which brings together people from these sectors every alternate year, to discuss challenges, identify needs for the implementation of Green Chemistry on Industrial Scale.

Finally, their team is working towards the launch an e-portal to sensitize industrial community on Green Chemistry. Right now they are continuously creating awareness by organizing workshops and seminars in schools, colleges and academic institution.

G.J. June-Aug 2011 Impressions 39

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The New Realists

Suzette

They are bringing the best of France at your feet : good taste, good food and wine, amazing style and culture. And in return they hope you will appreciate their way of art de vivre!

In Mumbai, apart from the luxurious brands already in town, one can also shop at more discreet yet exclusive designed boutiques (read Le Mill story) or eat French home-food in the heart of town (read Suzette story). Yet, for food and restaurateurs innovators, the most difficult aspect of their businesses is to find a location, not only to elaborate a menu suitable to Indian tastes. The

40 Impressions June-Aug 2011

various orchestras or conservatories. “In Mumbai we play mainly at the NCPA. Last time was at the IIT-Powai. But in other towns it happened that we played also in strange places: garden, factories, orphanages. For us it’s always a great experience”. Auto sufficient, the festivals and the company try to bring out the love for western classical but also to involve students or music lovers more efficiently.

The musicians held master classes or workshops with NGOs. In 2011, it will also launch its label with the first record of the company: Arties Record, to be distributed through Rythme House in Mumbai.

Another form of French style start-up lie with innovations brought straight from France, as per the example of the very recent “ready-made” gift box company, Witty Gift. The start-up was created

by Manvinder Kohli and Frenchman Samuel Ziza, who realized that India had very few avenues for gifting experiences.

Their idea was simple, and yet really audacious. They wanted to offer thematic Gift Experience Boxes, containing a wide range of experiences/services, for every

taste: cultural, adventurous, leisure, wellbeing, culinary... “But establishing ourselves on the Indian market, says Justine Grandchamp, their associate, was a great challenge, even if being a pioneer with this product gave us a distinct advantage in terms of exclusivity with suppliers and recognition from customers. We had to lead exhaustive researches on all the legal aspects of the business, explain the concept, the benefits and conveniences of WittyGift boxes, find partners and above all come up with a great design for the boxes that would fit the Indian values and traditions as gifts in India are an important aspect of social and corporate interactions”.

With great efforts, WittyGift gained in recognition and was praised by major lifestyle publications in Mumbai. The company is today looking to expand the exciting categories to include experiences in Bangalore, Kolkata and Pune. They also plan to add new boxes: For Her, For Him, For Kids, Luxury…

And, as there is the word art in Art de vivre, one can consider cultural innovative initiatives such as the Art Loft. This multi-cultural activity center was founded by an art therapist, Leila Tayebaly, who strongly believes in

“Some young entrepreneurs have decided to try their luck developing their passion as businesses.” bridging art, well-being and knowledge together. Almost one year after the start of Art Loft, the team is still working on some tremendous project constantly trying to explore new fields, considering Mumbai as a giant art scene. During the next few months they’ll offer workshops following 3 main axis: Art Education with creative workshops for individuals, groups and corporates, but also conferences as well as art appreciation sessions Art Awareness, with Festivals, Exhibitions and private cultural events will be enhanced this year as well as Art and Well Being. Indeed, they have developed a unique team building program to help companies understand their HR situation, transform it and improve their employees’ performances.

They aim at creating a large community of artists to share, collaborate...and create.

Clea Chakraverty and Gaëlle Joly

But to French trio Jeremie, Antonia and Pierre, Suzette is the name of their 9 month old baby, the first French crêperie of Mumbai. “We had this project in mind for a while and since we all love crêpes, we decided to give it a try” say Pierre.

Besides, the crêpes are very similar to the Indian dosas, and it is a given that most people enjoy it. The trio has been in India for the last couple of years and wanted to cater to customers in the business areas.

Suzette would be the flagship restaurant of their future brand. “We want people to be able to enjoy a good healthy meal, even if quick, between two meetings or just sip coffee or tea in a nice environment” adds Antonia. All of them have mastered the art of making crêpes in an intensive class

Suzette

Currently the company aims at opening more salons in Mumbai and simultaneously exploring the market in Bangalore and Delhi. It plans to open 50 salons in the next 5 years.

However Art de vivre isn’t only related to food. Some young entrepreneurs have decided to try their luck developing their passion as businesses. Such is the case of Gauthier Herrmann. Gauthier Herrmann’s love story with India started by mistake. A classical cello player of world class, Gauthier Herrmann, was called in 2001 to replace a musician for a concert in Pune, organized by the Alliance Française. “It struck me. I just loved the place and the people!” Two years later, as he came back to play invited once more with the Alliance Française in India network with the Trio Confuoco band, he realized that very little was done to promote western classical in the country. “Most of the good western classical Indian musicians try to go abroad. India lacks infrastructures for this type of music, although there is an audience and people are also actually curious” he explains. The cello player decided to motivate two friends, residents of Pune and opened Arties Management Pvt.Ltd, sponsored by many French companies and the NCPA. The goal: to hold two classical music festivals per year. Each March and November, the company brings between 6 and 12 musicians from all over the world, from

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rêpe Suzette is a French dessert consisting of a crêpe with beurre Suzette, a sauce of caramelized sugar and butter, tangerine or orange juice, zest, and Grand Marnier or orange Curaçao liqueur on top, served flambé. The origins of the name Suzette differ according to the stories, some say it is linked to a famous French actress from the early 20th century, others, to King Edward VII.

Art Loft

Jean-Claude Biguine launched their first flagship salon in Mumbai, Bandra, in 2008. They currently have six outlets in India. When they took over this project, India emerged as one of the countries with untapped potential in this space. The growth figures were quite encouraging for an organized chain of salon and spa to explore the market.

It came across more as a challenge to consolidate the fragmented Indian market and to establish a brand which will lead in organizing this industry. “The entire concept of their salon is to offer superior beauty services at an accessible price point. Thus, Jean-Claude Biguine have French stylists and aestheticians who work along with trained Indian professionals. They also have their own range of 100% Biguine Bio organic range of skin products” explains Sneha Karkera, in charge of the Biguine salon in Bandra.

French up-market Chez-Vous restaurant could benefit from the old Sundance café space near Eros cinema to attract quickly its first customers. Today the restaurant is launching new customer’s services. “From the new service of home catering, provided by a Chef, to the take away service of great French wine, or the possibility to observe and participate in the kitchen, we are doing everything possible to provide the best of the French gastronomy” says Frédéric Fernandez.

According to him, the terrine de foie gras, the beef Chateaubriand, the croquemonsieur and all the other dishes of traditional French cuisine are the rage among the Indian’s customers.

Gauthier Herrmann

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he customized service industry is just blooming but already vibrant. Wellness, cosmetics and beauty are very much part of the French lifestyle and no wonder, if fruitful companies such as Jean-Claude Biguine, the French hair spa has already opened its fourth salon.

Taste a slice of Brittany in the heart of Nariman Point. Suzette is the brainchild of a young entrepreneurial trio and a delight to the palate.

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The crêperie has entirely being designed by these young entrepreneurs. The design is sober yet classy, elegant without being cold or impersonal. “We didn’t want a French cliché look with squared table-cloth and wood everywhere. So we went for the

industrial touch” says Antonia. They made simple wooden tables, stools and benches, iron chairs and gave the whole place a very edgy look with original prints from the old French magazine Suzette. For those who want to get distracted while awaiting their lunch, there are coffee table books on France, business and current affair papers (Mint, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Tehelka, Business Standard), French literature in English as well as wi-fi. The menus are rich with a big and tasty list of veg and non-veg items (salads and crêpes).

Located on the premises of an old Barista coffee shop in Nariman Point, Suzette has all the advantages of being a great rendezvous point.

Le Mill, a conceptual and innovative store

Discover three young and bold entrepreneurs who decided to bring some of the best of fashion and design, global and local, in one of the poorest area of Mumbai.

Suzette

in September 2010, at the Blé Noir school near Brest, in Brittany. “We use organic Indian flour for the sweet crêpes and we import the organic buckwheat flour for the savory ones as it is not possible to source it here. However we use Indian products as much as possible, like the mozzarella, which is produced by Italian entrepreneurs with buffalo milk in Pune” underlines Jeremie.

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We love it because of: - Affordable prices (a crêpes + salad + coffee formula costs R 300) - Timings: From 8h30am onwards Could be better: the toilets are located outside and the café is really small, so better call and book a table !

- Tel: 022 2288 0055

L’Alliance Française de Bombay est une vieille dame d’une éternelle jeunesse.

Créée en 1938 par la volonté de personnalités animées d’une même passion pour la culture et la langue françaises, elle devient un véritable centre culturel en 1948 avec l’ouverture des premiers cours et l’organisation de manifestations culturelles.

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onnue et reconnue par des générations de francophiles et de francophones, elle a suivi le rythme de croissance économique et culturelle de la ville et son développement géographique.

promouvoir les échanges et le dialogue entre la culture indienne et française, la création contemporaine et les débats d’idées à travers une programmation ouverte et plurielle (environ deux cents évènements par an).

