France and India, they have many parallels. Bothnations are in a state of permanent reinvention. And the culture of both the countries is a dialogue between deep-rooted tradition and the contemporary. Yet, while it is a well known that India has been changing, and rapidly so, the changes in France are almost a much hidden secret. Bonjour India — festival of France in India — is an attempt by the Embassy of France at letting out this secret.
This festival, spread through December 2009 to Febraury 2010, promises a series of artistic performances, concerts, exhibitions, film festivals, exhibitions, literary events, debates, conferences, food festivals and economic, educational and scientific dialogue. In fact, the reason why Bangalore was chosen to host approximately 30 such events over the course of the festival is because the city is perceived as the neurological centre of science and technology in India, said French Ambassador H E Jerome Bonnafont.“We want India in France as much as we want France in India. The aim of the festival, he said, is to facilitate dialogue and cooperation in diverse fields like arts, culture, science, technology, economy and education,” he said.
“There is a concentration of intelligence in Bangalore. We want to reach out to them with our own. We also want Indian students to know France as a desirable destination for further education, on par with popular English-speaking countries,” he said. He elaborated on various facilities offered for Indian students. It includes a part-time work permit with the student visa. After completing studies, the students would be permitted a six-month stay so that they could find a job in France.
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