France Alumni – India Chapter meets across 4 cities to share their stories and insights
80 Alumni from New Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur and Chandigarh came together at Meet the Alumni on 10th September 2021. The networking event took place in an ambitious hybrid format: simultaneous in-person meets in the four cities merging together virtually on Zoom for a live interactive session with the Ambassador of France to India, HE Mr Emmanuel Lenain.
Cultural differences: shock or delight?
The Alumni chatted informally with the Ambassador and recounted anecdotes about cultural differences. Although they may be prima facie unsettling, cultural differences can eventually pave the way for mutual understanding and solidarity.
Alumni Ambassador and UN Women Programme Analyst Ishita Kaul remarked on the profound, life-changing impact of Simone de Beauvoir’s works on her perception of feminism. The shared, oftentimes silent, aspirations bind genders and identities together in both triumph and strife, no matter what their cultural context.
Dr Jaivardhan Singh Rathore, a French language scholar and professor, loves exploring the cultures of France and India side by side from an outsider’s perspective, using common linguistic denominators.
Projects by Alumni for Alumni
“Who better than our Alumni to conceive and realize initiatives for the Alumni community!” said the Counselor for Education, Science and Culture, Mr Emmanuel Lebrun-Damiens as he launched the Co-Sponsored Alumni Projects initiative.
France Alumni from India can now apply for funding from the French Embassy to organize events and activities for the Alumni community: networking events, cultural immersion, career-building, workshops etc.
Singer-Songwriter and Alumni Ambassador, Alisha Batth, stole the show with a stirring musical performance. It set the tone for an invigorating on-site networking session over French wine and food. It was indeed a night to remember, reinforcing the beautiful dynamism of coming together as one!
We thank all the Alumni who participated, including Alisha Batth and speakers – Ishita Kaul, Anahitaa Bakshi, Sholanki Sharkhel, Dr Jaivardhan Singh Rathore, Radhika Sharma
Indian students interested in studying in France can visit www.inde.campusfrance.org and attend the Choose France Tour education fair on 11th March 2022.