Aujourd’hui, si elle a conservé son siège emblématique à Theosophy Hall, dans le centre historique et administratif, au sud de la ville, elle offre des cours de langue française dans 6 centres linguistiques desservant au mieux les principaux quartiers de la ville. De 110 étudiants en 1952, presque 2000 en 1998, elle en compte aujourd’hui environ 4000 et assure des cours dans 25 sociétés françaises et indiennes, sociétés dans lesquelles elle retrouve avec grand plaisir d’anciens étudiants qui grâce à leur bilinguisme y ont été recrutés.

Accueillant le Bureau de Campus France, elle participe activement avec lui à la promotion des études en France.

Sa médiathèque, riche de plus de 10 000 titres (romans, essais, CD, DVD) offre en libre accès une information et une documentation principalement sur la France mais aussi sur l’Inde à travers des guides touristiques, des livres d’Art et des romans traduits en français fort utiles aux nouveaux arrivants soucieux de s’initier à la culture et à l’art indien.

Partenaire des grandes institutions culturelles de Mumbai, elle s’attache à

A ces divers services s’ajoute celui de traduction et d’interprétation homologué par toutes les représentations diplomatiques francophones présentes à Mumbai.

Au fil des années, l’Alliance Française de Bombay s’est développée à l’unisson de Mumbai et cela grâce au prestige des différents comités et de leurs présidents

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s I drive on PD Mello Rd, I wonder how it came to the mind of Julie, Cecilia and Aurélie to settle a high-end luxury concept store in the dockyard areas. Flair is the answer. Hidden on a small lane away from the main road, in the middle of slums, warehouses and busy dockers and their families, I discover an unique place. Le Mill is based on 1500 square meters old rice warehouse from the 20’s that belongs to one of the partner’s in-law’s family.

“This is the most important reason why we decided to work here: space is the main issue in Mumbai and this was just amazing. Because the rent is less than in a place like Colaba or Bandra we could afford to keep our prices more accessible compare to some of our competitors who are forced to include in their margins the price of the real-estate. Of course we didn’t expect to start right away with such a huge and ambitious store!” smiles Julie Leymarie. She moved to Mumbai four years ago, as an employee of L’Oreal, and coincidentally met in the first month of her arrival Cecilia Morelli Parikh, who had come to launch Vogue in India, and Aurélie de Limelette who was working with Hermès. The girls being well introduced in the fashion, creative and luxury world had an eye for all things elegant and beautiful. In 2010 the projects took shape and in March

2011, Le Mill was launched. Based on the idea of a exclusive and concept shop like Merci, in Paris, the store presents mainly designers who outsource in India their products for European exports.

“We wanted such brands to be available in the Indian market as well” underlines Julie Leymarie. Hence the brands are never more expensive than abroad, and, at times 10 to 30 % cheaper. Nonetheless, prices go from R300 for a simple colourful candle to R48,000 for a soft silk t-shirt from The Row, the brand set up by Hollywood actresses and sisters MaryKate and Ashley Olsen. The average price per product is R10,000.

visit. Locally made furniture (designed by the trio), imported Scandinavian lamps or exclusive range of Jaipur Rugs carpets (who used to sell only in the USA) are on display while one can browse to the exquisite arts de la table section. In the clothes section, French and British designers with an Indian touch or connexion like Heimstone or Thierry Colson, have been picked up by the trio.

Top Indian designers such as Anamika Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh or Savio John have worked on exclusive and unique collection for Le Mill and chosen with the guidance of the fashion consultant and editor (Vogue) Anaita Shroff Adajania.

The 1500 square meters are tastefully appropriated. As I walk in, I am welcomed by a series of Indian birds in paper and textiles made by designers Mrugen Rathod and Siddhartha Karawal. Crows, parakeets and Indian cranes become your mute companions during your

For those who wish to take a break, a cute café held by partner Arjun, awaits you by the flower shop. Conviviality is the mot d’ordre in Le Mill. But how to deal with the contrast between this super luxurious space in a super underprivileged area?

“We were conscious of that fact of course, hence we decided to try to be part of the neighbourhood as much as possible. We hired many people from the area. We are also part of the Magic Bus, an NGO that tries to help the youth on the dockyard areas. We are currently financing the first of a 10 years training in wood or tapestry” explains Julie Leymarie. According to her, the area is bound to develop. A new art gallery should open soon across the road and more people seem to consider the East of South-Mumbai for business and work space.

qui se sont succédés, aux compétences des professeurs qui y enseignent et au dynamisme de son personnel dont la passion pour la langue et la culture françaises est toujours aussi vive.

Anne Dubourg, Directrice de l’AF de Bombay Anaita Shroff Adajania, Julie Leymarie, Cecilia Morelli Parikh and Aurélie de Limelette

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Atout France, the French way to France

India is a strong market for lawyers as well

Indian law is complex but with more and more foreign investments pouring in, one needs to be updated about what is going on.

India boasts a domestic travel figure of around 600 million tourists a year, and more than 11 million overseas travellers of which 4 million are for leisure purposes. With the number of overseas travellers increasing steadily, more and more Indians seem to be developing a taste for international destinations.

How do you make France more visible?

Atout France regularly organises press trips for journalists who provide valuable coverage for destinations and experiences across France in daily newspapers, magazines and trade journals. Likewise, similar trips are organised for shooting crews from wellknown television channels shooting travel-centric programmes across France. Within the Travel Trade, Atout France has organised several thematic familiarization trips such as MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) for decision makers and heads of leading travel organisations in order to acquaint them with the myriad convention facilities France has to offer.

Recently, the company has begun promoting three separate events in France centred on Art and Culture under the banner “France celebrates India”. ‘Indian Highway VI’ in Lyon, ‘Monumenta 2011 featuring Anish Kapoor’ and ‘Paris, Delhi, Bombay’ in Paris are grand exhibitions of Art and Culture with a distinctively Indian flavour to them.

Can you give us figures on Indian travellers ?

It is extremely encouraging for Atout France to see a growth in tourist arrivals from its inception in this market since 2002. From 1,00,000 Indian visitors in 2002, our country welcomed an approximate of 2,30,000 visitors in 44 Impressions June-Aug 2011

2010. The average Indian spends a combined amount of around 150€ daily on Shopping, Food & Beverage, Sightseeing and Entertainment.

Who is the average Indian traveller? Do you see an evolution over the years in the type of person going to France?

Of all Indian tourist travel to France, the majority are groups and families.

However, given the growing influx of travellers from other segments, we have decided to target Individual travellers Families and high-end couples which we classify as Double Income No Kids or ‘DINK’s. Over the last few years, we have observed a change in the profile of the Indian traveller. They are open to experimenting with new concepts such as self drive holidays, wine trails, and discover new destinations in France. We are trying our best to demystify France and make it more accessible to the modern Indian Traveller.

What do you think the Indian traveller loves most about France?

Paris has held a special place in the hearts and minds of Indian travellers for a long time as the Mecca of Romance, but besides this very personal and intimate pursuit, the French capital has also been popular with groups and families.

Attractions like the Grevin Wax Museum and the Seine River cruises, Parc Astérix and Disneyland Paris have been a must

Atout France India

How is tourism perceived in India in general?

for families with children. The beautiful landscapes and beaches of the ProvenceRiviera have also been a very popular destination, with, at its heart, Nice, the queen of the Riviera, nicknamed “Nice la belle” (Beautiful Nice) and Cannes, an almost mythic attraction because of its famed film festival and the red carpet.

For the future, we plan on promoting France’s wine regions, wine tours and overseas French territories. Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne-Ardenne are some of the wine regions we look forward to promoting in the Indian market. Tahiti and Reunion are amongst the most remote and pristine destinations in the world, and we are proud to have them as part of the list of territories we intend to promote here in India.

Although foreign lawyers cannot practice directly in India, many foreign experts and lawyers start collaborations with reputed Indian law firms. Hence, for the French law firm DS Avocats, based in Paris and specialized on Asia, India is a key market. A lawyer in charge of the India desk in Paris has started his expertise with an internship in Mumbai.

Today, he travels constantly between France and India and addresses issues of Indian clients dealing with France or French entrepreneurs who want to approach the Indian market. Among Indian law firms, some, like Little & Company, have a good understanding of foreign clients. At Little & Co, a company founded 155 years ago and advisor of the East India Company, the lawyers have also a strong association with France, thanks to the efforts made by Dara Mehta, Vice-President of the Alliance Française de Bombay committee, a renowned Solicitor of India and partner of the firm and an adviser of many French clients in India. On the eve of 3rd January, 201, the French Government conferred one of its highest civilian honors – Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite i.e the National Order of Merit upon Mr. Mehta, to acknowledge his unparalleled and untiring contribution to the preservation and causes of French education and culture in India. Little & Co employs today 50 lawyers and 110 staff.

M. Dara Mehta (Little & Co) receives les Insignes de Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite by Consul general of France in Mumbai M.François Pujolas early 2011.

