French Institute in India

From the page to the shelf, Celebrating World Book Day and Independent Bookstore Day 📚

Yesterday, on World Book Day, we celebrated the quiet magic of stories of the ones that keep you up past midnight, the ones that change how you see the world, and the ones you press into a friend's hands saying "you need to read this”!

Tomorrow, on Independent Bookstore Day, we celebrate the people who make that moment possible. Not algorithms. Not recommendations. Real people - who remember your face, know your taste, and somehow always know exactly what you need next.

These are the curators of curiosity. The champions of discovery. The passionate custodians of literature who turn a shop into a sanctuary.

Through the PMF programme, IFI is proud to partner with independent bookstores bringing French literature closer to readers across India and beyond - from the sunlit aisles of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Pondicherry, to the misty shelves of Thimphu, Gangtok, and Pune. Over a dozen cities. Hundreds of stories. One shared love of books.

Because the best bookstores aren't just where books live - they're where readers find their people.

🔍 Spot your favourite store? Tell us the best book you've ever discovered there. 📖💬

Only 2 days to go ⏳

As we count down to the Frugal Innovation Forum, we invite you to be part of a space where ideas meet purpose and innovation is reimagined through the lens of frugality.

Through this carousel, discover a thoughtfully curated programme that brings together diverse fields from architecture and healthcare to AI, space, and beyond reflecting the many ways frugal innovation is shaping our world today.

What makes this forum truly special is its people: a distinguished line-up of speakers, practitioners, and thought leaders who bring rich, global perspectives and on-ground experience to the conversation.

📍 25 April | Science Gallery Bengaluru

�Register now - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRy6ofAGeJtjU1JYnhQMttNIyPP-AffaVPqU0EsPNERej-rw/viewform

If They Returned Today… What Would They Think?
Reimagining classic French voices in our world.

Would Anaïs Nin question the commercialization of sexuality?
Would Émile Zola take a stand against corporate excess?
What would Simone de Beauvoir make of the movement?

If these iconic voices were among us today, would they recognise the same tensions that shaped their work? And which contemporary writers would resonate with them most?

Which books would you recommend to your favourite classics?
Share in the comments. 📚💭

Annie Ernaux’s astonishing oeuvre was what earned her the Nobel Prize in Literature - which raises the question: where should you begin?

We think The Years is a powerful place to start. Widely considered her masterpiece, it transcends traditional memoir, weaving together personal memory and collective history to map the shifting social, political, and cultural landscapes of postwar France. With her signature precision and emotional restraint, Ernaux transforms the intimate into something universal - capturing time itself as it passes through a life, a generation, a society.

Expansive yet deeply personal, The Years offers an unforgettable entry point into the work of a truly singular contemporary voice.

To know more about her, check out our Substack where we celebrate one author every month - https://pardonmyfrenchindia.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

4 days to go until Night of Ideas, and 5 days until the Frugal Innovation Forum. ⏳

On 24 April, at Alliance Française de Bangalore, attend a high-level public debate on “Frugality and the Pursuit of Happiness”, featuring Navi Radjou, co-curator of the Festival of Ideas, alongside Cédric Carles, Nalini Shekar, and Rachita Misra, moderated by Vipasha Devi Tilak.

On 25 April, at Science Gallery Bengaluru, the Frugal Innovation Forum will extend these discussions through a full day of exchanges, with Navi Radjou contributing as both moderator and speaker across key sessions.

Programme highlights:
• 10:00 - “From Leapfrogging to Trailblazing: India’s Next Frontier in Frugal Innovation”

• 14:00 - Roundtable: “Made in India, Made for the World”, with representatives from Renault Nissan, Airbus Innovation Centre, Société Générale, and Schneider Electric

From dialogue to implementation, this Indo-French initiative brings together leading voices to reflect on sustainable innovation and future pathways.

Register Via - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRy6ofAGeJtjU1JYnhQMttNIyPP-AffaVPqU0EsPNERej-rw/viewform?fbclid=PARlRTSARS3QVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaePpSXwrcN1FErIEt7bYFA8Del-Ix7vURW-ugtlPAthrRL9abr3fP2j3qwV1A_aem_F6rTVk4ZoGxNMaW6eWIAJw

The Festival of Ideas is here. 💡

On 24 April, at Alliance Française de Bangalore, Night of Ideas opens with a major public debate on “Frugality and the Pursuit of Happiness” sparking bold reflections on well-being, resources, and the future we want to build together.

