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 ICCR Cultural Centre, Paris- Sonya Wynne SinghApril 4, 2026 France and India have a unique link of friendship, based on shared values and deep traditions of culture. Yet there was one element sorely lacking, which was - all things considered, an anomaly -the absence of a true dedicated Indian cultural centre in Paris, the cultural capital of Europe. The need for one worthy of its name was felt by both the French and Indian community. Now, that dream has finally come true, thanks in no small part to the hard work and dedication of H. E. Sanjeev Singla, Ambassador of India in France and K.Nandini Singla, Director General ICCR, for whom this was a true passion project. The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre became operational in Paris on March 26, 2026. The locale - Avenue de Lowendal - is steeped in history. On one side stands the golden dome of the Invalides, housing the tomb of Napoleon; on the other is the impressive headquarters of UNESCO.  Sonya Wynne Singh, DG ICCR Mrs Singla, Ambassador to France H. E. Singla The exterior of the Centre already announces what awaits the visitor. Its elegant entrance leads into a beautifully lit hall with a magnificent skylight, a design idea proposed by Sushma Swaraj. The natural light falls directly onto the painting of an immense Kalpavriksha whose tonalities of bordeaux and ochre, enhance the sense of a warm, embracing welcome. This chef-d'œuvre by Kalyan Joshi, was specially commissioned by H.E Ambassador Singla for the Centre. The evening of 26th March beautifully showcased our country's ancient arts, philosophy and heritage along with the vibrant new India. Developed with the support of ICCR, it will host exhibitions, workshops and cultural events revealing India's diversity and traditions. Younger artistes too, will get a platform to exhibit their talent. The Centre hopes to attract a French audience, specially the younger generation as well as visiting tourists.  Martin Gurvich (Director, Museum of Sacred Arts), Ambassador to France H. E. Singla, Eléonore Caroit (French Minister Delegate for Europe and Foreign Affairs) The guest of honour was Eléonore Caroit, French Minister Delegate for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The invitees for the function came from different spheres of life: dancers, writers, filmmakers, painters... The ceremony started in the traditional Indian way with the lighting of diyas, followed with a televised address by our Minister of External Affairs, S.Jaishankar where he spoke about the cultural links shared by both countries. H.E. Ambassador Singla then took to the podium, addressing the gathering in impeccable French. He spoke of the deep and enduring ties shared by France and India - a relationship not merely historical, but one that continues to grow through exploration and experience of each other's cultural richness. The Centre, he felt, could be the kind of bridge that could sustain and deepen this bond. He also paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda, whose name the Centre proudly bears, reflecting on his timeless philosophy and the power of culture and knowledge that unites peoples across borders.  The Vivekananda Culture Centre Following his discourse, came the very charming and elegant K. Nandini Singla, who spoke with great ease and a natural connection with her audience. She recalled that her very first posting as a young foreign service officer had been Paris - as Cultural Secretary at the Embassy - and how acutely the absence of a dedicated cultural centre was felt even then. Not just for dance and music, but also for studying languages, yoga, painting and above all for the exchange of ideas. This void had always stayed with her. Life had come full circle and today along with her husband, the Ambassador, she was instrumental in the opening of the Centre! She expressed her hope that this would be a place for the young uninitiated to discover the magic of India, for others a place of pure émerveillement. She invited Associations, teachers, artistes, the Indophiles and Indian diaspora to make it a living space for the art - for future generations. Eléonore Caroit began her speech comparing the cultures of France and India like the warp and the weft of a sumptuous tissue. She reminded all present of the influence of India on the thinking of André Malraux and Romain Rolland, the 1915 Nobel Prize laureate, who dedicated a volume on Swami Vivekananda. Eléonore Caroit concluded by hoping that the Franco-Indian partnership would flourish at the Centre.  Kavita Dwivedi and troupe This was followed by an Odissi recital by Kavita Dwivedi and her troupe performing Shiv stuti. A great choice, especially considering this dance form isn't as well known in France - we can probably credit this idea to the young, enthusiastic Director of the Cultural Centre, Anup Das. Abhishek Bakolia, a topper in IFS, is the dynamic Second Secretary incharge of press and culture, in the embassy. The auditorium could seat 100 people and the stage had enough space for five to six dancers, putting to bed any hearsay about lack of seating and stage size. The team also showed great competence on the technical side. The evening was far from over. The Centre was the venue of a superb art exhibition, Living Arts of India, curated by Sushma K. Bahl. Works were carefully selected from the vast collection of Indian art belonging to the Museum of Sacred Arts, Belgium (MOSA). The forty contemporary artistes selected include famous names and young rising talents, some living in India and others abroad. Together they offer a broad and diverse range of perspectives on Indian culture, simultaneously rooted in tradition and innovation. A rich variety of works are featured - paintings by S.H. Reza, Arpana Caur, and Sujata Bajaj; striking gold and copper plated Shiva and Parvati heads by Satish Gupta and photographs by Dinesh Khanna. Among the highlights, however, are the exquisite miniatures by national awardee Mahavir Swami, whose ateliers of painting this weekend were already full. Martin Gurvich, President of the Museum, felt the Centre was an ideal setting for these works. He hoped this would further strengthen cultural ties between India and France. The calender of events on the site of the Cultural Centre indicates that the exhibition closes on 30th June 2026. The Embassy pulled out all the stops and the dedicated embassy staff showed the world what Indian hospitality meant. The euphoria was evident and all felt a certain excitement to discover more in this beautifully designed Centre. Such a memorable ceremony makes one believe that this euphoria will endure and that the Centre will continue to offer us many more moments of discovery and cultural exchange, and will keep giving us many more reasons to return.  Sonya Wynne Singh is a senior talent in art books publishing from 1980s and recently guest- edited Indian Dance in France for attenDance 2025. She lives and reports for various publications from France. |