Témoignage: Divya Malcom, avocate francophone chez Little & Company En 2006, l’avocate Divya Malcom rejoint Little & Co., où elle s’est spécialisée dans l’immobilier. Même si elle n’utilise que rarement le français dans son travail, « les cours que j’ai suivi à l’Alliance Française de Bombay quand j’avais 16 ans ont été un plus ». Aujourd’hui, à 32 ans, ces connaissances lui ont permis de « regarder les choses sous un autre angle, d’être moins conventionnelle. Par exemple, les vieilles lois anglaises toujours apprises en Inde étaient écrites dans une sorte de dialecte Anglo-normand. Un grand nombre de phrasés latins sont donc utilisés dans ma profession et je suis sûre que je les comprends grâce à mes notions de français ».

Little & Co

Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency is not a young company but it keeps on revolving every year. One needs creativity to attract the Indian tourists. Discover with Catherine Oden, director of Atout France in India, why France is today on the road-map of the Indian traveller.

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Conseils de pro

Venir en Inde : oui mais comment ?

Faire des affaires en Inde

Les entreprises françaises implantées en Inde recrutent régulièrement des stagiaires en commerce international, dans l’informatique, la mode, les cosmétiques et la gastronomie.

« L’erreur qui est souvent faite c’est de considérer l’Inde uniquement comme un marché de volumes et d’oublier la difficulté d’accès au marché » Yves Jassaud, CEO Total Oil, Mumbai « Les Indiens ne vous attendent pas !

Ils veulent bâtir un business ensemble, et non être considérés juste comme des cibles de ventes » Johann Sponar, expert Inde, cabinet de consultant Salvéo, Lyon.

Sur les salaires, la RH

« Ne sous-estimez pas la valeur de vos collaborateurs indiens. Les cadres dirigeants en Inde sont au niveau des salaires européens. Beaucoup d’Indiens de 30 à 60 ans ont une expérience à l’international ou dans des sociétés étrangères. Ils savent ce qu’ils valent!»

Germain Araud, Altios, cabinet de consultant, New-Delhi

Ubifrance

« En dehors d’une bonne politique salariale, une vraie attention aux besoins de nos employés indiens peut changer la donne. Cela peut se traduire par de petits gestes, sur la protection sociale par exemple » Jacques Michel, Chief Executive, BNP Paribas, Mumbai

IFCCI-CCIP

L’Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) est une des institutions incontournables lorsqu’il s’agit de faire des affaires en Inde. Depuis début 2011, la Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris en Inde s’allie à l’IFCCI. « L’idée est de redynamiser la Chambre et ses activités et de recentrer l’attention des entreprises qui sont souvent perdues devant l’offre de services, de cabinets de consultants » explique Laura Prasad, secrétaire générale de l’IFCCI et directrice de la CCIP à Mumbai.

Les avantages de l’IFFCI :

 Son annuaire de 450 membres, entreprises françaises et indiennes, à demander à l’IFCCI chaque avril.  L’IFCCI accompagne aussi les entreprises indiennes (marché du MIDEST en novembre)  Domiciliation d’entreprise : les nouveaux bureaux de l’IFCCI à Mumbai, permettent aux entreprises de disposer d’un espace de travail d’une dizaine de postes. A noter qu’il existe aussi ce type de service dans les bureaux IFCCI de Delhi (3 postes) et Chennai (8 postes).  L ’ I F C C I propose une activité de portage salarial.  L ’ I F C I I ouvrira en 2011 un service-emploi, avec le soutien du Consulat de France à Bombay, permettant d’aider les Français cherchant un emploi en Inde.

IFFCI : www.ifcci. org.in

UBIFRANCE in India

Ubifrance, with a presence in four centers (New-Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai) is headed by Patrick Manon in Delhi and provides an expertise by sector and a strong network of public and private economic actors or main contacts (from ministries to potential partners).

The agency helps French companies to start their prospect on the Indian market right from the beginning.

Trade fairs, B2B meetings, market studies are done by the agency. In Mumbai, Ubifrance is managed by Sébastien Andrieux, also the sector expert of MHS (Mode-Habitat-Santé). “We survey the market very attentively and also identify the most niche sectors in relation with the French offer. India is still scary for many French economic actors but gradually we are seeing more and more French companies, often small scale industries, coming to us”. He has hence observed a rise of 30% in 2010 from 2009, as 450 French companies came to India., More than 300 French companies are already settled in India, through 750 subsidiaries, thus creating 180 000 direct jobs. And according to Sébastien Andrieux, 2011 is already quite hectic. “ I think that many French companies have been a bit disappointed by the Chinese market and many realized also that nowadays, you have to count on China AND India, not OR” he analyses.

Ubifrance: www.ubifrance.fr

Did you know?

India is the focus country for Ubifrance in 2011. End of September 2011, do not miss the “Rencontres technologiques f ranco-indiennes”(Franco-Indian Technological Meet), a unique multiple event that will last one week across three cities in India.

Avec un stage

Le visa à demander pour effectuer un stage en entreprise est le visa étudiant (de 6 mois ou un an). Il s’obtient auprès du VFS (http://www.vfs-in-fr.com), le centre de demandes des visas pour l’Inde, organisme officiel chargé par l’Ambassade de l’Inde de la délivrance de tous les visas pour le pays.

Gaëlle Joly se remémore le parcours laborieux du visa. « Pour partir en mars, j’ai envoyé mon dossier fin décembre. En général, il est bon de s’y prendre au moins 1 mois avant le départ après avoir pris le temps de rassembler tous les documents requis : convention, attestation de banque, lettre d’accueil de l’entreprise, cela a été assez long dans mon cas… Il faut également faire attention car les visas pour l’Inde son valides à partir de leur date d’émission et non pas à la date d’entrée dans le pays. Il existe donc un décalage entre le temps où l’on reçoit le visa et le jour de son départ. C’est assez bête à dire mais cela en a surpris plus d’un. J’ai donc du demander un visa d’un an et pas de six mois, en raison de ce décalage et afin de couvrir toute la durée de mon mon stage sur place.

Pour plus de tranquillité, je suis passée par une agence spécialisée : Visas Express, qui s’est occupée de toutes les démarches auprès du Centre VFS. Ils m’ont garanti un délai d’obtention de visa de 21 jours pour des frais de traitement très abordables : 36 euros. Cela m’a évité d’aller à Paris en période d’examens et de faire la queue plusieurs heures devant le centre en espérant être reçue avant la fermeture des bureaux, à 13h. »

Volontariat International en Entreprises (V.I.E)

Ce dispositif instauré par la loi du 14 mars 2000 permet aux entreprises françaises de confier à un jeune, jusqu’à 28 ans, une mission professionnelle à l’étranger sur une période modulable de 6 à 24 mois, renouvelable une fois dans cette limite. La gestion administrative et juridique de ce personnel international revient à l’agence Ubifrance.

Les indemnités varient selon les pays de 1 200 € à 3 200 € par mois.

Voir le site www.civiweb. com pour les démarches et offres d’emplois

Le détachement pour une durée limitée

S’adresse aux salariés déjà en poste en France, envoyé à l’étranger pour une courte durée. Dans ce cas, l’employeur français continue à cotiser pour vous au régime général français de la Sécurité sociale. C’est le statut qui offre le filet de sécurité maximal pour le salarié : son contrat de travail n’est pas rompu et l’entreprise est obligée de le réintégrer à son retour.

L’expatriation pour de longues durées

Le salarié est recruté spécialement pour travailler à l’étranger pour une durée indéterminée. Mais l’expatriation fait perdre le bénéfice du régime français de protection sociale. L’expatrié devra donc s’affilier à la sécurité sociale de son pays d’accueil et, selon les cas, souscrire auprès d’une assurance privée ou d’une

Ubifrance

« Souvent on entend qu’en Inde tout est possible : cela ne veut pas dire qu’il n’y a pas de règles » (un expatrié)

assurance volontaire en France, (comme la Caisse des Français de l’Etranger, CFE).

Tentez l’aventure avec le contrat local

L’expatrié travaille avec un contrat soumis au droit local du pays d’accueil. Il peut s’agir d’une personne tentant l’aventure en free lance ou d’entreprises envoyant leurs salariés en contrat local en rompant le contrat français ce qui n’offre aucune garantie de réemploi au retour. Dans les trois cas, il est primordial de bien négocier les clauses de son futur contrat et de se renseigner sur la législation locale et sur le mode de vie avant le départ.

G.J

Un salon Ubifrance

46 Impressions June-Aug 2011

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 47

Français en marche

Français en marche

Actualités

Allons en France !

Nouveaux sites, bourses, stages ou ateliers: tenez-vous au courant des multiples offres de cours et des formules d’apprentissage au sein de votre centre pédagogique, à l’Alliance Française de Bombay.

Participez à « Dialogues et Cultures »

De Bucarest à Mumbai

La francophonie en Roumanie a été célébrée par le lancement d’un nouveau site destiné aux professeurs de français.

Le 21 mars dernier, en présence du ministre roumain de l’Education de l’ambassadeur de France en Roumanie et de nombreux enseignants de Roumanie, le site VizaFLE a été lancé. Ce projet, à l’initiative de l’Institut Français, se présente comme un portail de ressources éducatives associé à un réseau social. Ce réseau se doit être professionnel et se tourne vers les enseignants du second degré mais peut également répondre à des besoins des enseignants d’Alliance ou d’Institut.

