The keys8217; to happiness

Impeccably dressed with her hair rolled into a neat bun and her face glowing, Francine Astani states that it is her firm belief that music i...

Impeccably dressed with her hair rolled into a neat bun and her face glowing, Francine Astani states that it is her firm belief that music is the greatest healer and uniting element in the world. And she should know. Born in Tehran, the 47-year-old pianist has seen blood and gore at close quarters and gone through the agony of fleeing from her homeland to find peace and solace in a land as far away as France. So today when she travels all over the world trying to spread the message of love, unity and simplicity through the keys of her piano, it is one message that comes straight from the heart.

Of Baha8217;i faith, Astani lives in Cannes, France with her husband and two daughters while her art takes her to different parts of the world, from Chicago to Venezuela to the Far East. Last month the talented lady was in Panchgani, her third trip to the place, for three concerts 8211; two at the Baha8217;i Academy and one at the New Era School 8211; all for charity.

8220;Most of the time I travel on my own expense and the benefits go towards some humanitarian or community cause. At Panchgani the concerts were in aid of the construction of a new building for the Baha8217;i centre in the town. In fact the proceeds from my last concert in Los Angeles also went towards this cause,8221; she explains. On her way to the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, Francine as always, took a few hours break in Pune to meet Baha8217;i students before she boarded her evening flight.

8220;India had touched me deeply ever since my first visit to the place. I have read a lot about Gandhi and his philosophy. He did for the Indians just what the Baha8217;i community wants to do 8211; bring equality to all people,8221; she elaborates, 8220;The main problem in today8217;s world is that no one seems to have a conscience left. The real message of all religions 8211; of love and purity 8211; has got lost in the maze of rituals and rites. The body lives, while the soul seems to have been lost. And I use my music to reach out to the soul.8221;Francine calls her music moralistic and spiritual. 8220;I compose and sing my own songs as I play the piano at the concerts. All my verses are aimed towards enlightenment and talk about the real world as opposed to normal music that usually talks of the dreams and a world that does not exist.8221;

For reality is something very close to the pianist8217;s heart. Reality of the strife in Iran, shattering her dreams of going in for a doctorate, of the the revolution where her close friend was killed and of a life gone out of control at the age of 27. 8220;We came to France as most of our family and friends were here and though the initial years were very unsettling, today I am at peace with myself and my work. However the desire to return to the land of my birth someday, even for a visit, remains a cherished dream.8221;

In Cannes, Francine also owns a large up-market boutique named after her elder daughter Caroline, that does thriving business. Her merging of the commercial venture with her love for simplicity is according to her a mere reflection of the Baha8217;i teachings that advocate the combining materialism with spirituality for a complete life.

While Francine has created a name for herself as a pianist, her daughters have not treaded the same path, as yet. And while the 17-year-old Natalie who had accompanied her mother on the trip, is all praise for the beauty and warmth of the people of Panchgani, Pune has quite obviously left her less than impressed. The word actually used by her is 8220;shocking8221;. 8220;I am shocked to see the number of beggars in the town and if you give money to one, suddenly five more appear from nowhere and surround you,8221; she shrugs, adding that the large population of the city however aptly reflects the diversity of the country.

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Incidentally Pune has about 250 persons belonging to Baha8217;i faith with the student community being an active body in town.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More