New Delhi: Under secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs Petal Gahlot won hearts on social media Sunday with her rendition of French song “Göttingen” by singer Barbara, which was believed to have thawed relations between Germany and France after World War II.
She shared her rendition of the song in celebration of International Francophonie Day, which is observed every year on 20 March. The day is celebrated among French-speaking countries in the world which are together known as the Francophonie. The video has been watched over 6,000 times on Twitter.
Sharing the nearly three-minute clip, Gahlot tweeted, “Today I mix my persona as a francophone and MEA desk officer for @FranceinIndia and @GermanyinIndia. “Göttingen” by French artist Barbara is known to be the hymn of Franco-German friendship.”
A francophone refers to someone that belongs to a population using French as its first or sometimes second language.
Today I mix my persona as a francophone and MEA desk officer for @FranceinIndia and @GermanyinIndia. “Göttingen” by French artist Barbara is known to be the hymn of Franco-German friendship. Here is my cover to celebrate #JourneeDeLaFrancophonie @Indian_Embassy @indiandiplomats pic.twitter.com/7DWxFk799F
— Petal Gahlot (@petal_gahlot) March 21, 2021
Twitter users complimented Gahlot’s “graceful” and “beautiful” singing chops.
Amazing grace. Talent runs in the family ??
— eagleye18571 (@eagleye1961) March 22, 2021
Amazing. Beautiful.
— Devesh Taparia (@dtaparia86) March 21, 2021
The Indian Embassy in France also shared the clip with the caption, “Continuing the theme of this #JourneeDeLaFrancophonie “Francophone Women, Resilient Women”. Here is a little musical gift from India.”
Poursuivant le thème de cette #JourneeDeLaFrancophonie «Femmes francophones, Femmes résilientes». Voici un petit cadeau musical de l'Inde. https://t.co/HuOfYZgkCr
— India in France (@Indian_Embassy) March 21, 2021
A diplomat guitarist
Gahlot was born in New Delhi and graduated in political science from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
She then did her M.A. in political science from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, and entered the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 2015.
She has previously served as assistant secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, third and second secretary at the Embassy of India, Paris, and was posted as Consul at the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, in the US.
Gahlot is a regular guitar-player and singer. She has previously uploaded her renditions of Khaabon Ke Parinday by Alyssa Mendonsa from the Hindi film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and the Italian folk song Bella ciao.
Also read: Afghan foreign minister’s visit will help India figure way forward in Taliban peace talks