Les ressources pédagogiques proviennent de partenaires institutionnels comme TV5, le magazine Français dans le Monde, le centre du Cavilam, le blog personnel Insu-FLE qui viendront régulièrement proposer de nouvelles ressources sous forme de fiches. Le directeur des cours de l’Alliance Française de Bombay était également présent pour présenter les travaux de l’Alliance.

L’objectif premier était de convaincre du bien-fondé des réseaux sociaux pour fomenter des communautés enseignantes. En analysant différents exemples déjà existants sur Internet, et en essayant de faire un point théorique sur ces entreprises collectives, l’Alliance Française de Bombay a proposé quelques

De nouvelles recrues à former

Comment devenir professeur de français? Comment acquérir la méthode d’enseignement de l’Alliance Française?

Voilà les questions essentielles de la formation d’avril 2011.

En effet, durant deux semaines, s’est déroulée la formation initiale de nouveaux professeurs de l’Alliance Française de Bombay. Depuis 2007, il n’y avait eu 48 Impressions June-Aug 2011

recommandations pour consolider ces mouvements participatifs qui visent un co-apprentissage par la mutualisation des ressources, savoirfaire et expertises.

En plus de la description des communautés enseignantes, l’Alliance Française de Bombay a montré ce qu’elle réalise déjà : à savoir, un transfert de connaissances qui lui permet de créer un réseau social d’apprenants de langue Français Langue Etrangère.

En Inde, un même type de réseau professionnel s’est mis en place : il s’appelle La salle des profs. http:// india.salledesprofs.org/ Il est animé par Emmanuel Zimmert, attaché sectoriel de l’Institut Français aucune formation initiale à Bombay, la délégation de l’Alliance Française en Inde et l’Ambassade ayant préféré centraliser les formations d’enseignants à Delhi.

Cette année, nous avons pu revenir à une échelle locale et à des modèles précédents afin de demander à notre équipe d’enseignants formateurs de formateurs de faire part de leurs expériences et expertises pour proposer aux jeunes stagiaires enseignants des modules de

d’Inde. L’Alliance Française de Bombay et ses enseignants viendront bientôt participer et contribuer au projet.

David Cordina, directeur pédagogique formation. La semaine intensive s’est finie sur 70h de travail, d’études, de travaux collectifs, d’observation et de prises de classes. Le stress était au rendez-vous !

Maintenant, s’ouvre jusqu’à octobre, la période de stage et d’observation : 50h dans les classes de l’Alliance Française de Bombay. Vous verrez sans doute ces jeunes professeurs dans vos classes.

Soutenez-les !

D.C

Un site consacré au cinquantenaire de l’AUF répertorie tous les événements qui se dérouleront au cours de l’année 2011 : http://auf-50ans.org/50ans

Sumitra Badrinathan adore la France.

La passion de sa mère (l’enseignante de l’Alliance Française de Bombay Vasumathi Badrinathan) pour la France s’est ainsi reflétée chez cette jeune fille de 17 ans, toute juste diplômée de St Xavier junior college. Désormais inscrite en B1, titulaire du Delf-A2, Sumitra, une fan de Richard Gasquet, a réussi à orienter son texte sur le sport sous une forme poétique et humoristique. Joueuse de ping-pong pour son équipe lycéenne, elle pratique aussi le football et le cricket dans la cour de son immeuble ! « J’aimerais bien visiter de hauts lieux sportifs, notamment le Roland-Garros lors de mon séjour. Et cette fois-ci je voudrais avoir l’occasion de discuter et parler plus avec les gens, de mieux comprendre les différentes cultures » dit la jeune fille qui a déjà eu l’occasion de se rendre en France avec ses parents et qui a développé un véritable enthousiasme pour « le métro et surtout les catacombes ! ».

L’Agence universitaire de la francophonie fête ses 50 ans

L’AUF, première association mondiale d’universités, fêtera ses 50 ans en septembre 2011. Cet anniversaire sera l’occasion de célébrer la communauté académique et scientifique francophone dans le monde, à travers de multiples évènements. Se situant dans un contexte planétaire, les célébrations se dérouleront tout au long de l’année 2011, et se tiendront sur tous les continents où l’AUF est présente.

En présentant un numéro spécial consacré aux "Pistes Internet sur tv5monde.com", Dialogues et cultures veut arpenter ce portail qui, en un clic, plonge l’internaute dans la francophonie, offre des documents audio-visuels d’actualité en temps réel, propose à l’enseignant une méthodologie ainsi que des ressources pédagogiques, séduit et captive par la diversité des rubriques et des documents proposés. Quelle est l’image de la France et de la francophonie véhiculée par TV5MONDE? Les reportages, les courts-métrages, les extraits de pièces de théâtre présents sur tv5monde.com nous montrent-ils une image d’Epinal ou reflètent-ils la société d’un XXIe siècle qui se cherche ? Comment les présenter et/ou les décoder en classe ?

Envoyez vos contributions avant le 15 juillet 2011 à : Geneviève Briet (Genevieve.Briet@ uclouvain.be) Évelyne Pâquier (evelyne.paquier@ tv5monde.org) Plus d’informations sur www.fifp.info

Suivez le Prix des 5 continents 2011 La liste des 10 romans finalistes sera révélée au début du mois de juillet 2011 sur www.francophonie.org.

Le Prix des 5 continents de la Francophonie 2011 sera remis au mois d’octobre.

Le prix 2010 fut remis à Liliana Lazar, "Terre des affranchis" (Ed. Gaia)

Echanger Pour Apprendre en Ligne 2011

Le séminaire organisé par l’Université III Stendhal (Grenoble) aura lieu du 23 au 25 juin 2011

Depuis 2007, date de la première édition d’EPAL, les lieux d’échanges en ligne se sont multipliés, notamment du fait du développement des technologies du web social, comme Facebook ou Twitter, et le nombre d’utilisateurs de ces réseaux sociaux ne cesse d’augmenter.

Plus d’informations sur le site de l’Université Stendhal. http://w3.u-grenoble3.fr

Echanges, réseaux sociaux et ressources numériques

Du mardi 23 au jeudi 25 août 2011, le colloque Cyber-Langues 2011 se tiendra à Marly-le-Roi (78). L’association CyberLangues regroupe des enseignants utilisant les technologies de l’information et de la communication pour l’enseignement et l’apprentissage des langues. Contacter Katrin GOLDMANN, professeur d’allemand, katrin.goldmann@acversailles.fr pour plus d’informations.

Séminaire sur le Cadre européen commun de référence pour les langues: de la théorie à la pratique

Du 24 au 28 aout 2011, l’association APVL Langues modernes organise à Grenoble un séminaire sur une meilleure utilisation du CECRL, plus en adéquation avec la réalité du terrain. Cette rencontre permettra aux participants d’actualiser leurs connaissances sur les façons existantes de mettre en œuvre le CECRL; de réfléchir à de nouveaux moyens d’utiliser le CECRL, en adéquation avec les besoins des professeurs sur le terrain et de s’informer sur ce qu’offre le nouveau Réseau européen d’associations de professeurs de langues. Des conférences plénières (traduites) poseront le cadre des sujets principaux du séminaire ;des ateliers pratiques, permettront d’échanger ainsi que des tables ronds afin d’aborder de façon critique et ouverte les sujets les plus discutés.

La date limite d'inscription est le 30 juillet 2011.

Pour plus d’informations : http://www.real-association.eu June-Aug 2011 Impressions 49

Français en marche

Français en marche

Apprendre autrement: des ateliers pour s’améliorer

Ainsi on ne dit pas à un futur employeur ou à un collègue :  «Franchement ce taf il est vraiment relou, t’as vu à ct’heure-ci je pourrais me la rentrer pépère, m’envoyer un canon avec les potes ou me poser au cinoche pour mater une toile »

A partir du niveau B2. Professeur : David Cordina

Civilisation : mieux comprendre la culture française 

Les Français ne sont pas tout le temps en vacances (souvent mais ils se plaignent quand même qu’ils n’en ont pas assez).



Ils ne boivent pas du vin tous les jours ni à tous les repas (parfois et après ils font des blagues pas drôles qu’eux seuls peuvent comprendre).



Mais plutôt quelque chose comme :  « Je compte, dans les jours qui viennent, retravailler mon emploi du temps quant à ma présente activité professionnelle, afin de libérer des opportunités, des temps de réflexion, et ainsi développer de meilleurs flux de travail » Cet atelier propose une découverte du français familier et de l’argot. Tournés vers la pratique de l’oral, ces cinq cours étudient les différents registres de langue et les richesses du français familier.

A partir du niveau A2 et plus. Professeur: David Cordina

Ecriture : maîtriser la langue française écrite

Peur de ne pas s’avoir s’exprimer avant de rendre ce compte-rendu si important ?

Besoin de formuler une demande de bourse officielle pour une université ?

Rédiger une fiche de synthèse ou une lettre officielle ?

50 Impressions June-Aug 2011







B

D

A

F G

Aujourd’hui en France, on parle aussi anglais (mais on préfère parler français surtout avec des gens qui ne parlent pas eux, le français).

On est ouvert aux autres pays (mais la France est le plus beau pays du monde, tout le monde le sait).



