V-C gets French honour on varsity foundation day

Bonnafont conferred the title of Chevalier de l’ordre des Palmes Academiques,an Order of Chivalry of France given by the government of France to academics and educators,on the Vice Chancellor of the university Dr Vijay Khole. Khole is the first vice chancellor in India to receive such an honour.

“During your term as the vice chancellor of the university,you dedicated yourself to improving the university and were at service of knowledge. The youth in the country also cooperated with numerous international establishments,” Bonnafont said.

The university takes pride in being the oldest university in the country to teach French. The department of French was established in 1886 under the auspices of the then vice chancellor Phirozeshah Mehta who ‘saw the need for India to open up to other foreign languages other than English.’ Mehta,then moved a motion in the senate to introduce French at the Bachelor of Arts (BA) level. The first batch of students graduated in 1890.

Interestingly,Bonnafont said,even as the British tried to snub learning of the French language as not ‘manly,’ Mehta along with others from the University promoted the language and culture.

The 123-year-old department is the only one in the country to have a five year integrated French porgramme and has been conferred with several awards by the Government of France.

In the past,the varsity had tied up with French academic institutions for joint research and exchange proragmmes.

Dr Khole said,“The higher education system in india is at crucial juncture. This is a time when collaborative linkages are giving students closer access to the world.”

Bonnafont said,“France and India share values which date back to the 18th century. Frist,the French were one among others who made Indian culture known in Europe. It was a French scholar Anquetil Duperron who brought the Upanishad to Europe through its translation. Second,many freedom fighters were inspired by the French Revolution.”

Bonnafont welcomed Indian students and professionals to visit France and said the French Government had ‘changed laws’ to create more opprtunities for Asians and other communities. Later this year,India will play host to a French cultural festival called Bonjour India.

Bonnafont,who was in the city when the 26/11 terror attacks took place,commended the city of Mumbai for tackling the attacks with courage and said that it was necessary for both the countries to join hands to fight terrorism.