Of French Connection - Review of KJS Chatrath's book 'France - A Brief bibliography' - in the New Indian Express, Bhubaneswar

 

Of French Connection

FRANCE: A BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY; By KJS Chatrath; Indian Publishers Distributors; Rs 495

It is a scholar's deja vu. An exquisite presentation of cut and paste journalism, a la 'Is Paris Burning?". The book though not an intellectual pursuit, is a treasure trove of almost anything about India's French connection-precious gift of the French Revolution, Sartre's existentialism, India's barefoot capitalism in French eyes, the strong cultural affinity and of course the brassiere 'revolution'.

The author, a senior IAS officer and a scholar, has painstakingly put together the events highlighted in English newspapers in India about France between 1947 and 2002. But in itself it gives a sense of completion. The book takes you to the days of liberation of Pondicherry and awakening in the other French-India enclaves; the bicentenary celebration of French Revolution and the irony - how the poor  revolted and bequeathed the world the concept of  'liberty, equality and fraternity' and how the rich nations meet together in the name of this Revolution to further enrich themselves.

Here and there, the book also reveals the dilemma of existentialism. And whether Sartre or Simone de Beauvoir was the prime intellectual force behind French existentialism. The debate, of course, still goes on.

The compilation is also a revelation of sort: celebration of the famous August Festival where lakhs of pet dogs become orphan for days since families keep away for the fete; the country celebrating hundred years of brassiere and saluting Hadoine Cadolle who designed it; and Charles de Gaulles envying Tintin (the comic strip hero).

Chatrath has an obvious fascination, nay passion for the French since his salad days when he saw the film 'Can-Can' and then spent several years of his academic life in France. Author of many books on France, he has acknowledged erudition on this aspect, as this bibliography shows.

-DEBDAS THAKUR

THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS BHUBANESWAR, Apr 11 11, 2003