Zizou, Coco Chanel ou Napoléon font partie des Français mythiques à connaitre (pour ne pas avoir l’air bête).



Les Français ont beaucoup d’humour (voir point numéro 2).

Cet atelier permet d'enrichir ses connaissances de la culture française.

Des mots et des douceurs qui pourraient faire un texte

Traduction : mieux traduire la langue française vers l’anglais et vice-versa

Un truc un peu différent, je crois que ça parlerait d'elle

A partir du niveau A1. Professeurs Equipe de l’AFB

Faut avouer que dans mon quotidien, elle a mis un beau bordel (…) »

Découvrir la gastronomie française

(I was engrossed in this book) « Je l’ai engrossé avec mon roman » : non, elle n’est pas tombé enceinte en lisant, elle a juste été captivé par le récit…

Eviter les faux amis et savoir traduire : cet atelier de traduction permet d'utiliser avec plus d'aisance les deux langues.

Il aide à pénétrer dans le monde des affaires avec un outil supplémentaire, et s'adresse aux personnes possédant une bonne maîtrise de l’anglais comme du français. Il propose la traduction de lettres professionnelles, de documents et d'articles de presse socio-économiques.

Il propose également des résumés en français d'articles de presse socioéconomiques en anglais.

Peut-on se passer de Mme de Lafayette et de sa Princesse de Clèves ? :

Il y a des villes sympas autres que Paris (ah bon ? hausse des sourcils la Parisienne, ah oui, Londres et NewYork).

Non la France n’est pas un musée (pas encore mais c’est en cours).

A partir du niveau B1. Professeur : Arva Kheriwala

Découvrir la langue française par les œuvres littéraires

On peut trouver des restaurants végétariens en France (mais QUI aime ça ? Et quel intérêt ?).



(Extrait de la quatrième partie, 1678) Et d’autres, plus contemporains:

A partir du niveau B2.Professeur : Aban Davar

© Dansopdedeel | Dreamstime.com

La gouaille, le bagout, la tchatche, le français parlé, la langue des « titis », popu, le patois des rues… La langue française est riche en expressions et haute en couleurs. S’il arrive aux Français de se lancer dans un baragouinage argotique sans parfois même s’en rendre compte, mieux vaut apprendre les subtilités de la langue avant de se lancer dans une telle conversation avec la mauvaise personne…

Cet atelier propose un entraînement aux formes complexes d’écrits : essai, compte-rendu, résumé, dissertation, synthèse, lettres, écrits littéraires, nécessaires aux examens et aux pratiques professionnelles.

E

Argot : mieux parler et comprendre les sousentendus du français oral

C

Du théâtre au blog, du parler gouailleur à la gastronomie, ces ateliers proposés par l’Alliance Française de Bombay permettent de perfectionner son apprentissage tout en comprenant mieux la culture et la langue française.

Différents thèmes sont abordés tels que l'Histoire, la gastronomie, les modes de vie, donnant lieu à des discussions et d'autres activités créatives.

« Je crois devoir à votre attachement la faible récompense de ne vous cacher aucun de mes sentiments, et de vous les laisser voir tels qu’ils sont. Ce sera apparemment la seule fois de ma vie que je me donnerai la liberté de vous les faire paraître ; néanmoins je ne saurais vous avouer, sans honte, que la certitude de n’être plus aimée de vous, comme je le suis, me paraît un si horrible malheur, que, quand je n’aurais point des raisons de devoir insurmontables, je doute si je pourrais me résoudre à m’exposer à ce malheur. (…) »

« En fait, ça fait un moment que se croisent dans ma tête

(Extrait de Je viens de là, de Grand Corps Malade)

français de l’avancée de votre projet. En préparation des journées du Patrimoine en septembre 2011.

Voir le site : http://afbcreation.tumblr. com/

A partir du niveau B1. Professeur : Supriya Sadhale.

Cet atelier permet de découvrir le monde des restaurants, des hôtels et des spécialités gastronomiques françaises.

Les étudiants travaillent à partir de dialogues, de simulations et de travail sur les recettes françaises. Des interventions de français en classe et des visites de restaurants afin d’assister à la préparation de certains mets français sont organisées et sont suivies de dégustation.

A partir du niveau A2. Professeur : Viral Thakker

Phonétique : mieux prononcer et mieux s’exprimer en langue orale

Chansons : mieux comprendre la culture musicale française

Dans cet atelier, les étudiants analysent plusieurs œuvres littéraires françaises en séances interactives. Les discussions sensibilisent les participants à la richesse de la langue française et vont développer l'expression orale grâce aux échanges d'idées

A partir du niveau A2. Professeur : Viral Thakker

Voilà un atelier amusant qui vous familiarise avec les grands titres de la chanson française et qui développe vos compétences pour la conversation sur des sujets thématiques présents dans les chansons. Des chansons à écouter sont, entre autres, d’Yves Montand, Benabar, Edith Piaf, ou encore de Carla Bruni.

Création : parler en français pour participer à un projet artistique

A partir du niveau A2. Professeur : Viral Thakker

Ce cours aide à améliorer sa prononciation et son intonation en langue française en utilisant des activités créatives et en participant à des groupes de conversation.

Cet atelier vous permettra de créer un projet artistique avec le français comme langue de travail. Lié à la langue française et à la ville de Mumbai, votre projet pourra être littéraire, photographique, littéraire, d’écrit numérique ou théâtral…

Sous différents supports, l’équipe de l’Alliance vous aidera à définir votre projet et à le diffuser sur nos supports de diffusion. Plusieurs rendez-vous vous seront proposés pour discuter en

Théâtre : pratiquer le français en jouant

Les ateliers de l’année dernière ont permis de créer un groupe qui a représenté des extraits de En attendant Godot de Samuel Beckett.

De nouvelles propositions seront envisagées lors des prochains mois.

A partir du niveau B1.

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 51

Français en marche

Français en marche

Dans cette nouvelle chronique, des étudiants livrent textes et articles au fil de leurs pensées. Impressions repère et reproduit.

Et le produit de ces mœurs sociales mutées — la dépravée SadErillon, qui les torturait dans leur monde privé. Un jour, l’un des amants de Drilloncen, qui a récemment eu 18 ans, donna un bal pour qu’il ait l’opportunité de lui demander de l’épouser. Il était fils d’un politicien en pouvoir, complètement séduit par Charmedrillon, et évidemment ne sut rien de cette mascarade. Il l’invita avec sa famille, mais Drilloncen ne voulut pas que les trois belles l’accompagnent.

Conte Contemporain : Sans Drillon

« … et Cendrillon et son Prince Charmant vécurent heureux et eurent beaucoup d’enfants ! » prononça Emmanuelle, et regarda sa petite sœur qui dormait tranquillement. « Déjà 10 heures et demie ! » Une exclamation, un soupir et Emmanuelle s’est mise à écrire une histoire pleine de la magie et de la morale, comme voulait son prof de L’Atelier Contes, auquel elle vient de commencer à assister.

Alors, comment les enfermer sans éveiller des soupçons de sa voisine curieuse ? Enfin, elle décida de cuisiner pour la première fois et insista que les trois s’en régalent. Et quand les pauvres empoisonnées furent gravement malades et restèrent collées au lit, Drilloncen vida le contenu d’un petit flacon de Poison par Christian Dior, essaya d’entasser son

« Mince ! Mais quel type de conte attendt-on de moi ? la vingtenaire murmura, tapant et effaçant des mots isolés sur son ordinateur, accusant l’angoisse de la page blanche et scrutant sa chambre pour que sa muse apparaisse. Midi vingt. Pas de signe. Elle alluma la radio… «… Elle part… jolie petite histoire…

Cendrillon pour ses trente ans est la plus triste des mamans, le prince charmant a foutu l’camp avec la belle au bois dormant… »

Mais vive des préjugés qui nommait la moche… euh… belle-mère la plus grande malfaisante du monde, et les demi-sœurs son véritable miroir. Pour prouver la fausseté de ce mythe, les trois femmes se comportèrent incroyablement gentilles envers la moche mais enjôleuse Drilloncen et son play-boy hédoniste de père, et effectivement se métamorphosèrent en des masochistes martyrs.

52 Impressions June-Aug 2011

© Gvicob | Dreamstime.com

Elle tapa : « Drillon Sans » Il était une fois… deux… trois fois… qu’une bourgeoise gentilfemme — toujours malheureuse en amour — nommée Gaol signa le PACS avec un pas-très gentilhomme. Ainsi, ses filles Tasieanas et Votteja devinrent demisœurs de l’enfant gâtée Drilloncen. Elles avaient vers le même âge : 15 ans.

corps voluptueux dans une trop petite robe Jean-Paul Gaultier et ses larges pieds dans des pantoufles en verre par Coco Chanel. Elle ressembla à une citrouille, mais elle se convainquit de sembler délicieuse.

Elle arriva à la soirée vers à 11h30. Etre en retard = être à la mode. TARDrillon marcha vers son amant, mais… fut choquée de le voir dans les bras de Votteja. Elle se calma, poliment intervint et l’emmena aux toilettes. « Raconte ! » cria Drilloncen. « Je t’attendais... Ca suffit maintenant!

