The étranger who is in Ahmedabad to make a ‘cultural’ difference

As the Alliance Francaise's new director prepares to assume the 'hot seat' for four years, DNA takes a look at all that he has on his platter.

"You cannot separate cultural activity from pedagogy. Together, they nurture the student, and give him a more complete 'formation'," says Philippe Martin, a brand-new amdavadi, and the new director in charge of the Alliance Francaise d'Ahmedabad over the next four years.

Martin is a man of 'culture' - and he describes it awfully well. "The Alliance Francaise is based on the concept that the French language and culture, interwoven together, make the learning of the language an altogether different experience," he states.

He would know. Martin, besides having a Masters degree in arts and culture from France, has always been tremendously involved in cultural activities. "I am not much of a pedagogue, but I do believe that language is a very 'live' concept. When you interact with those around you in a particular language, you're actually bringing it alive. That is precisely why language teaching can never be limited to a classroom," he elaborates, taking great pains to explain how and why cultural activities tantamount to immense learning.

Martin might be much younger than his predecessors, but he has his priorities clearly sorted out. And the main one, at the moment, is shifting the Alliance to a newer and bigger location. "We could definitely do with a bigger building, as that would give us the scope to conduct more classes, have greater interaction with foreigners, and most importantly, help the Alliance evolve into an even bigger and better cultural-pedagogical centre," he explains.

But lest you think he has propaganda on his mind, Martin makes his intentions quite clear. "I am the only French man in this set-up. Every one else, from the professors to the governing council, is a local. And that is part of the beauty I intend to preserve. I want this place to grow into a meeting point for cultures, a place where two-way, and not one-sided, exchange takes place," he smiles. "The essences of both India and France have to co-exist here. The Frenchman may be there, but local participation is of utmost importance."

Martin's deputation in Ahmedabad is not his first tryst with Indianness. He has worked in Hyderabad before, and his thesis focussed on the cultural music of India and Burma, besides that of France. He was also intently involved with an initiative called Planet Nepalam, a festival organised by the French embassy in Nepal. But while he is still new to Ahmedabad, the first thing on his mind is getting to know the city better. "I have something called 'Blurred Boundaries' in my mind. Under this project, I want to try and make a difference in each artistic domain, by bringing artists and artisans from Gujarat and France together. But for that, I have to get to know the place first," he informs.

Ambitious? Yes, but with a proper blueprint in mind, exactly the way he has his 'nouvelle' Alliance clearly chalked out. "We will try to have more exhibitions of Indian and foreign artists, once we have the new building in place. We will also have a dedicated room for screening of Indian as well as French films. All in all, it has to take us to greater heights as an institute that knows how to blend culture and pedagogy just right," he concludes.