My childhood was spent in Delhi, where I attended The Mother’s International School, immersed in Indo-French culture. It only felt natural to move to France in 2013 to pursue higher studies. I also had another agenda for choosing France: the freedom to chart out a career in both arts and science. Now, a decade later, French President Emmanuel Macron knows me by my name and is familiar with my work—an immensely validating experience as a cross-cultural, nomadic artist-scientist.
I was privileged to be seated close to President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the dining table during the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris last July. Then, this year for the Republic Day in India, I was grateful to have been invited back to be a part of an event with President Macron in Jaipur on January 25.
Meeting heads of state is always an interesting experience, like having the fourth wall broken in a film. As a scientist, while I do have to adopt a neutral, dispassionate stance, as an artist, I suppose I can permit myself to share my perspective of the human beings behind such positions of responsibility. Up close, President Macron is indeed very warm and seemingly curious about you, with a sharp wit and a great sense of humour. He offered to introduce me to Prime Minister Modi last year during the state dinner, and then proceeded to take my photo with the prime minister. It is a much-treasured possession.
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