Nous avons beaucoup souffert. Cette mascarade doit finir, et très tôt… » Votteja déclara, et frappa sa demi-sœur.

Stupéfaite, Drilloncen écouta son histoire incroyable — sa Fée Marraine portant le visage d’Oprah Winfrey était arrivée,

lui a donnée le nouveau modèle d’une voiture ultra luxe Peugeot, et le courage de s’opposer à la vilaine de sa vie. « Putain ! T’es folle ou quoi ? Et comment est-ce que cette mascarade va se finir ?

Drilloncen ricana. « Tu verras… » prononça Votteja, avant de se faire battre par sa méchante sœur.

Drilloncen se fuit des toilettes, sauta sur le jeune politicien et exclama, « Je veux devenir partie de toi, pour maintenant et jusqu'à l’éternité ! » « Ding-dong, ding-dong... » L’horloge sonna 12 fois, et Cendrillon se transforma en une tout petite citrouille et se trouva dans l’assiette du politicien. La suite, vous pouvez devinez, non ? Le politicien la mangea. Il vota pour Votteja. Et Votteja et son Prince Charmant vécurent heureux et eurent beaucoup d’enfants ! »

Mot à mot Vous croyiez les connaitre ?

Impressions décortique pour vous des expressions et mots de tous les jours finalement pas si simples…

Aberration

Une aberration est, à l'origine, un terme d'astronomie signifiant un écart entre la direction apparente d'un astre et sa direction réelle, dû aux mouvements de la Terre.

Ce mot a pris la forme conceptuelle qu'on lui connaît actuellement (une absurdité, un non-sens) depuis 1788.

Baccalauréat

Ce mot a des origines gauloises et latines.

Archana Jayakumar, Mumbaikar in French, novembre 2009 sur le thème des “contes contemporains”.

En gaulois, le mot baccalaris signifie "jeune paysan" et a évolué dans le français sous la forme "bacheler" (jeune noble sans terres).

Sumitra Badrinathan, A2, gagnante du concours « Allons en France ! » envoie un extrait de son poème vainqueur.

En latin, c'est le mot laureatus, qui signifie "orné de lauriers", qu'on retrouve dans le mot français "lauréat"...

« Entre le croquet et le cricket » (…)

Le cricket est mon sport préféré, Mais malheureusement, en France ce n’est pas joué Il serait amusant – un match IndeFrance, les spectateurs complices soutenant les équipes en abondance !

Des cris de ‘France, allez’ !

Avec des chants de ‘Tendulkar, maar de !’ * Criqueter, ça fait rêver !

La Marseillaise et le Jana Gana Mana En choeur vont remplir les tribunes Soyez à l’aise La coupe Manmohan-Sarkozy, Arrive en 2016 !!! * En Hindi et Marathi, cette expression veut dire, « à l’attaque »

© Jeffrey Thompson | Dreamstime.com

Français à vivre : jouer avec les textes et les mots

La fusion des termes "baccalaris" et de "laureatus" a donné le terme "baccalaureat"...

Baragouiner

Le verbe baragouiner a deux histoires : l'une populaire, l'autre savante.

L'histoire populaire voudrait que baragouiner soit la contraction de deux mots bretons :bara "le pain" et gwin "le vin". Ces mots étaient fréquemment employés par les Bretons dans les tavernes où l'on parlait français.

L'autre histoire, celle avancée par ceux qui veulent voir une origine latine à (presque) tous les mots de la langue française, voudrait que baragouiner vienne du latin barbaracuinus qui signifie "barbare".

Dans les deux cas, baragouiner désigne le fait de parler une langue de façon incompréhensible.

Blague

La blague à tabac était faite autrefois d'une vessie de porc. La blague, dans le sens de farce, de plaisanterie, a un lien commun avec la blague à tabac. En ancien français, une vessie est un gros mensonge, probablement par analogie avec vesse : du vent...

Je vous saurais gré ou je vous serais gré ?

L’expression par laquelle on exprime sa reconnaissance est savoir gré (à quelqu’un) de (ou, plus rarement, pour) quelque chose, non être gré. On écrit donc Je vous saurais gré, non je vous serais gré.

Autant pour moi, ou, au temps pour moi?

Il est impossible de savoir précisément quand et comment est apparue l’expression familière au temps pour moi, issue du langage militaire, dans laquelle Au temps ! se dit pour commander la reprise d’un mouvement depuis le début (au temps pour les crosses, etc.). De ce sens de C’est à reprendre, on a pu glisser à l’emploi figuré. On dit Au temps pour moi pour admettre son erreur – et concéder que l’on va reprendre ou reconsidérer les choses depuis leur début. L’origine de cette expression n’étant plus comprise, la graphie Autant pour moi est courante aujourd’hui, mais rien ne la justifie.

(Source: le site Bollog, Académie française, Centre national de ressources textuelles et lexicales)

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 53

Campus FRANCE

Management Studies in France

Every year many Indian students prefer to pursue their post-graduate studies in France.

Institutes of business administration (IAE)

 INSEAD: www.insead.edu: Cost 56000 euros  HEC: www.hec.edu : Cost : 50000 euros  ESSEC: www.essec.edu: Cost 36000 euros (also luxury brand management)

Eligibility: BAC + 3 (180 credits) or BAC + 4 (240 credits)

The various consortiums offering such programs are:

GMAT: Yes in certain IAEs

1. SAI www.sai.ccip.fr

Tuition fees: 250 Euros to 8000 Euros.

Example: University Paul-Cezanne AixMarseille 111: www.iae-aix.com Concept of Grandes Ecoles in France France’s Grandes Ecoles of business and management, about 200, are the elite schools of France. They offer programs geared to economic requirements and new management practices. Internships and international exchanges play an important role.

These Grandes Ecoles offer the following programs:  MBA in France MBA Courses in France are for midcareer switch rather than career launcher and hence French Institutes offering MBA Course require students with 3 years experience or more along with a

54 Impressions June-Aug 2011

Length: 12 to 18 months Tuition fees: 10000 to 15000 Euros  Edhec: www.edhec.edu (For finance)  ESCP-Europe: www.escpeurope.eu (All disciplines)

 Msc in Management (Grande Ecole Track)

Programs: Marketing, Human Resource, International Management

Length: 12 mths or 24 mnths

Masters with or without GMAT

 Reims International, Audencia School,Euromed-Marseille, Grenoble Graduate School of Business: Cost between 20000 to 25000 euros)

The Msc in Management (Grande Ecole Track) is meant for Fresh Graduates and for people with less than 3 years experience. These programs require GMAT scores and offer common entrance exams.

France's institutes of business administration (IAE) are universitybased schools of management.

ESC Clermont Graduate School of Management, ESC Troyes Champagne School of Management, Grenoble Graduate School of Business, La Rochelle Business School, NEGOCIA, Normandy Business School.

GMAT score.

Its role is to organize the recruitment of international candidates of behalf of its member schools: Audencia Nantes, EMLYON Business School, ESCP Europe, HEC Paris and SKEMA Business School.

 Grenoble Graduate School : (MIB)  SKEMA: (Master in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Master in luxury brand management) For further information: Contact Campus France Mumbai: Mumbai@ india-campusfrance.org or call on 02222091556 F. de la Mure/MAEE

I

ndian students have an opportunity to specialize in fields like Sustainable Development, Strategy and Consultancy, Human Resources, Marketing, NGO Management, Finance, Risk Management, Change Management, Public policy Management, Luxury Goods and Fashion Industry, Entrepreneurship, Wine Marketing and Management, International Business, Project Management, Aerospace Management, Hospitality Management, Supply Chain and Logistics Management.

2.UNIVERSA www.universafrance.com Universa is a consortium of 6 French business schools: BEM-Bordeaux Management School, Euromed Management, ICN Business School, Reims Management School, Rouen Business School and Escem ToursPoitiers.

3. Pass-world www.pass-world.com Consortium of 13 French Business School : Burgundy School of Business, EM Strasbourg Business School,

Cité Internationale Universitaire: lieu d’accueil des étudiants étrangers

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 55

Regards croisés

Regards croisés

C

’est par pure coïncidence que M. Babu Karani a réalisé deux de ses rêves les plus chers : découvrir un pays étranger et faire de l’alpinisme. « Tata et MerlinGérin collaboraient dans les années 70 dans l’aciérie. A l’époque ils ont eu besoin d’un contre-maître à Grenoble.

Cela m’a intéressé et je suis parti » se remémore Babu Karani. Il découvre ainsi les Alpes. « J’ai effectué une dizaine de treks dans l’Himalaya, mais j’ai adoré le Mont Blanc» sourit ce diplômé de l’école d’alpinisme du Darjeeling. A Grenoble, un Indien, inspiré par Gandhi avait initié des échanges franco-indiens, tandis que, à la même époque, en Inde, un Français jésuite, tombait amoureux de Pune et s’intéressait à la vie de Vinoba Bhave, autre penseur gandhien.