On 25 April, the conversation continues at the Science Gallery Bengaluru with a full-day Frugal Innovation Forum, bringing together experts, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to turn ideas into action.

From dialogue to solutions, be part of this evolving Indo-French exchange shaping what comes next.

Register now - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRy6ofAGeJtjU1JYnhQMttNIyPP-AffaVPqU0EsPNERej-rw/viewform?fbclid=PARlRTSARQbzxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAae8XWlre3_SECEoewiOnS5epQrPI5vafQPF-J0abYEih6Mnuw9zesTwxz_aNg_aem_1s13RrZhn7qyGNPqeP63yA

Alexandra David-Neel - A Legacy Across the Himalayas. 🏔️

From 8–10 April 2026, we brought together scholars, and storytellers at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Sikkim for Great Women in the Himalayas - Remembering Alexandra David-Neel.

An exhibition of rare photographs from the collection of the Maison Alexandra David-Neel (Digne-les-Bains, France), curated by anthropologist Dr Anna Balikci, shed light on the life and work of this pioneering 🇫🇷🇧🇪 explorer, whose deep ties with Sikkim continue to connect 🇫🇷 and 🇮🇳.

Alongside, the international symposium “In Her Footsteps: Great Women in the Himalayas” brought together French and Himalayan scholars for two days of rich dialogue on royal women, Buddhist education, Himalayan arts, and cross-cultural exchange reflecting our shared commitment to academic collaboration and cultural diplomacy.

A tribute not just to Alexandra David-Neel, but to all the visionary women - past and present, who have left an indelible mark on the Himalayan world. 🙏🏻

We are grateful to all our partners and participants for their presence and support.

Alexandra David-Neel - A Legacy Across the Himalayas. 🏔️

From 8–10 April 2026, we brought together scholars, and storytellers at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Sikkim for Great Women in the Himalayas - Remembering Alexandra David-Neel.

An exhibition of rare photographs from the collection of the Maison Alexandra David-Neel (Digne-les-Bains, France), curated by anthropologist Dr Anna Balikci, shed light on the life and work of this pioneering 🇫🇷🇧🇪 explorer, whose deep ties with Sikkim continue to connect 🇫🇷 and 🇮🇳.

Alongside, the international symposium "In Her Footsteps: Great Women in the Himalayas" brought together French and Himalayan scholars for two days of rich dialogue on royal women, Buddhist education, Himalayan arts, and cross-cultural exchange reflecting our shared commitment to academic collaboration and cultural diplomacy.

A tribute not just to Alexandra David-Neel, but to all the visionary women - past and present, who have left an indelible mark on the Himalayan world. 🙏🏻

We are grateful to all our partners and participants for their presence and support.

Ideas that inspire. Conversations that matter. 💡🌍

As part of the India–France Year of Innovation, in collaboration with Alliance Française de Bangalore, we invite you to a two-day programme of dialogue, creativity, and action. 🇫🇷🇮🇳

Day 1 | Night of Ideas - 24 April
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Venue: Alliance Française de Bangalore

An evening dedicated to exploring Frugality and the Pursuit of Happiness, featuring Cédric Carles and Navi Radjou, moderated by Vipasha Devi Tilak.

The programme will be followed by the opening of A World Without End, an exhibition adapted from the acclaimed work of Christophe Blain and Jean-Marc Jancovici, inviting us to reflect on our relationship with the planet.

From dialogue to action, join us in collectively rethinking innovation for a more sustainable future. 🌱

Be part of the conversation - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRy6ofAGeJtjU1JYnhQMttNIyPP-AffaVPqU0EsPNERej-rw/viewform?fbclid=PARlRTSARMYaVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadRtRUvO0hTE-p1ka2BLvWCL1uLm4iYcWPWq3D71FS7NvOx7NRc76Ht4MKYtA_aem_Ohsr8Iskup5rGraSmiA5EQ