Review of K J S Chatrath's book 'INDIA IN THE DEBATES OF FRENCH PARLIMENT 1945-1988' by Senior Journalist Mr. Anil Mathur

 

 INDIA IN THE DEBATS OF FRENCH PARLIMENT 1945-1988: by Dr K.J.S Chatrath; Indian Publishers and Distributors; 156 D Kamla Nagar, Delhi; pp 224; 450.

INDIA and France have always enjoyed a uniq relationship, with strong cultural undertones over the centuries, not to mention the political and economic ties, which hav grown in recent years.

But because of the language and other commucation reasons, we know more about the English-speaking countries rather than about France. Although many students are now studying the French language, realising its beauty and utility, still it has no where reached the English mark.

Dr Chatrath, who has devoted many years learning the language and other aspects of French life, has delved deep into the archives to see what references have been made o India in the French Parliament and he, a senior member of the IAS, has come up with an interesting collection.

The main strength of the book is that it will act as a source and reference material for those scholars and researchers who look into various aspects of Indo-French relations. Such an exercise would be fruitless, in the absence of the knowledge of the language and the will to work through the debate files and translate them for the English reader.

One is amazed at the sweep and range of references to India in the French Parliament: cul- ture, Pondicherry, aid, economics, defence and politics, of course. The amount of work the members seem to have done is clearly remarkable and is a lesson by themselves. The question of "Questions in Parliament" has also been tackled and the book can be of use to the students of comparative Parliamentary studies also.

The book, at Rs 450, is a bit highly priced but will be of use for anyone wanting to pursue the interesting subject of Indo- French relations.

                                                                                                                   Anil Mathur

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 26, 1994.

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