Jean-Paul Dulau

La rencontre de ces deux hommes fut à l’initiative de la East West Association (en Inde) et Perspectives Asiennes (en France), proposant des séjours chez l’habitant, en France et en Inde, dans de nombreuses villes et régions, depuis quarante ans. Lors de son séjour à Grenoble, Babu Karani rencontre ces Français intrigués par l’Inde, et, de plus en plus par Mumbai. « Beaucoup de

Français me disaient : Mumbai ce n’est pas l’Inde. J’ai eu envie de leur faire mieux connaitre ma ville. » En 1980, il met en place un parcours de trois jours à Mumbai. Depuis M. Karani a personnellement accueilli plus d’une centaine de personnes chez lui. Depuis 1967, entre East-West et Perspectives Asiennes, plus de 200 Français et Indiens sont partis. « Attention, nous n’envoyons pas les gens en France ou en Inde ! Nous les encourageons d’abord à recevoir des familles chez eux, en les guidant et les aidons à se rencontrer » souligne M.Karani. En 2011, trois étudiantes de l’Alliance Française de Bombay ont reçu des hôtes français pour la première fois.

«Pour des étudiants de l’Alliance Française c’est une belle occasion d’échanger en français et de découvrir la culture française sans devoir partir en France.

L’idée n’est pas simplement de faire du tourisme mais d’échanger, de vraiment se rencontrer » explique le secrétaire général. A Mumbai, M.Karani qui porte avec humour ses 83 ans, accueille les groupes de Français arrivants. Il a mis en place un tour guidé de la ville en bus, les journées portes ouvertes, la soirée d’accueil qu’il supervise et rédige même

Le groupe de Français venu en février 2011 performe sur scène une chanson française traditionnelle

56 Impressions June-Aug 2011

M. Babu Karani, à Thesophy Hall, hérault de la francophilie à Mumbai

les notes envoyées aux familles. « Il y a beaucoup de différences culturelles. Par exemple, nous expliquons aux familles indiennes que les Français tiennent à leur intimité, à leur espace personnel, qu’il vaut mieux bouillir l’eau et cuisiner avec moins d’épices que d’ordinaire. De même nous insistons pour que les familles introduisent leurs invités à leur mode d’organisation à la maison, regardent un peu moins la télévision ou les fassent participer aux tâches ménagères ». Rien de plus important que les maîtres mots donc : convivialité et partage. « Les Français sont tout de même similaires aux Indiens, dans la personnalité, le sens de l’accueil, la famille. De toute ma vie, je n’ai jamais résidé dans un hôtel » résume avec fierté l’octogénaire, qui lui-même continue d’accueillir dans sa demeure plusieurs voyageurs chaque année.

Jean-Paul Dulau, membre de Perspectives Asiennes, association amie de l’East West Cultural Association, revient sur son dernier séjour en Inde et présente les échanges. « Le groupe des français débarque toujours à Mumbai où il est accueilli par les familles d’accueil dirigées par l’infatigable Babu Karani et les membres de l’Association Indienne de Mumbai qui prennent en charge leurs hôtes.

L’arrivée se faisant souvent un samedi soir ou dimanche matin, le week-end est passé en famille. Le lundi, une activité commune est organisée par l’association de Mumbai pour une visite de la ville et de ses principaux sites. Une réception officielle en présence du consul général de France à Mumbai, des sympathisants de l’association et d’autres invités marque le début du séjour. Un spectacle introductif de grande qualité et un repas pris en commun clôturent cette soirée.

Le jour suivant, les deux groupes prennent les trains correspondant à leur destination où ils seront accueillis par les associations correspondantes. Cette année, en février, un groupe est parti à destination de Yellapur dans le Karnataka, et un autre à destination de Nasik en Maharashtra. Les programmes remis aux invités sont très denses et prévoient des activités tous les jours du séjour (visites de temples, de palais, d’écoles, d’usines, de musées, d’ashrams, entretien avec une personnalité locale.....). Une soirée est prévue en tant que soirée de clôture avec une prestation culinaire et artistique des visiteurs français qui a souvent du mal à rivaliser avec la prestation fournie par l’équipe locale.

Lors de la visite des groupes d’Indiens en France, l’ensemble du groupe passe une semaine à Paris puis les deux sousgroupes rejoignent deux autres villes pendant deux semaines ou une semaine dans deux villes différentes selon les cas.

Les villes de Caen, Le Mans, La Rochelle, Marseille, Bayonne, Saint-Brieuc, Pau, Périgueux, Rouen, ont ainsi accueilli des groupes, à plusieurs reprises pendant une ou deux semaines.

Comment ça marche ?  Tout le monde peut accueillir, il est même recommandé d’accueillir d’abord avant de partir, toutefois, il n’y a pas d’obligation d’accueil si l’on souhaite partir  La connaissance du français n’est pas obligatoire  Tout le monde peut partir en famille, à condition d’être âgé de 20 ans minimum

Une voyageuse participe à la cuisine avec son hôtesse d’accueil.

 Il faut envoyer sa candidature avec sa profession, ses centres d’intérêts, ses goûts, ses hobbys afin que les associations vous mettent en contact avec une famille/ un hôte au profil similaire.  On peut partir seul ou en couple, mais il faut le préciser.  Il existe deux voyages par an.

Pour plus d’informations : http://www.perspectives-asiennes.org

Les voyageurs français dont Jean-Paul Dulau (au milieu de la photo) découvrent l’art du tissage presque disparu de Patola.

En Inde : East West Cultural Association : b_karani@hotmail.com

Jean-Paul Dulau

L’association East-West permet depuis la fin des années 60 aux Français et aux Indiens de mieux se connaitre et de se découvrir. Babu Karani, secrétaire général de l’association East-West Cultural Association et membre du comité de l’Alliance Française de Bombay revient sur les principes de cette belle amitié.

Témoignage d’un voyage riche en émotions

Jean-Paul Dulau

40 ans d’échanges franco-indiens

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 57

France Pratique

BUZZ

First of its kind Indo-French seminar in Goa on “Sustainable Tourism”

Goa, India’s smallest state attracts more than 2 million tourists per year. Needless to say that tourism is one of the principal economies of Goa. Development and promotion of sustainable tourism that will ensure long term benefits to the State and its people is the order of the times.

I

t is with this in mind that the Embassy of France and the Confederation of Indian Industry organised in the beginning of May a two-day seminar on sustainable tourism to discuss various ways in which responsible and inclusive tourism can be developed. The seminar was attended by delegations of both countries for an effective exchange of ideas to put together a comprehensive and sustainable tourism plan.

M. Rudy Salles, representing Nice, located on the South East of France, on the French Riviera, of which he is the Deputy Mayor, attended the seminar.

He observed that Panaji could well be the “Nice of the East” provided it is developed in the right manner. Both cities have similar locations and attract foreign tourists. M. Salles, who is also member of the French Parliament, extended an invitation to a delegation from Goa to come and observe the measures that Nice has taken to preserve is eco-sensitive region and at the same time comfortably

58 Impressions June-Aug 2011

receive around 10 million French tourists each year. M. François Pujolas, Consul General of France in Bombay, seconded it by saying that the Consulate would be happy to facilitate such a visit.

M. Benjamin Gestin, Attaché for Decentralised Co-operation at the French Embassy, played a key role in organising this event. He tells us more about this initiative.

What was the main idea behind France organising this seminar?

The Government of France is always looking to open new avenues of cooperation with India. This is particularly true for cooperation between local self-governing bodies – i.e. “decentralised cooperation” – which is a recent but promising addition to the strategic partnership between the national governments.

Naturally, the Embassy of France is keen to showcase France’s know-how in domains where it holds a leading position and can share cutting-edge experience, France being a global leader with about 80 million foreign tourists visiting last year. France has also taken resolute steps for a sustainable touristic development. Similarly India too is taking innovative initiatives, especially for the promotion of eco-tourism and conservation of bio-diversity from which French partners could draw many lessons. It is thus only natural France and India engage into a dialogue and, hopefully, carry out joint actions in the field of tourism.

Why was Goa chosen as the destination for this seminar?

Goa is the flagship of the tourism industry in India and in the course of 30 odd years has gained a world-wide reputation as a hot destination for beach tourism and entertainment.

At the same time, as far as sustainable tourism is concerned, challenges come along with success. The pressure on the natural resources, the impact on the lives of the local communities or the threat on a remarkable cultural heritage make of Goa a real-size laboratory of tourismbased development.

Last but not least, if you chose to have a serious conference on sustainable tourism, you might as well organise it in a nice and sunny place. Goa is definitely one of the best places in India and elsewhere for this.

Arrivées-départs

Découvrez les visages des collaborateurs et collaboratrices de l’Alliance Française de Bombay. Stage de FLE, culture, communication, administration, enseignement... Ils sont nombreux à nous rejoindre et à se forger une belle expérience à Theosophy Hall, à Mumbai.

Ariane Ludinard

C e t t e bordelaise vient d’arriver à l’Alliance Française de Bombay mais connait déjà bien l’Inde pour y avoir séjourné à plusieurs reprises. Ariane est fascinée par ce pays de contrastes qui selon elle « ne laisse personne indifférent».

Lors de ces périples, elle avait visité la campagne, séjourné en Ashram, mais ne connaissait pas l’effervescence des grosses villes. C’est donc tout naturellement qu’elle a choisi Mumbai comme lieu de son dernier stage de Master didactique FLE et seconde ingénierie linguistique.

