New Delhi: Inside a cosy room in Central Delhi’s Alliance Française, a new campaign to make more Indians aware of the French literature was set into motion. The endeavour — “Pardon My French!” — by the French Institute of India brought home English and regional translations of 150 French titles. As candid conversations and laughter filled the room, the heart of the exchange was a commitment to foster India-France relations through the written word.
“There is literary culture waiting in France, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Philippines,” said Ajay Jain, founder of Kunzum Travel Cafe, highlighting the richness of literary traditions.
A week-long celebration kicked off on 20 September with a book exhibition that included a quick tour of the featured titles and engaging conversations. It was followed by a musical reading of ‘The Prophet’ by Zeina Abirached, Lebanese illustrator and graphic novelist, musician Dhruv Sangari from Naadvistar Foundation, and poet Rachit Sharma of Dillipoetry.
The lineup for the event included a second book exhibition, a musical performance by Jeet Thayil and Hollis Coats, a screening of Sur Les Chemins Noirs (2023), and a poetry writing workshop.
Guided by Patricia Loison, Director of Alliance Française de Delhi, Gregor Trumel, Director of the French Institute in India, and Julia Trouilloud, the Attaché for Books at IFI, the opening event was an exhibition of 15 French titles tied together by casual conversations with Mohit Batra, CEO of Rajat Book Corner, and Ajay Jain.
An understated relationship
The relationship between a bookstore owner and a reader transcends cultural boundaries, as it is based on trust and personal connection, Batra said. French literature, for instance, isn’t something readers naturally gravitate toward, but the bookstore owner plays a crucial role in guiding them through lesser-known genres and titles.
Despite being immersed in the bookstore for decades, Batra admitted to encountering unfamiliar titles, highlighting the vastness of literary collections.
Jain also pointed out how bookstores often stock multiple copies of popular titles like Albert Camus or Alice in Wonderland, but the essence of a bookstore lies in personal recommendations, rather than market-driven choices.
“He (a bookstore owner) can take you by the hand, and bring you some great discoveries,” said Batra. Gregor Trumel added that such discoveries are rooted in different traditions and cultures, allowing for an exploration that crosses geographical boundaries.
“The beauty is that people trust us to collaborate. While we know the classics like Albert Camus, well, many titles still eluded me after 40 years in a bookstore,” Batra said.
Despite the never-ending challenge, there is an underlying trust between the owner of the bookstore and every reader who walks into it as they together undertake the journey to handpick the right book, agreed Jain and Batra during the discussion.
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The timeless touch of print
Has the current generation moved away from paper? The panel at “Pardon My French!” disagreed.
“Most of the customers who come to us, who are reading on Kindle, are actually the senior citizens,” Jain said. Surprisingly, the verdict of the panel and audience was that the younger generation remains steadfast in their love for physical books, whether in France or India.
The sentiment resonated with the audience as one attendee passionately shared her efforts to promote on-paper reading through two vibrant book clubs on Instagram, where members actively seek community and connection.
A professor from JNU said that some of her most cherished memories with her daughter involve their bookstore outings.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)