Kolkata loses out on the prestigious Albert Kahn exhibition, but there are plenty of other reasons to look forward to Bonjour India

We don’t hate the French, Merci beaucoup. Taking a dim view of the Gallic hauteur maybe America’s favourite pastime but we beg to differ. We will readily ignore age-old suggestions that France is afflicted by an epidemic of rudeness, arrogance and a ridiculously inflated sense of superiority. We will also overlook the sexist jokes cracked at the expense of the French first lady, Carla Bruni. All because the French epitomize something that every Bengali worth his Rabindra Rachnabali swears by—culture. That’s a part of their identity that the French guard zealously, even in the face of challenges that come with globalization, and we wholeheartedly approve. More so because some part of that French identity will travel to India as part of Bonjour India, a grand, three-month festival of France in India. The festival, which begins on November 28, will feature more than 100 events and 250 French artists, musicians, researchers and entrepreneurs across 18 Indian cities.

Evidently, Kolkata holds a special place in the Frenchman’s heart. “We are aware of Kolkata’s reputation. It’s a culturally-inclined city and we were very careful while chalking out the Kolkata schedule. Here, the emphasis will be on cinema, literature, music and street arts,” said Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador of France to India at a special press conference to announce Bonjour India at the Oberoi Grand this Tuesday.

Indeed, the Kolkata schedule of the French Festival veers towards what the locals will call antel. A festival of letter, where Kolkatans will be exposed to readings and interactions with French language authors and their Indian counterparts, holds a pride place in the itinerary. A festival of new wave cinema is one of the highlights of the Kolkata schedule. “We are aware that Kolkata is fond of new wave cinema. That is why this festival is so important,” said Bonnafont.

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