Elle vit cette expérience comme un nouveau challenge qui lui permettra à la fois de compléter sa connaissance de l’Inde et de faire ses premiers pas en temps que professeur à l’école St Stanislaus de Bandra.

Shwetal Randive

A tout juste 17 ans, Shwetal visite Paris pour la première fois… et c’est une révélation.

Cette ville l’a tant marquée qu’elle s’inscrit à l’université de Mumbai pour étudier en Licence de français!

Durant les trois années qui suivent elle dévore les poèmes de Baudelaire, les pièces de Molière et réalise enfin son rêve en partant étudier deux ans en Master FLE à Grenoble. De retour en Inde, elle n’a qu’une idée en tête, trouver un lieu ou elle pourra vivre sa passion pour le français au quotidien.

C’est désormais chose faite! Depuis déjà quatre mois, Shwetal a rejoint l’Alliance Française de Bombay en temps que stagiaire-professeure FLE. Elle enseigne le français pour débutants de façon ludique, souhaitant tout d’abord partager avec ses élèves sa passion pour la langue et la culture françaises !

Eve-Marie Gravier

Eve-Marie est rentrée en France après six mois passés à l’Alliance Française de Bombay en temps qu’assistante pour la coordination des actions culturelles. De son stage, elle retiendra surtout les rencontres qu’elle y a faites: les artistes qu’elle accompagnait, les partenaires culturels locaux mais aussi les membres de l’équipe de l’Alliance Française de Bombay, avec qui elle a noué des liens forts. Cette expérience dans l’événementiel et la communication l’a confortée dans ses choix futurs puisqu’après un court retour à Marseille, elle compte bien repartir en Volontariat International (VI). Son dynamisme et son caractère entreprenant seront des atouts où qu’ elle soit !

Malika Belghazi-Palkhivala

M a l i k a , enseignante française polyglotte (mandarin, anglais, arabe, espagnol, allemand) est arrivée à l’Alliance Française de Bombay pour

donner des cours de C1 en janvier 2011.

Enjouée, cette passionnée de langues était auparavant employée de l’Institut des Langues de Spécialité (ILS) de Clermont Ferrand. Par cet intermédiaire, elle donnait des cours intensifs de français chez Michelin pour des cadres supérieurs venus du monde entier. Parallèlement elle est membre de l’Université d’Auvergne, qui l’envoie deux fois par an en Chine afin de préparer le départ d’étudiants en France.

C’est riche de ces expériences diversifiées dans l’enseignement et de ces solides connaissances du monde de l’entreprise que Malika est arrivée à Mumbai, pour suivre son mari indien. Elle s’est rapidement adaptée à cette nouvelle vie et aux Mumbaikars, qu’elle trouve chaleureux et ouverts.

Gaëlle Joly

A breath of fresh air at Alliance Française de Bombay!

Gaëlle Joly, the new French intern, with origins from Champagne loves the diversity that the city of Mumbai has to offer. This is her first sojourn to India and she has taken to Indian cuisine quite well, especially likes ‘Tandoori Chicken’. This sprightly 23old who is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Culture and Heritage from the University of Western Brittany loves travelling, reading and ‘everyday-life’ photography. She is well acquainted with Irish movies as well as Pop, Rock and French music.

Eve-Rachel Alosyus

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 59

Calendar

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June 2011

July-Aug 2011

Cinema Daayen ya Baayen, by Bela Negi Followed by a discussion in the presence of the director.

6:30pm, Alliance Française Auditorium

The Monsoon Project It starts with a photographic contest where one should walk

Ciné Club La fille du RER, by André Téchiné 6:30pm, Alliance Française Auditorium Theatre Presented by EFIB Three EFIB’s shows 10am, Alliance Française Auditorium Holiday Cinema In partnership with Prithvi Theater Cours du soir, by Jacques Tati Parade, by Jacques Tati 7pm, Prithvi House, Juhu

through Mumbai, trying to catch a glimpse of women in their everyday life and culture. The winner should have the chance to be exhibited on the first floor of newly opened Attic shop in Colaba and maybe win a journey to Paris!

Then a great numbers of workshops shall also take place, for every taste, in several French places. From the Jean-Claude Biguine salon in Colaba to the brand new restaurant Suzette, you’ll be introduced to gastronomy, design, fashion, beauty care…Well everything that makes the French Touch!

Dates to be confirmed, get in touch - 022 2203 5993

Documentary In partnership with Vikalp Film Archive Partners in Crime, by Paromita Vohra 7pm, Alliance Française Auditorium Theater Presented by the Atelier Theatre de l’AFB 50 minutes pour attendre Godot Choosen scenes from En Attendant Godot, by Samuel Beckett 7pm, Alliance Française Auditorium Ciné Club Les Méduses, by Shira Geffen 6:30pm, Alliance Française Auditorium Concert In partnership with, Blue Frog, Novotel, French Embassy in India, Fondation Alliance Française and Fête de la Musique Betty Argo 10pm, Blue Frog

25

6pm Mathieu Foss Gallery Stop Gaps Choir performance Children’s choir conducted by Alfred D’souza

26

7.30pm Cathedral of the Holy Name Stop Gaps Choir performance Adult’s choir conducted by Alfred D’Souza

See program for more information

With Best Compliments from

FRANCO- I N D I A N PHARMACEUTICALS PVT. LT D

20, Dr. E. Moses Road, MUMBAI-400011 Tel. 2493 4026 Fax 2495 0557 E.mail: francoip@bom7.vsnl.net.in

60 Impressions June-Aug 2011

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 61

French corner

BUZZ

Sophie Choudry, a Parisian at heart She has written a project on women during Resistance period in France, laughs her heart off to Les Visiteurs, and can’t wait to get a house in Aix-en-Provence. Discover the French side of actor and singer Sophie Choudry.

- Photo Courtesy : Pali Village Café western dresses chain “Madame”. “ I am fortunate to have my mother close to me.

She is my manager and I don’t have to worry about anything” she explains. Although she would love to go back to France, she hasn’t had a chance, yet: “ I would like to stay with friends in Aix-en-Provence. I love that area. But it’s my dream to have a pied à terre in Paris. My own little Parisian space, just for me!” she smiles.

Sophie’s French list…

Swear: The 3 letters one!

L

ot has been written about Sophie Choudry in the tabloids: her films, her songs, her legs, her cleavage her dresses, her boyfriends… But little does the press know about Sophie Choudry ‘s secret: her strong acquaintance with studies and France. Born and brought up in London, while her first stint with India was through concerts with a Hindi-pop girl’s band, Sophie was graduating from the London School of Economics (LSE).

And during those years, she eventually turned naturally to studies in Paris. “I had learnt French at the age of 6. I always wanted to dance and sing but studies were another passion. So I joined Sciences-Po Paris for two years” recalls Sophie, today 28, in slightly accented French, that she mixes with her British English. “I didn’t party at all while in Paris! But I learned a lot. I even wrote a project on women in resistance in France. And I loved living in Paris. I used to walk everywhere from my apartment rue St-Dominique, especially to the boulangerie opposite my flat” she laughs. At that time, she had not plan yet to become an actress. “Although, at the end of the second year, I was the only 62 Impressions June-Aug 2011

Aykut Tugtépé

Word: Amour

one who bluntly told my teacher that I wanted to sing and dance in Bollywood while everyone else was contemplating high positions in politics!” Indeed Sophie Choudry would have loved to work in the UN or the EU if showbiz had not been her first love. And she could: she speaks also Hindi, Italian and can pick up languages quickly, like Arabic or Tamil, when she had to sing in those languages.

But instead, she chose Bollywood and Mumbai. “It’s really exciting. Mumbai is a great place to live. I came to the city 8 years ago and so much has changed.

My studies in France helped me build confidence and professionalism. I can’t stand mediocrity, and, unfortunately, in India, lots of people don’t mind it. So I have a reputation of being arrogant. I am in a way, because I worked and studied hard. I speak my mind and I don’t try to please everyone. And usually, in this field, people don’t expect or like pretty girls who are also brainy”. Sophie is now working on an upcoming album and preparing a new Bollywood movie during August and hopefully another with someone she considers family, superstar Sanjay Dutt.

She is also the brand ambassador of the

Movie: Les Visiteurs, de Jean Marie Poiré, avec Christian Clavier, Jean Reno (1993) et Le dîner de cons, de Francis Weber, avec Thierry Lhermitte, Jacques Villeret (1998) Upcoming French elections: French politics are depressing right now!

Dish: “The pepper steak. The best I tasted was in Paris near Trocadero” and “le pain au chocolat!”

One thing you don’t like about the French…: “They are smelly! Maybe because of their habit of drinking lot of coffee and wine and smoking altogether! But in France you find different people all across the country...

People in the south are very different!

Ah and they also randomly ask you for cigarette in the street! Nowhere else in the world people do that!”

Music: “I listen to a lot of French hip-hop, classical like MC Solaar, I AM but also Omar Chakil…I love this mix of Maghrebian culture in France” France, Fashion, F…: All three are relevant to my life! I am sure I have told lots of people to f… off ” French kiss vs American hug: “Definitely the French kiss!”

June-Aug 2011 Impressions 63

64 Impressions June-Aug 2011