Friday, August 28, 2015

"France to open visa centre in Ahmedabad" - news

Shaking Minaret, Ahmedabad. Wikipedia photo by Palak Gajarawala.

"France to open visa centre in Ahmedabad": news, though slightly old. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/France-to-open-visa-centre-in-Ahmedabad/articleshow/46735213.cms?

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Some Vignettes of Balasore and its French Loge by K.J.S.Chatrath

Some Vignettes of Balasore and its French Loge by K.J.S.Chatrath

That France had five colonies in India – Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Chandernagore, Yanam and Mahe’, is well known. What is not so widely known is that that besides these 5 colonies, they also had tiny territories which they had taken under their control for running trade. These were called “Loges” and were located at Balasore, Surat, Masulipatam, Calicut, Patna and Dacca. The focus of this brief paper is the erstwhile French ‘Loge’ situated in Balasore district of Orissa.

Imagine a small town in 17th century india which had a Foreigners Colony, where the Portugese, the Dutch, the Danes, the French and the British all had their trading houses/factories and residential houses. This was Balasore around 1640-1680. Did we know that the textiles products exported from Balasore to Europe were considered to be of such uniqueness and high quality that muslin handkerchiefs of Balasore became famous as “Balasore Handkerchiefs” and an Englishman set up a factory in England to manufacture ‘Balasore Handkerchiefs’!

Equally fascinating is the information that Balasore was a centre of ship building and ship repair and its people were sought after by the foreign vessels for guiding them through the mouth of the Ganges. So well known was Balasore in the nautical circles around the world that in 1872, a ship built in Glasgow in UK, was christened ‘Balasore’! It is even claimed that the oldest organised Service in India was the Bengal Pilot Service and not the I.C.S. This service used to lead foreign ships from Balasore to Calcutta and vice-versa. And not many know that an Ashram set up in the French Balasore by the ‘satyagrahis’ inspired by Gandhiji and epousing the cause of India’s independence, became a major irritant for the British and a number of letters were exchanged between the British and the French over this issue. One will find details of these and more in this book.

See more at:">http://pothi.com/pothi/book/k-j-s-chatrath-some-vignettes-balasore-and-its-french-loge#sthash.8AsckT8b.dpuf">

Thursday, August 20, 2015

'Chandernagore & the French' by K.J.S.Chatrath

French Governor's Palace, Chandannagar.It now houses the museum Photo source: Wikipedia- Aryan Paswan.

Not many of us know that France had five colonies in India – Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Chandernagore, Yanam and Mahe’. Chandernagore, as the French pronounced Chandan Nagar lies on the banks of river Hoogly, about 25 kilometres from Kolkata. Incidentally it was the place where Indian freedom fighters used to go and take refuge to escape from the British authorities.

Readers may like to see the latest news item about Chandernagore: 'Diplomat seeks revival of French connection of Chandernagore' by Shounak Ghosal,http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Diplomat-seeks-revival-of-French-connection-of-Chandernagore/articleshow/48550412.cms

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

'Discussion on French science fiction writings' - K.J.S.Chatrath

Monday, August 17, 2015

"Paris Cafe: Kolkata's rendezvous with French food"

Pic source: Thinkstock Photos Image for representation purpose only.

I am not a lover of French food. In fact I find it to be too bland, at times under cooked and badly over rated. I rate the Indian cuisine to be the best in the world.

But there are many who just swoon over French cuisine. They would surely like to read the following article: Paris Cafe: Kolkata's rendezvous with French food:http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/and-more/paris-cafe-kolkatas-rendezvous-with-french-food_1642455.html

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Read 'Poduke-Bandikere- Puducherri- Pondicherry'- K.J.S.Chatrath

Retracing roots of Puducherry and knowing its culture by R. Sivaraman; The Historical Society of Pondicherry released the book under the name of ‘Poduke-Bandikere- Puducherri- Pondicherry’ http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/retracing-roots-of-puducherry-and-knowing-its-culture/article7521104.ece

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Wine Drinking Culture in France: A National Myth or a Modern Passion? by Marion Demossier

You may like to know about a new book on French dringking. It is Wine Drinking Culture in France: A National Myth or a Modern Passion? by Marion Demossier (Author)

“Wine drinking culture in France has traditionally been a source of pride for the French and in an age of concerns about the dangers of ‘binge-drinking’, a major cause of jealousy for the British. Wine drinking and the culture associated with it are, for many, an essential part of what it means to be French, but they are also part of a national construction. Described by some as a national product, or as a ‘totem drink’, wine and its attendant cultures supposedly characterise (sic!) Frenchness in much the same way as being born in France, fighting for liberty or speaking French. Yet this traditional picture is now being challenged by economic, social and political forces that have transformed consumption patterns and led to the fragmentation of wine drinking culture.”

Source: http://www.iprlicense.com/Books/Details/wine-drinking-culture-in-france-1921790