Dominique Wolton is director of research at CNRS and is director of the laboratory, ‘Information, Communication and Scientific Issues’ since 2000. His research concerns, through numerous publications, analysis of the relationship between culture, communication, society and politics. Having written extensively on media, political communication, Europe and Internet, he explores the political and cultural consequences of the globalization of information and communication, major political issues of the twenty-first century.

Much of today’s heritage preservation initiatives derives its inspiration from the old photographs in the archives of Pondichery. In the early sixties Pondichery had all the characteristics of a European city with its blend of French and Tamil architecture - very visible in its French and Tamil quartders. It also serves to show case to the public how old heritage buildings were maintained and respected. The history and heritage of any city is based on the images of its past. So this photographic exhibition comes at the right time when there is a renewed interest in preserving Pondichery’s history, architectural heritage and its culture. It would also portray the unique blend of French and Tamil heritage which is the hall mark of Pondichery.

‘Pondichéry 1910-2010, Photography and Writing’ presented by Marcel Fortini, photographer, and Jérôme Camilli, writer and journalist. Both are residing at Pondichery and preparing a work on the photographic memoirs, a work that is a reflection of memory and time combining literature and photography, as continuity of the work that led to the release of ‘L’ascendant des îles’ and ‘Café de la marine’ from photographs taken by Mathieu Micheli, in which Pondichery was the third stop.

For this first festival of “Carnet de Voyage” (Travel Diary) in India, the association ‘Il faut aller voir’ - host of the now famous biennial of Clermont-Ferrand - is a partner of the Embassy of France in India. Explorers, artists, writers, travelers have penned down their travels. Boards naturalists, ethnologist diaries, scientific surveys or simply impressions of travel, all these logs mark a historic and artistic journey of a particular literary style. Be it autobiographical pieces or memoirs of voyage, the book takes a particular view on the world at a given moment of time.

Brigitte Chataignier is one of the rare artists to have devoted her life to Mohini Attam. She regularly performs on tour in France and in India.
In South-West India, Mohini Attam is a dance traditionally performed in temples which is elegant and regal. Mohini Attam is known for the fluidity of its movements, the sweetness of its curves and its gracious expression. The spellbinding beauty of the dance, the rhythm and the shear musical quality will make this performance a unique experience for the audience.

Empire style and Valenciennes embroidery as reviewed by designer Anjali Schiavina for an original creation of colors of India named ‘Métisse’. Twenty models stroll in the gardens, dressed in romantic creations, the precious motifs in a palette of natural colors.

Acclaimed in Canada, Quebec, South Africa and Europe, the band is known for its ability to enliven any street corner. The drum rolls on the Tambours Malbars answer to the flames and lightworks generated around the band.

Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai: please check venue and dates on www.bonjour-india.com In the late seventies, Reunion Island poets and musicians revived the use of Creole language. Ziskakan was founded by Gilbert Pounia in 1979. Playing maloya music at kabary (meaning “assembly”), they developed a contemporary type of maloya infused with genuine Reunion Creole culture, mirroring the mix of its multi-cultural inhabitants. Ziskakan was awarded Best Group at Les Césaires de la Musique in 2007 for the album ‘Banjara’

Marion Baglan is a soprano who turned to a solo career after her debut “I the Chorus of the Opera de Tours” in 1998. Marion has performed at the Petit Treavon, at the Palace of Versailles and in Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan. Here in India she is accompanied by pianist Francois Juskowiak and plays her roles with flair and panache.

The Sharik Hasan Paris Trio is an Indo-French group of three young musicians from diverse backgrounds. They got together in Paris in 2008 searching for a common musical vision. Their unique compositions result from a combination of different influences such as classical, hip-hop, rock and jazz with much improvisation.

For the festivities to be complete, a large space is given to the French cinema. Two guests, two great names in the world of cinema, two combined talents are to present the public with films, touching stories, episodes of life. In order to popularise this festival, the projection will be done on mega screens in open air, on the beachfront.

This exhibition traces the history of migration that shaped society in the Reunion Islands.

An extravagant street show brings alive – a monumental parade mixing opera, circus, burlesque along with gigantic giraffes and other circus characters.

The best pictures of the photographer taken from his kite: the Taj Mahal, the shores of Kerala, Fatehpur Sikri, Khajuraho temples, palaces of Rajasthan, elephants in the river Periyar, Kerala. Halfway between earth and sky. His poetic, intimate and real photographs of eternal India, which has been often often photographed, but revisited here, with a different point of vue.

Born in 1882 in Corsica, Mathieu Micheli was appointed as a Pharmacist of the colonial troops in New Caledonia. He was then appointed to Guyana Equatorial and West Africa, then Beirut and finally in Dakar. Throughout his life he clicked photographs. His pictures, discovered in 1982, were a revelation to his descendant, Marcel Fortini, a photographer himself who is following the footsteps of the traveller, in an artist residency in Pondichéry.

Widely exhibited, reproduced, borrowed and collected – Bernard Faucon’s works are one of the most original collections of the late 20th century. He is one of the first artists who has explored the universe of staged photography – the photographic “mise en scène”.

For almost 3000 years, embroidery has been part of Man’s determination to embellish his immediate environment. Originally suppliers to Napoleon III, the Micholet, and later Lesage families have been embroidering since 1868.

This program will bring together 30 leading French scientists from public and private research institutions. They will deliver more than 120 scientific talks in major Indian cities in a wide spectrum of fields, such as Laser & Plasma Physics, Aerospace and Aeronautics, Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Environment, Biotechnology and will encourage genuine bilateral dialogues on subjects of global importance.For more information, consult the French Science and Technology Service web site at: http://www.frenchsciencetoday.org/

The Alliance Française of Pondichéry celebrates 120 years. For this very special occasion, Baker Street, the concept store of French delicacies in Pondichéry, makes the taste buds tingle with excellent dishes, the fragrances and flavors which would surely delight the palate during this festive evening.